This emergency is not a national holiday, say exasperated officials
A GOVERNMENT health watchdog caused a raised eyebrow or two yesterday when it described people ignoring pleas to stay at home as “being a d---”.
In its outburst on Twitter, the Care Quality Commission used the expression on those flouting lockdown advice and risking the spread of coronavirus.
The comment was made as it emerged a police force became so exasperated with visitors to a popular beauty spot that officers dyed the water there black to deter them.
It came during the first weekend since the Government told people to stay at home and only use “open spaces near to your home” for exercise.
But there was mounting concern that some were treating the crisis like a national holiday, with police in some rural areas stopping motorists driving hundreds of miles to beauty spots.
In some of the worst examples, police found families out driving motor homes into the North Wales countryside and down to the Dorset coast. The extent of growing exasperation came yesterday when the independent regulator of health and social service issued a tweet venting its frustration at those ignoring requests to remain at home.
It read: “If anyone is in any doubt, the social distancing guidance applies to everyone, including you. Short details: Don’t be a d---, observe coronavirus guidance.” It prompted a flurry of support as well as surprise at the colourful language.
A commission spokesman defended the tweet, saying: “It’s crucial people follow potentially lifesaving social distancing guidance to protect you and your loved ones and everyone who is working so hard across the NHS and social care services on our behalf.”
Officers have been given powers to fine, arrest and use reasonable force to stop those breaking the rules. The Government said people should exercise only once a day, and gatherings of more than two, excluding those who live together, are banned.
Derbyshire Police in Buxton dyed black the waters at a former quarry in the Peak District “to make the water less appealing”, after receiving reports of people congregating at the site in Harpur Hill, with some even swimming. The quarry has often attracted bathers, despite pollution concerns and its use as a dumping ground for wrecked cars and refuse.
Many forces warned that patrols would be stepped up to ensure motorists had a legitimate reason to be out.
There were repeated complaints from numerous forces that people were having “family outings” at shopping centres and supermarkets, while others went sightseeing.
Dorset Police criticised one motorist for a 200-mile round trip from Guildford to see the Durdle Door landmark on the South West’s Jurassic Coast.
A tourist was stopped in Devon after driving his motor home from Birmingham. An officer said: “Birmingham to North Devon is not in the spirit of fighting the virus.” Elsewhere, a family in North Wales was stopped for giving another family member a driving lesson “while the roads were quiet”.
However, police also had praise for the majority of the public after finding major towns and cities largely empty.
Elsewhere, the Local Government Association claimed council workers were being attacked while trying to enforce social distancing. One cyclist deliberately rode into a council officer, breaking his leg, and recycling workers, park keepers, civil enforcement officers, road engineers and bus drivers were reportedly being spat at, sworn at and racially abused.
In Manchester, Mateusz Rejewski, 33, was charged with assault after allegedly claiming to have coronavirus and coughing at a police officer. And a boy was charged after he allegedly coughed the word “coronavirus” at a 66-year-old in Tameside.