Calls for mandatory face masks in Cornwall's enclosed spaces as hospitals face Covid pressures
On Friday, the Royal Cornwall announced it was temporarily suspending routine and urgent surgery
Last updated 13th Sep 2021
There are calls to make face masks mandatory in enclosed public spaces after Cornwall's main hospital trust announced emergency measures to cope with coronavirus.
The Royal Cornwall temporarily suspended all routine and urgent surgery to care for those needing urgent attention.
The announcement was made as Covid admissions remain high.
On Friday, bosses confirmed forty patients within the trust had the virus.
Cornwall is currently an 'Enhanced Response Area' for coronavirus, following a surge in case rates over the summer.
Now former St Ives MP and local councillor Andrew George is demanding meaningful action from the government.
Mr George said: "It's time for the Government to take meaningful action - e.g. introduce mandatory mask-wearing in enclosed public places and on public transport - in response to further news that Cornwall's local NHS has adopted further and drastic crisis measures to cope with the pressures.
"Cornwall hospitals chiefs have announced that all elective and emergency surgery has been cancelled in response to the exceptional Covid pressures.
"This follows a recent announcement that the hospitals trust has undertaken the biggest reconfiguration of services across the trust's hospitals in view of "exceptional pressures''."
Mr George accused the government of being "deeply irresponsible", adding: "Other countries with far better Covid records have opened up their economies whilst maintaining sensible restrictions. But the UK adopted a more cavalier attitude. It wasn't just that the G7 summit proved to be the super-spreader event as many had warned, but that lax measures have resulted in a worsening of Covid caseload and a higher level of Covid death than other countries".
Mr George went on to criticise the government's 'Enhanced Response Area' support package for Cornwall, describing it as "warm words".
The 'Enhanced Response Area' status will continue for five weeks, with MPs saying they hope it will ease the pressure on Treliske.
Speaking at the time, Conservative MP for Truro and Falmouth, Cherilyn Mackrory, said: "Covid is only one reason why we're seeing Treliske under pressure this summer.
"The amount of tourists that we've seen this year is unprecedented and on top of that we've seen quite a dramatic fall in the domiciliary caring sector.
"At A&E, those front doors are still overwhelmed and we're not seeing people released from the back door, if you like, into the care sector as quickly as we'd like.
"So it's not just a Covid issue, but we can see that Covid is contributing to that, I think we've got something like 32 people in Treliske at the moment, seven in ICU".