“We can ill afford to become complacent after all the hard work": Strong message ahead of Bank Holiday weekend

A senior medic at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust had the stark message: “This simply is not over yet” and added: “We can ill afford to become complacent after all the hard work to date.”

Ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend, Cleveland Police and the NHS are urging people to continue to act responsibly, avoid large gatherings and maintain social distancing.

Officers from the Hartlepool Neighbourhood Police Team have been patrolling the areas where members of the public often gather in warm weather; such as Hartlepool’s parks and beaches.

While most people have been adhering to social distancing, officers have had to disperse a number of groups of specifically children and teenagers congregating in large numbers who are not from the same household.

Parents are being asked to ensure that their children are observing the guidelines ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.

It comes as there have been more than 300 coronavirus cases in Hartlepool and over 100 deaths at the town’s hospital trust.

Chief Superintendent Thom McLoughlin, Head of Local Policing at Cleveland Police, said: “We continue to police according to the national guidance and continue to ask our communities to abide by all the Government advice to stay alert, stay at home as much as possible, work from home if you can, limit contact with other people, keep your distance if you go out and wash your hands regularly.

“Personal responsibility is now key - think carefully about where you are going and how you will be able to keep your distance from others. Keep in mind the purpose of the regulations and the national effort to protect the NHS and save lives.

“Our overall aim is to continue to encourage and support our communities to comply fully with the restrictions.

“Officers do not want to use their enforcement powers if they don’t have to, but its right that they’re able to take action against those who disregard the remaining restrictions and in doing so, put people at risk.

“Officers are also working hard to keep us all safe from the full range of crimes in what remain challenging circumstances so we would ask everyone to work with us and remember that if you need our help we are here for you.”Julie Lane, Chief Nurse and Director of Patient Safety and Quality at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust added: “This simply is not over yet. We can ill afford to become complacent after all the hard work to date.

“We all miss our loved ones, we are living through exceptional times, and we recognise the pressures the restrictions bring. If we could just ask our communities across the Tees Valley to adhere to the guidelines, we can start to recover as a society.”

Police are urging people to read the Government’s most recent advice regarding here https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

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