Stay safe, stay well - stay home

Heading into the weekend, Hartlepool Borough Council has issued an appeal for them to stay at home wherever possible.

This follows reports last week of people, including some children, gathering in parts of the town.

People should only leave home when absolutely necessary:

• Shopping for basic necessities, but as infrequently as possible.
• For health reasons, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
• Travelling to and from work when they can’t work from home.

Dr Patricia Riordan, the Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “It is vital that people accept their responsibilities and do whatever they can to try and help prevent the spread of infection.

“By staying home, they will be playing a key role in helping to protect the NHS and there is no doubt their actions will help to save lives

“If people go outside to exercise, their activity must start and finish at their home. Where people use the town’s parks to exercise, they are reminded that children’s play areas remain closed. This is because the coronavirus can live on some hard surfaces for many hours, and to prevent people congregating in groups.

“People should ensure that they stay 2 metres away from other people at all times and they must wash their hands as soon as they return home.

“It is important to remember that it is still possible to spread the virus even if you don’t have any symptoms.”

Police have been given stronger enforcement powers to ensure that people stay at home and avoid non-essential travel.

Where people don’t comply, officers may:

• instruct them to go home, leave an area or disperse.
• ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children breaking these rules.
• issue a fixed penalty notice of £60.
• issue a fixed penalty notice of £120 for a second offence.

Individuals who do not pay a fixed penalty notice could be taken to court, with magistrates able to impose unlimited fines.