Cornwall urged to be vigilant as Tier 1 areas could see Covid cases rise
The Duchy will be in the lowest level of coronavirus restrictions when lockdown ends
Last updated 27th Nov 2020
People in Cornwall have been urged to remain vigilant and follow all public health guidelines when the Duchy enters the lowest Tier One restrictions next week.
At a briefing by Cornwall Council the council’s deputy leader Adam Paynter said that there had been warnings that Tier One areas were expected to be the only parts of the country where coronavirus cases could continue to rise.
It was announced today that Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – along with the Isle of Wight – are the only parts of England which will be in Tier One once the national lockdown ends next Tuesday.
Cllr Paynter said that details about the different tiers had been shared with local authorities in a call with ministers and national public health officials.
He said: “In Tier One numbers will continue to rise, if they rise too much in the next two weeks we will be moving tiers.
“For all our businesses and all the people in Cornwall I hope we can follow our rules and keep our level flat or going down.”
Rachel Wigglesworth, director of public health for Cornwall, said: “If people maintain their guard then we should see a slow rise. What we wouldn’t want to see going into Christmas, at that crucial point for the NHS, is a steep increase which might see if people drop their guard and start believing it is business as normal.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked whether in an ideal world, from a public health perspective, it might have been better for Cornwall to be in Tier Two so that cases would start to drop.
Sally Hawken, Cornwall Council Cabinet member for public health, said that it was a difficult balance to strike.
She said: “We debated that on the issue around the border (with Devon) and the situation with people travelling. Our messaging has to be to ask everybody to be vigilant and we would say that whether it was Tier One or Tier Two.
“Some people feel that Tier Two would make it easier but for those in hospitality Tier One will make things easier.
“Being in Tier One there is only one way to go and it is not a good way.”
Rachel Wigglesworth added: “From a public health perspective we wouldn’t want to see cases rising and we will be following that closely.”
Cllr Paynter said: “Given the choice it would be interesting. From a business point of view we are delithed to be in Tier One – it isn’t as restrictive and gives more freedom.
“But by being in Tier One it does flag us up as it did previously in the Number 10 briefings where Cornwall was flashing like a beacon and potentially attracting people down here.
“When you speak to local people who are quite scared and we wouldn’t want a huge influx of people coming down.
“People want those freedoms without the fears of people from Tier Three areas bringing the virus down.
“We are in Tier One and we want to remain in Tier One.”
Earlier Rachel Wigglesworth had appealed to people to remain on their guard and keep following guidelines.
She said: “As Cornwall is moved into Tier One , which means more freedoms in Cornwall to meet up and go out we mustn’t let our guard down.
“If we do we could let the virus run riot and be back into lockdown in January.”
She added: “We have seen how quickly cases can move in Cornwall where it is allowed to move from household to household.
“It has particularly affected the east and north of Cornwall. We must do everything we can to stop this happening. We mustn’t let our guard down.”
Rachel said it was important for people to get a test if they experience symptoms and said that if someone in your household has symptoms or test positive it was important to stay apart and to make sure things are cleaned properly.
She even urged people to “think twice about cuddling up on the sofa or sitting down together for a meal” if anyone in the house has symptoms or tests positive.
And she urged people to keep well by exercising and being active as much as possible.
The briefing also heard that if people from Tier Two areas go into Tier One areas they have been told to keep following the restrictions from their own areas and not those of the area they are visiting.