The risk of a second coronavirus wave in Sunderland is ‘very real’ Public Health boss warns amid reports people aren’t following social distancing

Gillian Gibson, Sunderland City Council’s director of public health, has urged people to stay strong and keep to the rules of lockdown.

She acknowledged that it has been tough for people to change their lifestyles and routines in recent weeks, said social distancing was crucial to stem the spread of the illness.

Ms Gibson said: “These are unprecedented times and we are all being asked to do things that we have never been asked to do before.

“We know that people are finding the current lockdown difficult for a range of reasons.

“However, the evidence to date shows that our current approach to social distancing is effective at stopping transmission of the virus from person to person.”

The Public Health Director said the council had received reports of people breaching social distancing guidance as Northumbria Police confirmed it had issued 150 fines since the start of lockdown on March 23.

She said: “We hear reports about local people who may not be following the guidance on social distancing, though we do not have information that allows us to judge whether this is similar to or different from what is happening in other areas.”

Ms Gibson urged people in Sunderland to stay at home as much as possible and warned that lifting lockdown measures too soon could lead to a second wave in the city.

She said: “If we remove the measures too soon or if people stop following the current guidance, then the number of cases – and the numbers of deaths - will start to rise rapidly again.

“Advice remains to stay at home and go out as little as possible, and to practise social distancing if out.

“The risk of a second wave is very real.”

She added: “The best way of reducing the spread of the virus is for people to continue to stay at home, observe social distancing and to wash their hands regularly.”

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