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Back to basics: “hands, face, space” works and will stop us moving into high alert level

Council News
12:22, Thursday, 15th October 2020

Moving in the next local Covid alert level in North Lincolnshire is not a foregone conclusion if everyone sticks to the basic preventative measures.

It comes as the number of new cases has risen by 40 per cent in the last week – taking the average rate of infection per 100,000 across seven days up 134 as of 8 October. This is the highest it has been since mass testing began.

Of those cases, 90 per cent are among people aged less than 59 years old. The majority of those are between the ages of 18 to 29 years old.

Jilla Burgess-Allen, a senior consultant in public health in North Lincolnshire, said:

“The number of people who have contracted Covid-19 in North Lincolnshire has risen every week for the last month. But that trajectory can be changed – it is not inevitable that we will move from a medium risk to a high risk.

“We do know there will be a level of infection which exists across the area though it is not a foregone conclusion that it gets completely out of control.”

The public health team is urging people to stick to the guidelines – which have solid scientific grounding.

Ms Burgess-Allen said: “If people stick firmly to the measures which have been put in place then the virus can be contained.

“Hands, face, space is not just a slogan. The measures have solid scientific foundations and are evidence based. This works, we know it works.

“Washing your hands, wearing face coverings and maintaining a safe social distance from people are the absolute lynchpins in preventative measures – these are fundamental to containing the spread.

“Sticking to them in combination is key as one of them on their own just isn’t as effective. This isn’t just throwing everything at Covid and hoping something sticks – we have to have all these in place consistently.”

The next step, Ms Burgess-Allen, said, is then self-isolating if Covid manages to get past the three preventative measures.

She said: “If someone contracts Covid-19 despite these measure, getting tested and self-isolating is an absolute necessity. People must do this to protect others.”

If people are told to self-isolate they must stay home for the entire period and not allow friends or family to visit the house during that time.

Covid Alert Level Medium: What does this mean for people in North Lincolnshire?

  • must not socialise in groups larger than 6, indoors or outdoors (other than where a legal exemption applies)
  • businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-secure manner, other than those that remain closed in law
  • certain businesses are required to ensure customers only consume food and drink while seated, and must close between 10pm and 5am
  • businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
  • schools and universities remain open
  • places of worship remain open, subject to the Rule of 6
  • weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees
  • exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors, or indoors if the Rule of 6 is followed.

You must:

You should continue to:

  • follow social distancing rules
  • work from home where you can effectively do so
  • when travelling, plan ahead or avoid busy times and routes. Walk or cycle if you can

For the latest guidance visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-levels-what-you-need-to-know