Council chief thanks Hartlepool for staying home over Easter and helping save lives

Council chiefs and police made a plea to everyone in the town to keep to social-distancing measures over the four days of Easter, particularly as spells of sunny and warm weather proved a temptation.

And Councillor Shane Moore, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said it was clear that the vast majority of people had heeded the “stay at home wherever possible” message.

The council had put up 12 large banners at key locations around the town urging people not to venture out unnecessarily.

The banners which have gone up at places such as Seaton Carew, the Headland, the marina, the entrance to the Hart to Haswell Walkway in Ocean Road, Ward Jackson Park and Summerhill Country Park, include a reminder that all exercise should start and finish at home, and no-one should be driving anywhere to exercise.

Councillor Moore said: “I said before Easter that it was important not to become complacent and that we all needed to continue doing whatever we could to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

“Despite the difficulties that come with socially isolating for a long period of time, I would like to thank everyone who followed the rules. Your support really is appreciated.

“At the end of the day, it is only by staying at home and avoiding non-essential travel that we will ultimately get on top of the virus and be able to return to normality. By observing the rules, we are also helping to protect the NHS and save lives on a daily basis.”

Under lockdown measures, people are asked to stay at home other than for a limited number of reasons.

These include going to work if you cannot work from home, for medical appointments, to care for vulnerable relatives, to buy basic essentials or to take exercise once a day.

People are asked to stay two meters apart from others while they are outside their homes, and businesses still operating have taken steps to ensure social-distancing for staff and customers.

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