Elected Mayor joins calls for clarity over North Tyneside's Covid message
North Tyneside Mayor Norma Redfearn says she wants to keep residents safe following the confusion over a travel ban for the borough.
The Elected Mayor says North Tyneside Council was given no warning or consultation that the government was advising against any non-essential travel in and out of the borough.
On Monday evening, it was revealed the Government had added North Tyneside – along with seven other authorities where Indian variants of Covid were on the rise – to a list advising against travel.
It came after Covid-19 cases in North Tyneside rose from 22 to 55 per 100,000 over the last two weeks with around 40 confirmed cases of the Indian variant having been identified and public health measures put in place.
Mrs Redfearn CBE said: “Throughout this pandemic we know consistent local messages have made the biggest difference for our communities.
“For that reason, when I found out about the confused messages from government over local travel for North Tyneside, I began working with our local MPs and Council officers to get some clarity for our residents and businesses.
“We received no consultation or communication about this advice which has implications for people across North Tyneside and the wider region. It is essential the government explain what this advice means in practice.
“We have enhanced testing and extra vaccination services in place and are working hard to keep infection rates down. This advice is disproportionate for North Tyneside.
“What matters most to me, is keeping the residents of North Tyneside safe and making sure they have the right information to make the right decisions.”