Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has called on shops and businesses in Liverpool to do more to enforce the wearing of face masks as the city battles a surge in coronavirus cases.
Liverpool's cases have rocketed in recent days, with the city's Director of Public Health Matt Ashton describing the increase of 200 infections in the past week as 'extremely concerning.'
Yesterday hundreds of pupils were sent home from city schools as new infections hit multiple schools.
Now Mayor Joe Anderson says communities in the city need to do more to protect each other - and has also called on shops and businesses to be stronger in enforcing rules on wearing face masks.
It is now the law that people must wear a face covering in shops and other enclosed spaces - unless they have a medical exception.
But Mayor Anderson said too many people are just ignoring the rules - and getting away with it.
He said: "We are hearing countless examples of shops in the city full of people not wearing face coverings.
"I think all shops in the city have a responsibility to make sure their customers are wearing a mask - apart from the small few exceptions.
"I think its really important that shops and businesses take that responsibility and make sure these rules are enforced."
He also said it is 'vital' that the people of the city do the right thing and follow hygiene and social distancing measures after hundreds of pupils were sent home from schools to isolate.
He said: "This is much more than an education issue, we need communities to be protecting each other by doing the right things, following the guidance and stopping the virus spreading more - this is vital now."
Speaking about the rise in cases in the city, Mr Ashton said: “I am extremely concerned by the rise in positive cases over the last week – we are seeing most of them in people under the age of 40 and the worry is that they could spread it to older relatives, who are more at risk of serious illness and hospitalisation.
"We are also seeing increasing evidence of longer term effects of the illness on people – it can be a very dangerous disease.
“Now that schools have reopened we really need to all focus on the basics to get case numbers as low as possible and stop it spreading from the community into classrooms.
"That means social distancing, washing hands regularly and wearing a face covering in most indoor places.
“We would also advise people not to use restaurants, cafes and bars where they are not taking your details when you arrive or where there are not adequate hygiene measures in place.
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"They are putting your health at risk as you will not be contacted by test and trace if there is a positive case.
“We all have a part to play here, and if we don’t get this right, we are risking enhanced measures across the city, or a second lockdown, which would be devastating for individuals, for businesses and for the economy.”
The latest weekly rate of COVID-19 in Liverpool is now 40.1 per 100,000 people.
People in Liverpool are being urged to:
· Stay at least two metres away from anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble
· Wash your hands with soap and water often, and as soon as you get home
· Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water not available
· Wear a face covering over your mouth and nose where social distancing is not possible outdoors and indoors.
· By law, you must now wear face coverings in most indoor settings including public transport, shops, post-offices, banks, beauty salons, visitor attractions and entertainment venues, libraries, community centres, places of worship and public areas in hotels.
· Use Covid Safe businesses who are following the government guidance.
