Whilst Cheshire East is not currently in lockdown, the Leader of Cheshire East Council has urged residents to behave as though they were and "only go out where really necessary" and suggests that the elderly and obese should only go outside to exercise.
As of today, Monday 29th September, there have been 2852 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Cheshire East, including 156 cases within the last week, which is an increase of 29 from yesterday.
Speaking on Twitter, Councillor Sam Corcoran, described the numbers as "alarming".
He said "I believe that further restrictions are needed and from today it's mandatory to self-isolate if you're asked to do so and there's a £1000 fine for failing to do so.
Cllr Corcoran added "I believe that additional restrictions will be needed. If you're in a high risk group and I urge people to only go out where necessary. If you're in a high risk group, for example elderly or obese I suggest that you only go out to exercise.
"We are not lockdown in Cheshire East but please think back to when we were in lockdown, work from home wherever possible and only go out where really necessary, for example to go to school or if your work requires it."
Speaking against the latest figures, Cllr Craig Browne, Deputy Leader at Cheshire East Council, said "It is against this backdrop that the Leader and I have written to the Secretary of State requesting additional local powers of enforcement to try and control the spread of the corona virus across Cheshire East. A number of our neighbours have gone back into local lockdown, including most recently, Stockport. This is something that, for the sake of our economy, we are keen to avoid.
"We have also expressed our concern about the lack of testing capacity. So far, the North West as a whole has seen 24% of the infections across England, but has only 15% of the national testing capacity. Fortunately, from this Thursday, 1st October, Cheshire East will be getting a local testing centre at Chester Street Car Park, in Crewe, with plans for further sites in Congleton and Macclesfield."
Cllr Browne added "This week has seen the introduction of the NHS test and trace app which I would like to encourage everyone to download and use. Businesses where people congregate, for example pubs, restaurants and leisure facilities have been asked to display a venue specific QR code, which people can scan on their phone to record their visit – remember for some venues, this is a legal requirement."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Thank you for your question; I hope you are also keeping well.
You will be aware of course that the government has recently taken the difficult decision to place a number of local authority areas across the northwest of England under local lock down, some of which (perhaps most notably, Stockport) directly border Cheshire East. As you have noted, this is likely to have a devastating impact on jobs, salaries and livelihoods (incidentally, I have also run my own business since 2004 and therefore have not been unaffected by the restrictions introduced to date); for these reasons, we are keen to do all we can to avoid the government placing Cheshire East under a similar lock down.
In arriving at the decision to place these neighbouring authority areas under local lockdown, the government will have taken into account (amongst other factors) the number of Covid-19 infections per 100,000 population, as well as the rate of increase in each area. We understand that Cheshire East is not currently on the government's watch list, with 46 cases per 100,000 population compared to, for example, Stockport's 89 cases per 100,000 population; however, whereas at the beginning of July Cheshire East had a weekly average of just 20 cases, within the last seven days we have seen 178 new cases.
Should the borough continue on its current trajectory with respect to the number of new cases, it is very likely that Cheshire East will be placed on the government's watch list and that similar local restrictions to those already seen in parts of Greater Manchester, Lancashire & Merseyside will follow. As Deputy Leader of the Council, I shoulder a great responsibility to do all that I can to try and avoid this, which is why (along with the Leader) I have written to the Secretary of State requesting additional enforcement powers; however, I would like to reassure you that these powers relate specifically to the hospitality sector and the ability to temporarily close establishments not complying with national legislation.
I hope this both answers your question and helps to provide some reassurance.
Kind regards,
Craig
Buried in the new draconian rules is a really choice "nugget" if any citizen refuses to take a Covid 19 test.. the Health authorities can call on the Police to assist them in getting the "refusnik"to the test centre. Sounds awfully like a different regime in different times.
New stats for you in the Winter flu outbreak of 1975 ..58000 died of flu (I.e complications caused by the flu). No lockdown then, no panic, no hysteria and our UK population was considerably smaller. I appreciate your hands are tied Craig , the hysteria , fearmongering and deliberately terrifying and threatening citizens must stop. As I said to another commenter on hear a sense of perspective is now needed.
Toodle Pips just off to get my newspaper in our wonderful village ;)
Thanks but no thanks Craig.
Which genius decided that the new NHS app is only available to those with a new smart phone?
Numerous people will therefore be excluded from accessing the new app.
Clever.
Bill Pilkington
The sensible thing would be to stop and question, seriously, the proportion of a proposed action, before lending this sort of legitimacy to it.
You write so much sense with you latest posting above.
Yes, 58,000 died in the UK with Flu during the 1975 epidemic ..... but yet businesses and everything else remained open and continued to function at that time.
Yet today, with 200,000 Covid tests each day on average, we find 4,000 or 5,000 being Positive ...... and then we are informed by the biased media that 15 or 20 deaths have occurred that day.
Even those figures are suspect as many "Positives" are false readings, similar to Prostate tests having Positive Negatives ?
Don't get me wrong, it must be totally devastating for friends and family when a loved one dies, but we need to have some sense of proportion here.
We hear very little about the 450 deaths, on average, EVERY SINGLE DAY from Cancer in this country, and we hear very little about all the other deaths that happen EVERY SINGLE DAY here in the UK, so why is this government prepared to decimate so many businesses and companies instead of carrying on with life as we
have known it.
It beggars belief that Universities are using security guards to keep students in their rooms against their will, under house arrest. Surely that is illegal imprisonment ?
This Covid virus is a killer, but so are Flu and Pneumonia viruses, so let's use some common sense instead of these draconian measures dictated by this government.
The scientific statements given by the media are so scaremongering and are out of all proportion ...... for example, if the boffins say 500,000 will be tested positive for the Chinese Virus (to quote Trump) by Christmas ..... but then a much smaller percentage do actually become positive, the boffins will say it was due to their restrictions, and if it does become 500,000, the boffins will say "Hey, we told you so"
BTW, I'm not a Covid disbeliever, but we need some sort of reality check here !!
Now, six months later, something like 200,000 tests are being carried out per day, still showing approx. 6,000 Positives, so these facts alone shows how the pandemic has been contained even though the UK are testing many thousands more than the early days.
(Thanks President Trump for calling it by its true name = the CHINESE Virus)
It is a highly contagious virus that has not just killed the elderly and frail.
The only reason it has not run catastrophically out of control is due to a large number of people who have and continue to behave cautiously.
It is for that reason that “only” the 42,000 deaths another commenter noted have occurred, - thats 42,000 out of 65,000 excess deaths over the same period on average.
That’s 42,000 more deaths than the typical 500,000 each year.
The wrongly named Spanish Flu killed 200,000 at a time when the UK population was some 40 million.
Applying similar ignorance today perhaps Covid-19 could kill more like 300,000.
Thankfully things are better in 2020 and behaviour is largely more appropriate.
So to those who demand a sense of perspective I suggest it is they who lack that perspective.
And as for calling it the Chinese virus what does this gain other than to provoke further xenophobic prejudice?
None of the agressive bluster will bring this coronavirus under control.
It requires intelligent and circumspect behaviour - sure, the often quoted Blitz Spirit is needed, but that involved much positive community thinking and a good deal more good sense in seeking protection from danger.
The Lockdowns have made sure many many thousands are not allowed their medical examinations or treatment each day, so these poor sods are just waiting to be seen by doctors and specialists, perhaps too late in many cases.
It will certainly be a lot more than the 450 Cancer deaths per day as this continues.
As for businesses, companies, employees and employers, many will not have jobs to go back to as these Lockdowns have totally decimated most workplaces.
https://youtu.be/kr04gHbP5MQ