'You would hardly know there's a pandemic' - a Hartlepool man's view on life in Florida

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Business boss Paul Gough spoke from his home in the USA to talk about the pandemic, the US elections and how it all compares with life back home.

He said: “In Florida, we have got a normal life except for masks. Pubs, restaurants and theme parks are all open and the NFL games are at 30 percent capacity.

"We know it is happening and there are temperature checks in Disney but to all intents and purposes it has been nipped in the bud. You just have to put your mask on and stay six feet apart.”

Paul owns and runs Paul Gough Physio Rooms in Raby Road in Hartlepool as well as branches in Durham, Darlington and Guisborough.

He now lives in Orlando, Florida where he runs another of his businesses. He also spoke of the US elections and said people in the UK ‘don’t get what it is like’

Where a UK election has six weeks in the spotlight, it is completely different in the USA, said Paul. “They have a two-year election cycle for the next election.”

Interest in politics is massive and Paul said that, on the day of the election, ‘there was a line of people round the corner at 6.30am at the polling station.”

Paul Gough who spoke to the Hartlepool Mail about life under the pandemic in the USA.

While life in Florida, wasn’t being badly affected by the pandemic, it was different in other states.

Illinois has urged people to stay at home after 10 consecutive days of 10,000 new Covid-19 cases. In California, more than 53,000 cases were reported last week.

Paul said: “I am in Florida and people are coming here to get away from lockdown rules. I am in no doubt that it will spike after Christmas.”

Paul provides a coaching service for other physio businesses in America.

Paul Gough who owns and runs Paul Gough Physio Rooms.

Back in his hometown, public health bosses issued a plea last week asking Hartlepool residents to ‘work together to stop the spread’ following a significant increase in town’s Covid-19 cases.

Paul’s UK physio rooms have stayed open and Paul said: “We’re busier than ever right now since a lot of people are off work and have time to come and get treatment.”

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