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A district of Kent has become England’s worst hit Covid hotspot. deliberate disregard of the rules « .
Swale reported a rate of 631. According to government figures, 7 cases per 100. 000 people for the seven days up to the 18th. November – opposite 425. 8 per 100. 000 in the past seven days.
The coastal district, which includes Sittingbourne, Faversham and the Isle of Sheppey, has overtaken Hull as the UK authority with the highest Covid-19 rate.
The news came as a shock to residents and businesses as it was rare during the pandemic for an area in the southeast to fall into the top 20 local authorities in England for infection rates.
Amid concerns about compliance with coronavirus restrictions, Swale Council Chairman Roger Truelove convened an emergency meeting on Monday afternoon to discuss the rising case numbers.
He said, “I know most people and companies are doing what they should, but it’s frustrating to see people still not wearing face covering or keeping their distance when they should. This kind of willful disregard of the rules means we are more likely to face further restrictions in December. ”
Senior officials from Kent County Council, Kent Police, HM Prison Service, the Department of Labor and Pensions and the local volunteer sector were invited to attend.
After the meeting, Truelove said, « What we really want to convey to our local people is that if we don’t cut our numbers, we will be in a very restrictive phase all winter. « . ”
Deprivation also played a role, Truelove added, as the worst hit areas are the poorest and most deprived, where people live in houses that are close together and may not be able to work from home. He added, « It doesn’t take a lot of people to ignore social distancing for it to cause an increase. ”
Truelove believes there is a notable difference in the level of compliance between the first and second national lockdowns. The council will therefore « load the news to the people » to take the pandemic seriously and comply with the restrictions in force.
« We’re getting reports of crowds in supermarkets, so we’ll write to supermarkets, » said Truelove. He added there had been reports of children being asked to isolate when they went shopping.
Jack Connor, who represents Swale on Kent Youth District Council, agreed that cases in the area had risen sharply because local residents, including young people, « broke the rules. ». . He supports the area where Tier 3 restrictions are in place and hopes the latest numbers will be a wake-up call for residents. He said the role that withdrawal played and the decision to keep schools open should not be ignored as factors.
Sarah Simmons, a consultant at the Three Mariners Pub in Oare, near Faversham, said the lack of clarity about whether Swale would enter the top tier and how long it took was a devastating blow to local businesses. “Words cannot currently express the fear and emotions of everyone in our industry.
« We really want to act, but we are even more desperate for guidance. She warned that the lack of a long-term plan and stopping and starting the industry, which is people-led and relies on fresh products, made it difficult for companies to run.
Danni Hollands, marketing manager at the Black Lion Pub in Lynsted, near Sittingbourne, said the significant increase in cases over a short period of time had been a shock to the region and she was concerned about what this would mean for the hospitality sector. « As an industry, we feel broke, so to speak. Yes, it is very difficult to control the pandemic in the hospitality industry. That is why we are hardest hit, but the financial support we receive from the government is absolutely minimal and it really doesn’t help. ”
Swale District, Coronavirus, Kent, Infection Rate, England
World News – GB – Swale in Kent becomes England’s Covid hotspot after rising cases
Ref: https://www.theguardian.com
