Plymouth’s residents should rally round once more to help each other as the country faces a second lockdown.
Council leader Tudor Evans OBE called for the city to unite, to be kind to each other and to work together to do whatever it takes to try to reduce the infection rate.
He said: “That was a very sobering Saturday evening. This is not going to be easy, but we have proved that we can look after each other before and we will do it again. If we go in hard and fast and knuckle down to get the rate of infection - the R rate down, we can hopefully come out of lockdown in time for Christmas.
“We will do our part, but I want the Government to do use this time to work with us and other councils to sort out the test & trace.
“I am incredibly worried about the impact this will have on our businesses - particularly our hospitality, arts and culture sectors who help make Plymouth a great place to live - they need a specific and substantial package of measures before they become permanent casualties.
“The figures behind the hardship relief fund are depressing - we’ve been given enough to help 154 people with a £500 one off payment. Surely this needs to be reviewed urgently?
“I am worried for colleagues in our South West hospitals who were specifically highlighted in the Prime Minister’s briefing as being at risk of running out of capacity in a matter of weeks unless we act.
“Finally, all councils need to be properly funded to keep care and the frontline going. Our staff are working all hours to support care homes and schools dealing with the impact of COVID-19, to feed hungry children, to help our businesses be COVID-secure as well as keep the city going. If ever there was a time for more funding, this is it.”
The Council leader added: “Plymouth largely escaped the first wave. This time we are not so fortunate. There is no Covid blocker at our boundaries, it is among us and increasing. Stay at home and help save lives.”
From Thursday 5 November:
- All pubs and restaurants must shut - but takeaways can remain open
- All non-essential retail to close
- No household mixing but support bubbles will still be allowed and children will be able to move homes if their parents are separated.
- Outbound international travel banned
- Overnight hotel stays banned except for work
- Travel in UK discouraged
- Essential travel to work permitted
- Schools and universities will be allowed to remain open
- Courts will remain open
- Outdoor exercise will be allowed
- Churches and other places of worship will be closed except for funerals, to broadcast acts of worship and individual prayer
- Construction and manufacturing to continue
Shielding measures will not be re-introduced, but vulnerable people or those aged over 60 are told to be especially careful.
Full details are now available on the Government’s website. The measures will apply to all regions from Thursday and will be in place until 2 December.
Director for Public Health, Dr Ruth Harrell said: “No one would have chosen another lockdown. However, the figures for people being admitted to hospital and for deaths have been rising rapidly and it’s clear that the interventions under the tiers have not been working to keep R down as low as is needed.
“While our figures in Plymouth are below the England average, the virus is already having a considerable impact on the NHS locally. This lockdown gives us the chance to get figures back down again. As difficult as this is, it is to save lives.”
The Council, like the rest of the country will be looking at the implications of the lockdown for its organisation. It will also be reviewing its services to prioritise its core services if necessary. With a defined end date for the lock down, we will do our best to ensure that the majority of services will be able to continue unaffected.