"Freedom Day is not a Free-for-all Day" warns Stoke's public health boss
It's as the city's covid case rate has rocketed more than 2000% in a month
With just a couple of days to go until so-called 'Freedom Day' - there's a strong message to people in Stoke-on-Trent to stick with the covid rules - despite the government fully lifting them on Monday.
The city's 7-day coronavirus case rate now stands at 458.3 per 100,000 people (to 10 July) which is an increase of more than 2000% in just one month.
As on the 16th July, Stoke-on-Trent has the 2nd highest case rate in the West Midlands, and has surpassed that of the entire North West average.
It is expected the case rate will exceed 500 cases per 100,000 people on Saturday 17th July 2021.
"The messages are still the same to individuals." said Paul Edmondson-Jones, the Director of Public Health in Stoke-on-Trent.
"I would encourage them to wash their hands I'd encourage them to wear a mask where they feel they're in a crowded space or they feel that they want to protect themselves or others. I'd continue to socially distance it's not just about throw caution to the wind.
"It isn't a legal requirement, but it's still there for people to do. It's still good public health advice."
"You know, Monday is what been called Freedom Day. It's not a free for all day. I shall certainly be continuing to sanitise my hands whenever I can. I'll be continuing to wear a mask when I'm in a crowded space, I'll be continuing to socially distance not only are we doing that, because of COVID we're doing that because some people will be very frightened.
"We need to respect it, we still need to do things so people go into the nightclubs again, I would urge them to test yourselves before you go ideally get vaccinated. That's the key thing.
"Make sure that you're not unknowingly an asymptomatic carrier. Sanitise your hands while you're there, test yourself over the next couple of days and so on.
"People should make the personal choice to continue with the measures."
"Some people are going to be very nervous about coming out surely giving people a little bit of space, give them a metre or two is not a lot about to ask, I would encourage them to wear a mask continue to socially distance, that encourage them to wear a mask in a crowded space or to protect themselves or others. I'd continue to socially distance and I urge people to get vaccinated. So it isn't a legal requirement, but it's still there for people to do it."
It comes as nearly 49-thousand new COVID cases are reported in the UK this morning - the highest figure since January.
Meanwhile, the UK as a whole recorded 48,553 cases of the virus yesterday, also the highest figure in six months.
The UK is now on a path to remove most of its COVID restrictions next week as the government moves to step four of its 'roadmap out of lockdown'.
From Monday there will be no legal limits on social contact, businesses such as nightclubs will be able to reopen and rules around facemasks in some public places will be relaxed.
However, ahead of the change local health bosses are urging people to take things slow and steady to prevent another spike in infections.
The Netherlands has recently relaxed its coronavirus restrictions and has since seen case rates rise by almost 500% in a week
Case rates in the North East of the country are now at record levels
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