Greater Manchester leaders call on public to stay at home this weekend

Greater Manchester leaders are calling on the public to stay at home this weekend unless it is absolutely necessary.

People should be staying at home unless they are:

• Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
• Taking part in their one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household
• Going out for any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid or escape risk of injury or harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
• Travelling for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home

If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft 7 inches) away from other people at all times and wash your hands as soon as you get home.

Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester Bev Hughes said: “Once again this weekend we are expecting warm and sunny weather in Greater Manchester. But we need people to abide by the measures and stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary and unavoidable to go out. If you do have to go out, please keep two metres away from other people and wash your hands thoroughly once you are back at home.

“I know it will be incredibly tempting to go out and enjoy the nice weather but it is really important that people are at home to help minimise the impact of COVID-19. Whether this is meeting up with friends, going to someone else’s house for a barbecue or any other social gathering, you should not be doing it.

“We expect the number of cases and deaths to escalate over the next few weeks. But we can all influence how far and for how long the impacts spread simply by staying at home. I know it isn’t always easy but by doing so you are helping to save lives.

“I would like to express my thanks to everyone who has been following the measures, we all need to play our part and staying at home is the best way we can all do this.”

Professor Kate Ardern, Lead Director of Public Health for Health Protection and Emergency Planning Greater Manchester Combined Authority, said: “This week’s tragic news of the death of a 13-year-old boy in London is a stark reminder that whilst older people with pre-existing conditions remain at the highest risk of serious illness and sadly dying, none of us are safe.

“With the weekend coming up, the most important actions all of us can take to stop COVID-19 from spreading are to stay at home and practice good hand and respiratory hygiene. These actions will help us protect ourselves, our families, loved ones and vital services like the NHS, and save many lives.

“Any one of us can spread the virus even if we don’t have symptoms. Therefore you shouldn’t leave home except for these essential reasons: for necessary food or medicine, once a day for exercise alone or with other people you live with, for work if you absolutely can’t work from home, or to provide essential care and support for a vulnerable person.

“I know this is not easy and for some people it will be particularly difficult.

“I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the overwhelming majority of people in Greater Manchester who have responded to staying at home. You are making a vital contribution to protecting the best interests of our region, our communities, our fellow citizens and our public services and most, importantly, you are saving lives.” 

Article Published: 03/04/2020 16:11 PM