Geordie actress Denise Welch has slammed the 'utter cruelty' of the lockdown restrictions which have now been enforced in the North East.
Denise, who now lives in Cheshire, was among the many high profile figures who reacted to the announcement on Thursday morning when Health Secretary Matt Hancock laid out a list of new rules for people in Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Northumberland, Sunderland and County Durham.
The North East local lockdown has seen a whole host of restrictions introduced including a ban on people meeting anyone from another household, unless they're in a support bubble; people being discouraged from using public transport where possible and pubs, bars and restaurants being ordered to close by 10pm at the latest every night.
There has been no indication as to how long the North East lockdown rules will be in place and reacting to them, and pointing to the fact that, at the time of writing, there were 243 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the North East out of 2million people, Denise tweeted: "My dad is 83.
“My sister has 3 foster children whose lives are full of excitement.
"Especially at Xmas with us all together. North East on lockdown. 243 positive results out of 2 million people.
"Are their ANY journalists who are going to expose this utter cruelty!!”
On Thursday night, Denise then posting: "Lots of anxiety and upset tonight. Just try and relax and not be alarmed by the headlines. We know them by now. Look at all the stats and data and not just the rising cases. Take care of your loved ones as we always do," adding: "Covid is a vile virus. Horrendous & my heart aches for those affected. But there are 10,000 people die EVERY WEEK.
"We can’t add to the number of non Covid deaths for ever!!! Even if hospitalisations rise from Covid we must remember that treatments have MASSIVELY improved."
