‘This virus is everywhere’
flattening ahead of lockdown.
"However,weareseeingthe rate of covid infection rising, hospital admissions going up, more outbreaks in vulnerable populationsandworkplacesas wellasinhouseholdsandsadly more deaths.
“This virus is everywhere and we need to all recognise this when we go about our daily lives.
"That means reducing social contact, maintaining social distance, good individual andcollectivehygienepractice wherever we are and wearing facecoveringswhererequired.
“We would also ask that whentakingexercisewealltry andstayclosetohome–wesaw large groups of people on our beaches,atbeautyspotsandin our town and city centres last weekendwhichrisksthevirus spreadingatafasterratewhen not socially distanced.
“Having been highlighted by the Chief Medical Officer and the Prime Minister as the only region to see restrictions having an impact on our numbers, we do not want to come out of lockdown in a worse position in terms of infections than we went in.
"But unless things change that is where we are heading.”
The co-signatories include Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, Cllr Iain Malcolm, the leader of South Tyneside Council, Cllr Glen Sanderson, theleaderofNorthumberland County Council, and Cllr Simon Henig, of Durham County Council.
Official figures yesterday show three more confirmed coronavirus deaths across Sunderland and South Tyneside hospitals and one at Northumberland’s main hospital trust.
Thestatementadded:“Our public health teams are currently looking at the best way toutilisetherapidturnaround teststosupportourcommunities and the news of a potential vaccine is of course welcomed –butintheshorttermwemust allcontinuetotryandsuppress the virus.
“The rate of infection is rising in all age groups.
"It is a fast-moving, changing picture and every single person’s actions will make a difference.
“We cannot let our guard slip and we ask that you join us in redoubling our efforts over the next two weeks to protect yourself, your loved ones, your friends and particularly those residents in our towns, cities and villages who are at greatest risk from the devastating impact of coronavirus.”