People in Southport and Formby are being asked to show restraint and not to ‘party hard’ before new Coronavirus restrictions are introduced in Sefton from Tuesday.
Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health Margaret Jones says doing so could put people’s lives at risk.
She said: “Of course, with this news of next week’s further restrictions some people will be tempted to go out over the weekend and celebrate before they kick in but I would urge them not to as they could be putting themselves and their vulnerable relatives at risk.
“As people party more, they tend to become less inhibited and can forget the need for social distancing, mask wearing and frequent and thorough handwashing, all of which are key to preventing the spread of the Covid-19 virus when we’re out and about.
“While those people may be younger, meaning they are probably less likely to be affected badly by Covid-19 and are less worried about the pandemic, the risk is that they could take the virus home to relatives for whom coronavirus could be very serious or even fatal if they are vulnerable or elderly.
“So yes, go out and enjoy the weekend, but please don’t enjoy it so much that you or your family could seriously regret it.
“Our pubs, bars and restaurants will still be open on Wednesday and if we all remember the rules, they can stay that way as we get the infection numbers back down.”
A number of measures will come into force, including:
- Residents must not socialise with other people outside of their own households or support bubble in private homes and gardens;
- Hospitality for food and drink will be restricted to table service only; and
- Late night operating hours will be restricted, with leisure and entertainment venues including restaurants, pubs, and cinemas, required to close between 10pm to 5am.
Residents are also advised to adhere to the following guidance to further reduce rates of infection:
- Only to use public transport for essential purposes, such as travelling to school or work
- Avoid attending amateur and semi-professional sporting events as spectators.
Yesterday’s figures revealed that Covid-19 cases in Sefton have risen to 53.2 per 100,00 (147 new cases), up from 42.3 per 100,000 (117 new cases) last week.
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