Cornwall public health official thinks government should bring in Covid 'Plan B'
Ruth Goldstein has told us she would like to see the measures 'sooner rather than later'
One of Cornwall's top public health officials thinks the government should bring in its coronavirus 'Plan B' sooner rather than later.
Cornwall Council's Assistant Director of Public Health has spoken exclusively to us about the recent rise in cases.
As of today (3rd November) our main hospitals are treating 58 patients with Covid-19.
It comes as Downing Street has been under pressure to bring back mandatory measures like masks.
Doctor Ruth Goldstein is calling on people in the Duchy to do that anyway.
She told us: "From a personal perspective in Cornwall we have been encouraging people to do some of the things in 'Plan B' anyway, like the wearing of face coverings inside, I think it's the right time to do it whilst our hospitals are just about coping with the work load.
"We don't want to wait until the Covid work load is so high that it really forces another extreme pressure on the NHS, I would prefer to see it come in now as a prevention measure, rather than wait until we really need it to control things. I would definitely support it coming in sooner rather than later.
"I don't want to have to wait until it's totally on its knees before we do anything, I want the NHS to be able to get back to its fantastic work in keeping us all well and healthy, and I don't want it to be having to deal with Covid patients when actually it just isn't necessary because we can keep those numbers low if we take the right public health measures."
It comes after an NHS leader warned that ministers must immediately enforce "Plan B" coronavirus restrictions or "risk stumbling into a winter crisis".
Amid rising Covid-19 cases, Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, last week urged the Government to implement the back-up strategy which involves measures including bringing back mandatory face coverings in public places.
The NHS Confederation's warning comes as coronavirus deaths in the UK rose to their highest daily level since early March, while cases are at their highest for almost three months.
Mr Taylor said the NHS is preparing for what could be "the most challenging winter on record" and urged the public to "show extra support for the NHS" by "behaving in ways that will keep themselves and others safe".
He added: "It is time for the Government to enact Plan B of its strategy without delay because without pre-emptive action, we risk stumbling into a winter crisis.
"Also, health leaders need to understand what a 'Plan C' would entail if these measures are insufficient.
"The Government should not wait for Covid infections to rocket and for NHS pressures to be sky high before the panic alarm is sounded."
Downing Street said it was keeping a "very close eye" on rising case rates, but added the Prime Minister has "absolutely no plan to introduce Plan B", which could also involve introducing vaccine passports for nightclub entry.