 |
| Boris Johnson's Government Blamed AGAIN |
This time, it is a radical change from the lack of criticism from Conservative Council Leader Councillor David Fothergill. Councillor Fothergill regularly praises and defends his Party's hopeless Government. That's what Party Puppets like him do.
This time a Somerset County Council Public Health Consultant is doing the criticising, when she blames the relaxation on restrictions for the increase in infection, during an interview on local BBC Radio Somerset.
This time, the Consultant also praises Somerset's residents for their behaviour to date.
On 31st December 2020, Alison Bell, a Public Health Consultant at Somerset County Council, was interviewed on BBC Radio Somerset by Charlie Taylor.
Her interview was very illuminating about what officers at the Tory-run County Council really feel about the Government's failures. Ms Bell's comments are revealing and we have provided comment elsewhere on this website, via Twitter and on our Facebook page.
We are providing this transcript in the public interest, as the BBC does not keep episodes for long on BBC Sounds, and there are no transcripts available by the BBC.
Full Transcript of interview with Alison Bell (AB), Public Health Consultant
at Somerset County Council on Charlie Taylor (CT) Programme
00:00
CT - As we've been hearing, Somerset will end 2020 in Tier 4, the
toughest level of Coronavirus restrictions. People should stay at home
unless they have a reasonable excuse, such as work or education to
leave. All non-essential shops must close - hairdressers and nail bars,
along with gyms and swimming pools must close. People should not leave
Tier 4 areas and those that are clinically extremely vulnerable are
advised to stay at home as much as possible.
Bath and North East Somerset has moved up into Tier 3. The BBC's Alex
Littlewood has been speaking to people in Taunton...
...(vox pop interviews in Taunton)...
02:04 CT
Let's find out now from Alison Bell a bit more about it. She's a public
health consultant at Somerset County Council. Alison, Good Morning,
thank you for being with us this morning, as we find out a bit more
about Tier 4. We know it's very strict, it's pretty much a lockdown in
all but name really, Tier 4, from what what we can tell.
CT 02:24
Was this needed here in Somerset?
AB 02:26
Yeah, Good Morning Charlie.
AB 02:30 From a Public Health perspective, we welcome these stricter
control measures. In the last 7 days reported, we had 1299 new cases of
Covid in Somerset. That puts us as the third highest area in the
South-West. That's a significant change in Somerset and I think it is a
result of the relaxation in control measures and we haven't even seen
the effects of the Christmas bubbles yet. So the virus has really
capitalised on that relaxation and that's translated in people being
really sick in Somerset. So we needed to do something different and the
Tier 4 restrictions will hopefully deliver that for us.
AB 03:19
But we recognise that's gonna have an impact on people's lives.
And you know, we're waking up on a really cold icy morning, so the real
ask of our population is to really look after people around you, don't
meet them physically but reach out to them and make sure they've got
groceries and they're warm enough. And use the Coronavirus Helpline if
you're on your own and you need help.
03:46 CT
It was one thing when we were in lockdown in Summer and Spring and the
weather was nice and it's very different when we've got long nights,
we've got very cold weather as well. You've mentioned there about the
cases, about there being around 1300 new cases. Is the infection rate,
do we know if that's still growing, I know you said about Christmas
coming up as well, what do we know more about the infection rate?
04:10 AB
Yeah, so our 7 day rate has increased dramatically since so we're up to
231 per 100,000 population in 7 days. The national average is about 400
so we're closer to that which is a very different picture. And currently
our cases are doubling in about 2 weeks. So we will expect to see this
trend increasing for probably another week, maybe 2, looking at the
incubation period. But then this effect of the lockdown will take a
week or two to have its effect, so cases will probably continue to rise
for a week or two but then the lockdown will take effect and hopefully
by stopping people coming into contact with each other, we will be
breaking the chain of infection which is down to each and every one of
us. Every time we meet someone, we run the risk of coming into contact
with the virus and using all those prevention measures - the wearing the
mask, the washing the hands, the keeping the physical distance between
us, will really try and break the chain. So if you do have a
reasonable excuse to go, be that at work, or education, or visiting
your support bubble, erm, really remember the preventative measures
as well. Because just because you CAN do something, we want people to
think twice about whether they should be doing things. Erm, every time
we mingle, every time we mix with someone or meet someone, we give the
virus a chance of spreading.
05:51 CT
How worried are you about how bad things could get, if people
don't stick to the rules? We heard in Taunton with Alex a bit earlier on
there were people who were completely disappointed, can't go and
celebrate, people who feel strongly enough will continue to do it, even
against the rules. How bad could that be for Somerset?
06:13 AB
I think we know that our population has been really good. They've done
everything we've asked of them. They recognise that the County Council
and the NHS can do everything we can but it is down to each and every
individual. And they've been really good to date. So we're relying on
them listening to the rules and sticking to those but our colleagues
in the Police are issuing enforcement notices. And they will come down
on people that break the rules, though there are significant fines, I
think £1,000 I've heard mentioned if you're in contravention of the
rules. That's a massive amount of money and would be, hopefully people
will do the right thing. There is that threat in the background there,
that disincentive, if you are caught breaking the rules. It's in all of
our interest to try and stick to the rules. Let's get through this
together and have a brighter 2021. We've got the new vaccine registered.
And you know, hopefully 2021 will be a brighter year. We've just got
to get through this sticky period now. And we need everyone to help us.
Yes, I think the population has been brilliant.
07:31 CT
You mentioned the vaccine there Alison. Where would you like to see that
prioritised in Somerset?
07:36 AB
Well it's not down to me sadly. It's down to a National Committee but
I think they've taken, they're experts and are prioritising it to the
elderly, people in care homes, and our health and care staff. And as you
know, that's already being rolled out in Somerset. We've got the new
vaccine that was registered yesterday. And that's really good news.
That will mean we can reach more people with the vaccine more quickly.
08:07 CT
We know there's been a particularly high rate of Covid in Axbridge. It
seems to be a breakout there, a small town in the County. Do we know
what's behind that and what measures are being taken to try and stop
that?
08:21 AB
Yeah, what we've said all along with this virus is it really does
cluster and you see these little peaks come up in small communities or
areas and you know we've done focussed work in West Somerset before and
in Sedgemoor. So I think it's just Axbridge's turn. We've got a couple
of settings there with outbreaks and the leaders of those settings are
doing everything we ask them and the people that are affected by those
have been communicated with. But I think it is time for the population
in Axbridge to understand that they have got quite a high rate and to
really stick to the rules. We go back to the hands, space, face message
again (laughs nervously).
09:08 CT
We've heard about schools yesterday set to re-open later in January for
most pupils to help cut the transmission rate and to help schools to
prepare for mass testing. That's what we've heard. A lot of schools
have welcomed this. Is that another effort to try and stem the spread
of it that you welcome at the Public Health team?
09:31 AB
Yeah that's an interesting question. So I think our schools in Somerset
have done a fantastic job working to minimise childrens' time away from
education and maximise their learning. As parents and grandparents and
guardians, we've all got a role, don't send children to school with
symptoms. And if your children are in close contact with a case, please
don't send them to school, because they might be incubating the
infection. In terms of the school testing, we've actually got a
meeting with education leaders later on today to talk about the testing
guidance that was released at the end of term last year and see how
that's gonna be developed. It's a voluntary initiative in terms of the
testing and we need to decide carefully as to how we make that
available.
10:24 CT
Alison thanks for your time, I'm sure we'll get the latest from the
meeting as more news becomes available about the testing in schools.
Alison Bell there, Public Health Consultant at Somerset County Council.
No comments:
Post a Comment
All comments are moderated by Somerset Independents.