"Enjoy the new freedoms responsibly" plea from East Riding Health Leader

East Riding Council’s public health lead has said residents should not “rush” into the easing of coronavirus restrictions warning it could jeopardise later reopening dates.

East Riding Council’s Public Health Director Andy Kingdom said residents should treat today’s easing of restrictions like driving on an icy road, urging a cautious approach.

He added the “wall of protection” coronavirus rules and vaccinations had built around the vulnerable could still be breached if infection rates begin to climb again.

The comments come as the East Riding is set to follow the rest of the country into a more relaxed regime of coronavirus restrictions with the return of the Rule of Six for outside gatherings, while outdoor sports venues where people can distance will also reopen.

Mr Kingdom said

“From Monday there will still be rules in place and we hope people will follow them, the concern is that some could multiply it out.

“Instead of meeting in groups of six they might meet up in groups of 10 say, or have gatherings inside where the conditions are perfect for the virus to spread.

“Residents should remember that just because they can do something doesn’t mean they have to.

“It’s like driving on an icy, dark road, you wouldn’t drive to the speed limit you’d drive to the conditions.

“And the conditions at the moment are that cases in the East Riding are at a seven day rate per 100,000 of between 70 and 80.

“On Tuesday, March 16 new cases stood at 273, by Monday, March 22 they were down to 255.

“Although there’s been a big decrease in infections among the elderly we are finding more cases in children and young people since schools reopened, their figures are up slightly but it’s not taken off.

“But if you look at Leicester’s rate per 100,000 when it went into lockdown last summer that was around 50, so we’re still above that.

“As we gradually begin to open society up we need to get the balance right between allowing people to do more and stopping infections getting out of control.

“The virus doesn’t take a holiday, it’s an infectious disease that will be still be there waiting.”

Mr Kingdom said he was confident East Riding residents would stick to the rules based on their compliance so far.

But the director said:

“If we don’t get this right then we’re going to have to look again at plans to ease further on Monday, April 12.

“I worry that we’ll rush or that we risk sending out the wrong message, I’m concerned that we haven’t learnt the lessons from last summer.

“Council public protection officers are drawing up plans for this weekend as we speak, they’re considering their options.”

Mr Kingdom said current measures including the vaccination programme were working, with 64 per cent of eligible East Riding residents having received their first jab.

He added infection spikes in Europe showed the continuing danger of the Kent strain and other coronavirus variants but also the effectiveness of the UK’s winter lockdown and vaccination roll out.

The director said:

“I’m always concerned a new variant could find its way around the vaccine, the potential is there for that.

“What we’re seeing in Europe is what we had around January when the explosive Kent variant took off, if you look at Germany for instance about 60 per cent of their new cases come from that strain.

“Ours are 99 or even 100 per cent Kent variant now, but we went into lockdown and we’re further along with vaccinations than much of Europe is.

“We had a number of things working in our favour, and if people keep following the rules we can handle further waves.

“That’s why we need to take it a little at a time, we need to take one step rather than five.

“People have largely respected the rules and guidance and have followed it, they’ve changed their lives massively based on it.

“Us officials have a contract with the public, we’ve tried to create a safe environment for them with the rules but it’s up to them to stick to them.

“Don’t put yourself in a position you’ll regret, enjoy the new freedoms responsibly.”