East Riding council leader warns the area's in danger of more covid cases

The leader of East Riding council says rising numbers of coronavirus cases in the area are “worrying” and residents should redouble their efforts to contain the spread.

Richard Burton says there is a danger the county would catch up to other areas hit harder by coronavirus.

The council leader is calling on residents to continue following social distancing guidelines and to self isolate if told to curb rising case numbers.

A council spokesperson said the local authority would continue to follow national guidance and would act accordingly if new measures are announced.

Their comments come as Conservative East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight said anyone who did not like the rules should “grin and bear it” until a vaccine is found.

Sir Greg added the government’s new three tiered traffic light system for managing local lockdowns would allow officials to move areas between different levels of restrictions more easily.

The system rates least affected areas as ‘green’, meaning only national rules apply, to ‘red’ with pubs, restaurants and gyms made to close and restrictions on meeting in public tighten.

It follows the latest Public Health England figures on coronavirus infection totals in Hull and the East Riding which stood at 2,223 and 2,756 respectively as of Monday, October 12.

Hull’s infection rate was 855.7 and the East Riding’s was 807.6, with totals rising by 26 and 62 respectively compared to Sunday.

Cllr Burton said council public health teams were constantly in touch with government officials to review local developments.

East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight said:

“I hope it doesn’t come to a local lockdown, but if that’s what the experts tell us we should do then we’ll have to.

“Most people are behind what the government are doing, they recognise it’s for the public good.

“The new traffic light system will allow the government to move areas between different levels of restrictions more easily.

“There’s growing evidence that social distancing is effective and works.

“I’d advise anyone who doesn’t like the current rules to grin and bear it because they’re for the greater good until we get a vaccine.

“Whatever rules are in place, they need to be kept under regular and constant review as our knowledge improves and if it looks like there’s a better way of doing this.”