From not going anywhere without a mask to claims of 'scare tactics' - this is what people in Sunderland city centre have said about coronavirus

Wearsiders have had their say on reports the North East has one of the highest rates of coronavirus infection in the country.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Around 4,000 daily infections are believed to be taking place in the North East and Yorkshire and Sunderland has the highest number of infections per 100,000 people of any city in England.

And as lockdown rules have been relaxed this week the city centre, parks and beaches have been busier.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Taxi driver Les Howe, 65 , said he had seen a sharp rise in the number of people in the city centre in recent weeks and believed the Government’s message on social distancing was not getting through enough.

We asked residents of Sunderland who were in the city centre on Friday what they thought about the coronavirus crisisWe asked residents of Sunderland who were in the city centre on Friday what they thought about the coronavirus crisis
We asked residents of Sunderland who were in the city centre on Friday what they thought about the coronavirus crisis

“Where they have put markings down to tell people where to go, a lot of people have just ignored it,” he said.

“We go to Asda once a week. They have got markings on the floor everywhere but nobody is taking any notice.”

Robert Bannan, 68, believes the city and region are paying the price for decades of neglect by Westminster.

“I think it is down to poverty,” he said.

Gillian Le-Paul and Robert BannanGillian Le-Paul and Robert Bannan
Gillian Le-Paul and Robert Bannan
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“People in the North East are not as well-off as in other areas. The North East is the poor relation of England and Sunderland is the poor relation of the North East.”

“Newcastle is suffering but not as much as us,” said Robert, from Thorney Close.

Bobby Johnson said he thought the Government had mishandled the crisis from the start by not testing people arriving in the country when the pandemic first broke out and failing to introduce national tests.

Les HoweLes Howe
Les Howe
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“When are the public going to get these tests?” said Bobby, 69, from Hendon.

“They have got to start public testing, so anyone who has the virus can segregate themselves.”.

Read More

Linda Richardson, also from Hendon, uses an inhaler and had only visited the city centre twice in two months.

Linda Richardson and Bobby JohnsonLinda Richardson and Bobby Johnson
Linda Richardson and Bobby Johnson

She believes not enough people are taking adequate precautions: “I have not used public transport since the lockdown began and I never go out without my mask and gloves,” she said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She also believes the Government was caught short: “The lockdown should have started earlier,” said Linda, 71.

However Gillian Le-Paul, 62, who lives in the city centre, is sceptical of the figures: “I think it is Government scare tactics,” she said.

“I’m not saying there’s no virus, but I think it has been overstated.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

How to subscribe to the print edition

It’s easy to subscribe to your local newspaper. We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of. Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.