Devon and Cornwall face extra Covid 'rules' as visitors told 'wear masks & social distance' amid rise in Covid cases
DEVON and Cornwall have been slapped with extra Covid "rules" ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend after a massive spike in cases.
Cases in the holiday hotspot have soared in recent weeks – with infections so high that it would be "put on the red list" if it was a country on the UK's traffic light system.
A number of local authorities in the south west of England will now be given extra support cases due to fears of mounting pressure on the NHS amid the spike in cases, the Department of Health said tonight.
Cornwall's cases have doubled in a week as Brits descend on the towns and beaches for holidays, as well as the Boardmasters festival which has been linked to thousands of cases.
Extra measures will be rolled out in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay to boost the number of people getting vaccinated and tested.
While there will be no legal restrictions in place, more public health campaigns will be launched to urge visitors to wear masks and social distance.
People living in the areas will also be required to wear face coverings in communal areas outside classrooms in secondary schools and colleges.
The extra measures will be in force from today for the next five weeks – but pupils will return to school from next week as planned.
The Department of Health has urged local residents and visitors to wear face coverings in crowded areas, meet outdoors where possible, let fresh air into homes, and consider minimising the number of social interactions.
It follows reports that Cornwall has six of the eight highest Covid areas in England.
The top three in England are Newquay East, Newquay West and St Columb Minor & Porth – all in Cornwall.
More to follow…
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