CONCERN over rising cases of Covid-19 has prompted Rugby Borough Council (RBC) to warn residents against complacency about the virus.
With cases of Covid-19 continuing to rise and new restrictions coming into force today (Monday September 14),
Rugby Borough Council is calling on residents to continue to do what’s right for Rugby by following the ‘hands, face, space’ guideline.
The new restrictions make it an offence to meet in groups of more than six people except in certain cases, which has been described as the ‘rule of six’.
Meanwhile the ‘hands, face, space’ mantra is being used to remind residents to wash their hands regularly and sanitise when out and about, wear a face covering in enclosed spaces and keep two metres apart from anyone they don’t live with.
To reiterate the message, the council is launching a ‘let’s do the right thing for Rugby’ graphic to go with the #RightForRugby tag that it has been using on social media.
RBC leader Coun Seb Lowe said: “Our residents have been doing the right thing throughout this pandemic, and as a consequence we have seen relatively few cases compared to elsewhere in the county.
“Now though, I am very concerned that we are seeing cases rise.
“While some residents may feel that they will not be affected by the virus, community transmission of Covid-19 puts friends, neighbours and relatives at risk.
“The virus hasn’t changed and we know that hand washing, wearing face coverings and keeping apart is enough to stop its spread.
“Now is the time for residents to acknowledge where they may have become complacent and make a decision to continue to do what’s right for Rugby.
“We must all remember ‘hands, face, space’, follow the rule of six and isolate with our households if we have symptoms.
“By using the Right for Rugby tag I hope that residents will understand how their actions affect their communities.”
Shade Agboola, Warwickshire County Council (WCC) Director of Public Health, said: “We know it has been a difficult few months and that people are becoming complacent around who they see, where they go, maintaining a social distancing and wearing face coverings.
“However, with the rise in cases both locally and across the country, it’s now more important than ever before to do the right thing.
“By launching ‘Let’s Do the Right Thing for Rugby’, we are aiming to instil a community spirit to help us to control the virus together.
“It’s not just about individuals keeping themselves safe, but also making sure that by taking action to stop the spread, that we keep communities safe. So not only do people need to take steps to keep vulnerable family members safe, but also ensure that they don’t spread the virus to people they don’t know who may also be at risk.
“So please let’s do the right thing for Rugby. Wear a face covering when going shopping or on public transport. Continue to wash your hands regularly and stay a safe distance away from people, especially when in crowded areas, and if you have symptoms, self-isolate immediately and book a test.
“They are relatively simple steps, but critical to ensure that we stop the spread of the virus and save lives.”
Daily cases of Covid-19 in the UK soared to more than 3,500 on Friday, and the R number rose to above 1 for the first time since March – meaning the epidemic is growing once again.
Over the past two weeks, a number of venues in Rugby have had to temporarily close for cleaning after customers subsequently tested positive for the virus.
WCC said it had seen a rise in cases in recent weeks associated with people visiting pubs, particularly in Rugby.
Visit www.rugby.gov.uk/coronavirus for information on Covid-19.
