Sunderland City Council’s leader has urged residents to “ keep acting responsibly” to protect themselves and others from Covid-19 as the Government’s Plan B restrictions come to an end.
New Covid rules came into force across England on Thursday, January 27, following the government’s decision to lift “Plan B” measures and move to “Plan A.”
This will see an easing on mask wearing and the use of Covid passports for events, as well as the end of working from home guidance.
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Councillor Graeme Miller, speaking on the eve of the latest rule change at City Hall, updated full council on the Covid situation since councillors last met in November 2021.
This included surges in Covid-19 infection rates and impacts on the health and care sector in terms of high demand, reduced resources and increased absence rates due to sickness and self-isolation.
Cllr Miller said the “root cause” of challenges, including “demand far outstripping capacity”, was the government’s “massive underfunding of the sector over the past decade” and “failure” to plan for a national crisis.
The council leader also paid tribute to the efforts of everyone working to “keep the city running” – from residents, volunteers and businesses to public sector organisations and service providers.
As England moves into the next phase of national restrictions, Cllr Miller urged people to continue playing their part to drive infection rates down, especially in light of the Omicron variant.
“As ever my plea to everyone across the city is to ensure they’re protected from becoming seriously ill and that everybody gets the doses of the vaccine that they’re eligible for as soon as possible,” he said.
“NHS teams and all those supporting them are working incredibly hard, as they have done for the past year, to keep Sunderland at the forefront of rolling out the vaccines and getting as many people vaccinated as possible and they’re doing a brilliant job again so a huge thanks to everyone involved.
“But it is a whole team effort and we all need to keep on playing our part to drive infection rates down.
“Last week, along with a reduction in the self-isolation timeframes, the government announced the lifting of the Covid Winter Plan B measures including work from home guidance and the wearing of face coverings.
“I know and understand that this return towards normality will be very welcome by many, particularly in seeing the example set, or rather not set, by Number 10, Number 11 and Number 12 Downing Street throughout the crisis.
“But I cannot emphasise strongly enough how important it is for us all to keep acting responsibly and to continue to be aware of the real danger that Covid still poses if we are to allow our efforts to slip.”
Cllr Miller went on to say: “As restrictions are lifted and possibly come to an end altogether in the next few months we have got to keep on being mindful of whatever situation we’re in and think about how we can prevent the virus from spreading.
“If that means testing and isolating if positive, maintaining social distance still or wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces, especially around vulnerable people as necessary, then I know Sunderland people will do the right thing and make the right choices.
“There are many exciting things in the pipeline for everyone in 2022 in Sunderland creating lots of opportunity of all kinds for our residents, so let’s keep up the good work and let’s keep Covid-19 at bay.”
