DROITWICH people are being urged to ‘pull together by staying apart’ in a bid to reduce the Covid-19 infections and help save lives.
The leader of Wychavon District Council, Coun Bradley Thomas, is calling on residents to follow the new restrictions to help pull the district through until spring when it is hoped the national vaccination programme will allow a return to some normality.
He said: “I know it’s tough being separated from loved ones and it is devastating for businesses forced to close but if we don’t get back on top of this virus there is a very real risk our NHS is overwhelmed, we can’t rebuild our economy and normality will slip further away.
“The vaccine rollout has started in this area and we will see it ramped up over the coming weeks.
“Hope is definitely on the horizon we just have to hold on.
“But we can only get there if all of us take action to protect each other.
“This means we must follow the rules, wash our hands, wear face coverings correctly and keep two metres apart from others when we do go outside.
“We can do this if we all pull together, by sadly staying apart, for just a little while longer.”
Rising Covid-19 infection rates have seen Wychavon go from 82 per 100,000 at the start of December to 284 per 100,000 on Sunday, January 3.
The Prime Minister announced a new national lockdown for England on Monday which means people must now stay at home and can only leave for certain reasons including to get food and essentials, for exercise, to look after a vulnerable person or to attend a medical appointment.
Schools have been closed but nurseries remain open.
All non-essential retail, gyms and leisure centres must also close but click and collect and takeaway services are still available.
Free parking in all Wychavon pay and display car parks will remain in place until further notice to help people shop for essentials and support the vulnerable.
On-street parking restrictions still apply and are being enforced.
More information on the support available to residents during this latest national lockdown and the impact on services is available at www.wychavon.gov.uk/coronavirus
