By Matt Jarram, Local Democracy Reporter
Some Nottinghamshire council leaders say they are concerned the lifting of almost all legal Covid-19 restrictions in England on Monday has come too early and called for measures to remain in place.
Hospital admissions have risen across Nottinghamshire, with 69 beds now occupied with patients suffering from Covid-19.
There has also been a rise in the number of people testing positive for the virus with around 4,864 new cases across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire in the last week.
The Government confirmed this week that restrictions will be lifted on Monday, July 19, which some people have called ‘Freedom Day’.
People will no longer legally have to wear face coverings or maintain social distance, and there will be no limits on mixing indoors with people from other households.
Nightclubs across the city are also due to reopen their doors for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
The health secretary, Sajid Javid, said vaccinations had created a “protective wall”, which would mean the country could “withstand a summer wave”.
Cllr David Mellen (Lab), leader of Nottingham City Council, is writing to Mr Javid, urging him to consider making face coverings mandatory to prevent further rates of infection.
In Nottingham, he said, people will be ‘expected to continue wearing face coverings’ when in busy public places especially when indoors such as shops and public transport and when coming into council buildings from July 19.
He added: “I am deeply concerned that we are throwing away all protection against the virus. Rates of Covid-19 continue to rise in our city. More people are also being admitted to hospital. The vaccine offers greater protection from the virus, but many people in Nottingham still remain unvaccinated.
“I would strongly encourage people to wear a face covering when they are on public transport, in shared indoor spaces or are outside and unable to maintain social distance from other people.
“In Nottingham I am asking people to continue wearing face masks because we care about each other as well as ourselves. I will continue to wear my own face covering to help protect others.”
He is being backed by Cllr John Clarke (Lab), Leader of Gedling Borough Council, who said face masks should be worn for “at least another year.”
Cllr Clarke said: “We should retain masks on public transport, in shops and crowded areas for at least another year. It is a nuisance, but I would rather get rid of Covid.
“We have jumped the gun on this. I hope the Government wake up and see sense. I think we will see more people with Covid in hospitals. We were always told there would be five waves of this and we are on the third wave now.
“Our vaccine centre at the Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton will be open until Christmas – that shows you.”
Councillor Milan Radulovic (Lab), leader of Broxtowe Borough Council, said Nottinghamshire can’t afford another lockdown.
“Everyone should carry a face mask and use it – it gives confidence and additional protection. It should be slowly taken away not gone in one day.
“They should be used on public transport, inside shops and in close spaces that do not have access to ventilation. There has not been enough thought to the risk as infections continue to rise.
“We can’t afford to go into lockdown as businesses will not survive and there will be extra pressure on our hospitals as well.”
Councillor Simon Robinson (Con), leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council, has backed the Government’s decision and said ‘we have got to learn to live with’ the virus.
“I welcome the government’s decision to give the responsibility back to the public and it is now up to the public to ensure they make the right decisions and secure people’s safety,” he said.
“I think coronavirus has risen anyway before these decisions with the Euros and Wimbledon and we have got to learn to live with it.
“But people have got to take responsibility – choose when to wear a mask, and self-isolate when told to and if you show symptoms not to go out in groups.”
NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Clinic Commissioning Group said there were 54 hospital admissions in the area in the seven days to July 11.
This compares to 45 the week before.
There were also 69 hospital beds occupied by Covid-19 patients on July 13 – and 13 of them were seriously ill and needing ventilation.
There were just 32 hospital beds occupied by Covid patients the week before.
There have also been four deaths in Notts from Covid from July 8 to July 14, compared to two deaths from the virus the week before.
And across Notts there have been 1.2m Covid vaccinations – 513,342 of these being for a second dose.
Lucy Hubber, Director of Public Health in Nottingham, said: “We are not in a position to relax and that Covid has ended for us. Quite the opposite.
“We are seeing it in the school age population and there is a lot of Covid circulating in the wider community.
“I urge people to act carefully and remain cautious into next week as legal restrictions are lifted.”
Jonathan Gribbin, Director of Public Health for Nottinghamshire, said three quarters of the cases they are seeing are in people under 40.
“The things that will keep people safe in the next week are the same things that have kept them safe this last year – frequent hand washing and face coverings in crowded public spaces.”
