Northamptonshire health officials backing Boris' 10pm shutdown for pubs and restaurants

"We know the majority of pubs do a really job but as night wears on it becomes harder to maintain social distancing"
Boris Johnson on his way back to Downing Street after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning. Photo: Getty ImagesBoris Johnson on his way back to Downing Street after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning. Photo: Getty Images
Boris Johnson on his way back to Downing Street after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning. Photo: Getty Images

Boris Johnson's 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants was an option for Northamptonshire's Public Health officials as they battled rising Covid-19 cases.

Northampton and Corby remain areas of concern on the Public Health England watch list after spikes in numbers of new infections in the last eight weeks.

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Data now indicates the rate of infection now appears to be falling in the county, yet the Prime Minister is set to announce fresh restrictions on the whole country including ordering the hospitality sector to close at 10pm every night from Thursday.

Public Health consultant Rhosyn HarrisPublic Health consultant Rhosyn Harris
Public Health consultant Rhosyn Harris

County Council Public Health consultant Rhosyn Harris revealed the local teams have no advance warning of the Government's plans.

But she said: "Restrictions on opening hours was something that has been discussed locally.

"We know the majority of pubs do a really job but as night wears on and people have more to drink it becomes increasingly hard for people to maintain social distancing.

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"Where we have seen breaches of the guidance in Northamptonshire it has been late into the night so restricting opening hours should help us reduce transmission in the county."

Latest figures still show the number of new positive Covid-19 tests in Northamptonshire falling below the national average after a campaign to ensure people limit mixing with other households and avoid car-sharing and using public transport where possible.

But the local team say falls in the number of positive swabs is not linked to national capacity issues in processing labs which led to people struggling to book test appointments.

Ms Harris added: "There was a dip in testing in Northampton recently but that followed a spike in tests at the end of August so the number of tests is now back to roughly where it was in the middle of last month.

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"Other boroughs – particularly Wellingborough and Kettering have seen the opposite pattern – a dip followed by a spike. So when added together it actually averages out as an overall 3 per cent increase in the number of tests.

"Capacity still tight in terms of the number of people who want to get tested being higher than number of spots available. But the number of tests available has not changed so we are not testing fewer people just seeing lots more people requesting tests.

"Our message is please only request a test if you have symptoms."

Mr Johnson's message is likely to include other restrictions on households mixing although Northampton, Corby and Kettering have been operating under similar guidance for some time.

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Ms Harris added: "Our message echoes some of the things Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance were saying on Monday. More people you are in contact with socially, the higher risk of transmission.

"So if you can limit interactions outside your household it is all the better for reducing transmission in community.

"If you can do this voluntarily then it avoids that being made a restriction and getting into the sort of sticky mess with restrictions who they apply to and where and when.

"We have seen a lot of people complying with our voluntary guidance and that has resulted in seeing local rates not increasing at same rate as the national rate so that's really encouraging."