Act now to avoid local lockdown pleads Hartlepool health chief after spike in virus cases

Craig Blundred, acting director of public health at Hartlepool Borough Council recorded a video message urging people to continue all the good work to keep the virus at bay.

It comes after the number of cases has started to increase since the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Mr Blundred said: “The gradual easing of lockdown restrictions are welcome, however, we need to be clear we aren’t out of the woods yet.

"Over the last couple of weeks we’ve started to see an increase in the number of cases in the community.

“So we need to take action now so that we remain clear of the actions that are required in other parts of the country at the moment such as the North West.”

For the week ending Sunday, June 28 Hartlepool’s Covid-19 rate was 6.4 cases per 100,000 of the population.

But for the seven days to July 30, it stood at 9.7 per 100,000 after nine new cases, and the week before was 11.8.

By contrast, the rate for Blackburn with Daren in the North West was 79.9.

Mr Blundred added: "I do need to stress that we're nowhere near the level of cases that they are there and we’d like to keep it that way.

"So we’re asking you now to continue to take the actions that we have been to date to make sure that we don’t increase the spread of Covid-19 in the community.”

He said social distancing – 2-metres (six feet) – remains vital, along with regular hand washing, cough or sneeze into a tissue, and the mandatory wearing of face coverings.

Anyone who develops symptoms should isolate immediately at home and call for a test.

Mr Blundred said: "We’ve come a long way with the virus and we want to make sure that we retain all of the good work that we’ve done to date and we want to make sure we don’t see any of the incidents that we’re seeing in the North West of England for example.”

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