'Hands, face , space warning' reminder as COVID-19 cases rise in Mansfield

Mansfield District Council is urging the community to follow the latest government guidance.

Mansfield, along with other areas of Nottinghamshire and other towns and cities across the country, is experiencing an increase in cases.

The latest figures for the district show there are now over 20 cases per 100,000.

Executive Mayor Andy Abrahams said: “The number of cases in the district has been rising. We are working with the Nottinghamshire County Council’s Director of Public Health to inform and warn the public.

"The advice we have is to please follow Government guidelines on social distancing, hand washing and wearing face coverings.

“For the people of Mansfield I have a very simple message: Hands, Face, Space – keep Mansfield safe. We must nip this rise in cases in the bud and everyone has a part to play to keep themselves and others safe.”

The council's ‘Hands, Face, Space - Keep Mansfield Safe’ campaign aims to echo national guidelines. It encourages people to wash their hands frequently, wear a face covering in shops and other public spaces and to stick to the Government's new "rule of six" on social distancing, which makes it illegal from Monday September 14 to meet socially in groups of more than six in any setting, indoors or outdoors.

The council is working with businesses to ensure they are doing all they can to keep customers safe. This includes controlling numbers in their premises, reducing contact where possible, implementing appropriate hygiene measures, ensuring social distancing and maintaining adequate track and trace information.

Premises and venues where people meet socially will be legally required to request the contact details of a member of every party, record and retain these details for 21 days, and provide them to NHS Test and Trace without delay when required.

Nationally, the UK is experiencing the same coronavirus levels as it had in March and May – ahead of and just after lockdown. The picture in Mansfield is continually changing and the distribution of cases across the district can vary on a daily basis. Cases are currently spread quite widely across different age groups.

Hayley Barsby, the council's Chief Executive, said: “Unlike some other areas, there are no specific hotspots in Mansfield at the minute, but we are seeing a gradual rise across the area. We need our residents to be vigilant, follow the rules in full and help us to control the spread of COVID-19.”

Anyone who is contacted by Test and Trace or who develops COVID symptoms - a new and continuous cough, a temperature or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste - should stay at home and book a test online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.The council is appealing to people who do not have symptoms and have not been contacted by Test and Trace to avoid asking for a test to ease the current pressure on the service.