Whitby GP nervous about all restrictions being lifted in one day
Today sees the removal of Covid restrictions in England.
Last updated 19th Jul 2021
People on the Yorkshire Coast are being urged to use 'care and consideration' after today's so-called 'freedom day'.
It is as restrictions are lifted, which means wearing face coverings and social distancing will be a person's choice, rather than a legal requirement.
There are concerns it is not the right time to relax the rules though, as infection rates across the country as rising.
Dr. Simon Stockill, Clinical Director at Whitby Coast and Moors Primary Care Network, said:
"I'll be entirely honest. I'm really nervous about this whole concept about freedom day and the idea that all restrictions are going in one go, at a time when we've got levels that are back to some of the worst that they have been and are likely to only get worse.
"Numbers are back up to almost as bad as they were at the very peak of the pandemic in the winter obviously there is the vaccination programme which provides a decent level of support and protection for people but it doesn't provide absolute protection - no vaccination programme does.
"There are some people who, because of medical conditions, are unable to have the vaccination and therefore they're at an increased risk. We will still be asking patients to please consider your fellow citizens to wear a mask, particularly when you're in an indoor space, such as a GP surgery, supermarket or picking up prescriptions.
"Masks provide possibly some level of individual protection for you but more importantly, they provide protection for the person standing near you and you don't know what their medical condition are, you don't know how vulnerable that person may be. So please use your care and consideration for people.
"I kinda wish we'd gone the same way as the Scottish Government have done and advised that in public and indoor places masks were still mandatory but you know, the Government have taken the decision in England that it has and now it's up to the public to make those sensible choices".