Calls for people in the Scarborough Borough to follow Government rules
A Scarborough Borough Councillor is calling for people to adhere to Government rules after an increase in the seven-day infection rates.
People living in the Borough of Scarborough are being asked to follow Government rules to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.
It follows a huge increase in the seven-day infection rate per 100,000 people, which currently stands at 463.
Last month, it was the lowest in North Yorkshire with 92, but now it has overtaken all other districts as well as the average for England of 245.
John Casey, who is an Independent Scarborough Borough Councillor representing Filey, said:
"In my personal opinion and in what we've received from Scarborough Borough Council, it seems to be community and household transmission; especially in Filey, Hunmanby, Scarborough, Staithes and Hinderwell. There have obviously been rises in schools and care homes as well.
"The figures are not taking into account the figures from the newly set up testing centre in Scarborough, they have not been included yet. So taking that out of the equation, the increase is still quite serious and it's because people don't appear to be doing or following the national guidelines on the virus.
"I would encourage everybody to adhere to Government guidance on staying safe; the good old washing your hands regularly, cover your face especially when you're in enclosed areas and make space by staying at least two metres apart, or at the very least, if you're wearing a face covering, one metre apart. If we all did that, then the figures would drop drastically I would say; and if you're asked by Track and Trace, or another authority to self-isolate, then please do so. It's really imperative.
"If this would have happened in the summer, then I would have said yes, it's from the visitors. But we had drastically high numbers of visitors over the summer and the figures stayed reasonably low. It's only just recently that the figures have gone up, so I don't think we can blame the tourists in this respect.
"The virus is here, the virus is real and it'll only go away if we all remember the rules and do it. I know it's not easy, I don't like it either. I'm going stir crazy sat at home but we have to do it if we want to see the back of the virus. But because there might be a cure on the horizon, it doesn't mean we can start ignoring the advice."