'Hearts and minds' battle as South Tyneside struggles on under Tier 3 covid restrictions

NHS bosses need to win the battle for ‘hearts and minds’ to get on top of the coronavirus pandemic, chiefs have heard.
The North East has been forced into the toughest band of regional restrictions.The North East has been forced into the toughest band of regional restrictions.
The North East has been forced into the toughest band of regional restrictions.

Despite signs of a falling infection rate, the North East has been forced into the toughest band of regional restrictions, following the end of the national lockdown.

And it has prompted fears of ‘COVID fatigue’, which experts predict could prolong the pain even further, if failure to stick to rules leads to another spike in cases.

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These are the latest coronavirus figures for South Tyneside
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“There’s a recognition the population is starting to struggle with the level of restrictions we’ve got, but we did see really good compliance prior to the national lockdown,” said Tom Hall, director of public health at South Tyneside Council.

“If we start to win back some of the hearts and minds and recognise that just by doing the simple things we are controlling the virus, then I think that would be a really positive place to get back to.

“I think if we start to work back to a greater sense of all being in it for the North East then these numbers can start to come under a greater level of control.”

Hall was speaking at an online meeting of South Tyneside CCG’s governing body.

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Prior to the latest national lockdown, South Tyneside and the wider North East was in the second tier of restrictions, which barred indoor gatherings but allowed outdoor socialising provided the ‘rule of six’ was followed.

According to Hall this had been the borough’s infection rate ‘come down very steadily’.

But this was followed by a ‘surge’ in cases across the region in early November, following the announcement a second national lockdown would be imposed.

This ended on December 2, with the North East now placed into tier three, the highest of the Government’s revised, tougher regional restrictions.

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Hall added better communication, helped by more regional control of test and trace programmes, may improve compliance and speed recovery.

He said: “We continue to push [for greater control] because we think it would allow the test and trace programme to connect much more effectively with our local response.

“This would improve the local population’s adherence to isolation, as well as getting a test."

He added: “There’s no point getting a test if people don’t do the associated self-isolation and contact tracing.”

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