‘Potential’ stricter lockdown measures for the East Riding

Rising numbers of coronavirus cases in the East Riding mean the county could be moved into a higher tier of lockdown in the coming weeks.

That's what East Riding Council’s Public Protection lead Paul Abbott has told the Safer and Stronger Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee. He said the upward trends in coronavirus cases meant there was “potential” for stricter measures.

Mr Abbott added in his answer to Cllr Paul Nickerson’s question on the likelihood of stricter measures that they could come within weeks given the rate of increases.

The warning comes as the government put Hull and the East Riding on the lowest level of its new three tier lockdown system on Monday October 12th.

Paul Abbott said current trends meant that could change:

“My understanding is that graphs for cases across the country, including the East Riding, are showing an upward curve in cases.

“That means potentially in the coming weeks we will hit the limit where we’d then go into higher measures.

“That’s the projection from the way the graphs are going at the moment.”

Mr Abbott said current restriction enforcement was shared between the council and police, with the former monitoring opening and closing times of venues while the latter handles public gatherings.

Gillian Barley, the council’s head of revenue and procurement, said the East Riding faced a “really challenging time ahead” as cases rise and winter approaches.

Ms Barley said:

“As we head into winter there are other pressures and issues that will arise in those months that the authority will face.”

Acting committee Chair Cllr Paul Nickerson said:

“We didn’t expect or want to be in this position again.”

Both Mr Abbott and Ms Barley called on councillors to work in their communities to pass messages from officers to the public and concerns from the latter back to the former.