Sunderland cup final and Mother's Day prompts plea from health chief to stay covid safe

That is the message from Sunderland City Council’s health chief as she urges people to keep up the good efforts which have seen coronavirus case numbers fall in recent weeks.

Today, Sunday, March 14, marks Mother’s Day and Sunderland AFC’s chances of a trophy win at Wembley as the team takes on Tranmere Rovers FC in the final of the Papa John’s Trophy, with kick-off at 3pm.

With many wishing they could spend the special day celebrating together, director of public health for Sunderland City Council Gerry Taylor has shared a message in the hope people will remember to keep to the rules to reduce the risk of the virus spreading.

Earlier this week, Ms Taylor praised the vaccination efforts but issued a warning that people should not think coronavirus has gone away following figures which showed the city’s levels of the illness are now in line with other areas in the region.

The latest figures, updated yesterday, March 13, showed 33 new cases had been recorded in the city.

On the same date last month, that stood at 50 new cases and on January 13 it was 184.

In a video message, she said: “It’s a really big weekend this weekend in Sunderland with Mother’s Day and the cup final.

"As I mentioned earlier in the week, cases of Covid across the city are falling, but the virus is still out there.

"Whatever you’re celebrating, make sure you do it safely and stay at home to help us keep moving in the right direction and of course, good luck to Sunderland.”

Ms Taylor has warned that as lockdown restrictions gradually ease, infection rates could rise again, which means everyone should play their part to keep each other safe.

She said: “The evidence so far on the vaccination programme is certainly encouraging but it will still be some time until they are offered to the whole adult population and until we know how they will impact the rates of infection and transmission."

She has also encouraged anyone in need of a test to find out more via the council's website at www.sunderland.gov.uk/testing while specific guidance to help people plan if they need to self-isolate is available via www.sunderland.gov.uk/selfisolation.

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