Take It Easy at the Pub Says East Riding Health Lead

East Riding Council’s public health lead has called on those visiting pubs to avoid drinking too much, fearing a loss of inhibitions risk spreading coronavirus further.

East Riding Council’s Public Health Director Andy Kingdom said people should be “sensible”, plan ahead and think about their limits ahead with pub beer gardens reopening.

He added while he was confident patrons would stick to measures and venues would be safe, some may carry on drinking with friends at home where coronavirus could easily spread.

It comes as the number of new coronavirus cases recorded in the East Riding fell from 170 between Tuesday, March 23 and Monday, March 28 to 132 between March 29 and April 5.

It also follows news rapid response lateral flow tests will now be available for anyone to order under moves the director said aimed to get people testing themselves more regularly.

Mr Kingdom said he would be watching the figures “like a hawk” in the weeks after pub beer gardens reopen.

But he added falling rates since outdoor gatherings were allowed from March 29 suggested rules were being followed and measures in pubs would provide a coronavirus-safe environment.

The director said: “So far people have followed the rules and that’s reflected in our numbers going in the right direction.

“As public health officials we’ve worked to make sure people have that protection as restrictions ease and pubs here have gone out of their way to be safe on Monday.

“But now we’re bringing alcohol into the mix, so I would say that people need to plan ahead.

“Have a discussion with your friends about what’s sensible, talk to them beforehand and keep an eye on each other.

“Because the trouble is people think they’ll have one pint and then another, but then they have one too many and it affects their judgement.

“If people chose to carry on drinking with their friends in their homes then they’ll be indoors where the virus can spread more easily.

“There’s still a highly transmissible virus out there and there’s people still at risk, even if you’ve had the vaccine you won’t be immortal.

“If people follow the guidance in pubs then the risk will be massively reduced.

“We know people are desperate to go out and do these things and the businesses need to get them back, and we know already the vast majority of people are following the rules otherwise we would have seen a surge.

“There might be a bump but it will settle down again but drinking in the pubs will probably be safer than the alternative.”

Mr Kingdom said the risk of harmful side effects from the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine remained “incredibly low” amid ongoing concerns about blood clots.

The director said: “There’s always a risk when taking any vaccine, or any medication or having any health treatment.

“We take risks when we leave the house every morning, we just don’t think about it because the likelihood of something happening is low.

“The risks from the Oxford/AstraZenenca vaccine to young people is about the same as them driving their car every day for three months.

“Something could happen but they wouldn’t stop driving their car.

“When the Oxford/Astrazeneca trials were done more blood clots developed in those who took the placebo than in those who had the actual vaccine.

“It’s a very, very safe vaccine that’s saving lives, we know that because of the number of people in hospital with coronavirus has continued to fall.

“If you’ve had one dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine then you will be fine, any side effects usually show up within about 15 minutes.

“Offering the under 30s a different vaccine is an extremely cautious step we’re taking to give people confidence.

“And the under 30s aren’t going to get the vaccine for a while, by then we’ll know a lot more.”

Mr Kingdom said 193,000 people, two thirds of all those eligible for vaccines under the NHS priority group list, had now had a vaccine.
Three quarters of 80 pluses have now received second doses of vaccines, according to the council’s latest figures.

The director said he would continue to advise people not to holiday abroad even after the introduction of a Coronavirus Charter for international travellers on Monday, May 17.

He added there would be no accounting for the situation in other countries and the risk of “importing” variants remained, making the experience more stress than it would be worth.