‘A sobering reminder as to how deadly this virus is’
The UK’s staggering covid death toll of more than 100,000 is a “sobering reminder as to how deadly this virus is”, North East leaders say.
It was confirmed on January26thatthenumberofpeople who have died with covid since the start of the pandemic had passed the grim milestone.
The death toll of 100,162 is the highest in Europe and almost 5,000 of those deaths have come in the North East, with our region reporting the second-highest rate of deaths behind only the North West.
Local council leaders say that the news was “incredibly tough to take” and that there are“questionstobeanswered” abouttheUK’sresponsetothe pandemic.
But they added that residents had to attempt to draw somecomfortfromtheknowledge that “countless more” people had been saved by the sacrifices made during lockdown measures over the past year.
PrimeMinisterBorisJohnson confirmed yesterday that the third national lockdown willbeextended,withschools not able to fully reopen until March 8 at the earliest, and that an exit plan will be published by the Government on February 22.
Council leaders from Sunderland, South Tyneside, Northumberland, Durham, Newcastle, Gateshead, and North Tyneside have again urged people to stay at home wherever possible.
Their statement, also
signed by the North of Tyne mayor and Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner,said:“Everysingleoneofus has suffered as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and we have all made sacrifices in an attempt to save as many lives as possible. To see the death toll pass 100,000 loved ones is asoberingreminderastohow deadly this virus is.
“Every life lost brings grief tothatperson’sfamily,friends and community, and that so many have died over the past 12 months is incredibly tough
to take.
“Our own communities in the North East have experienced this grief and as we mourn for those who have lost their lives, we must try and take solace in the fact thatcountlessmorehavebeen saved as a result of the efforts made by everyone in our region.
“While we await added protection through vaccines, which will still take many months to achieve, we must allcontinuedoingwhatwecan toprotectourselves,ourloved
ones, and our wider communities, even if you’ve had the vaccine.
“Stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary, maintain your distance from others at all times, keep washing your hands thoroughly and regularly, and wear a facecovering where required unless exempt.
“Infection rates remain high,especiallywiththemore transmissiblevariantofthevirus accounting for the majorityofourcasesnow,andthere can be no room for complacency.”
They added: “There is stillalongwaytogointhefight againstthisvirus,withlessons to be learned and questions to be answered.
“Thepandemichascaused so much pain already and we must do what we can to minimise further loss of life.” The statement was issued by council leaders Tracey Dixon, Graeme Miller, Glen Sanderson, Simon Henig, Nick Forbes, Martin Gannon and Norma Redfearn, plus mayor Jamie Driscoll and PCC Kim McGuinness.