Nottingham council wants stricter measures after ‘worrying’ spike

The move comes as Nottingham authorities warn of a “dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases”, calling it a “significant and worrying change”

Nottingham City Council has been urging people within the city to follow stricter guidelines as the number of COVID-19 cases at universities within the region continues to rise.

The city currently is expecting the government to implement tougher measures within the region later this week but have already been requesting that people do not mix indoors with others from different households.

The director of public health for Nottingham, Alison Challenger, said: “We are seeing a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases in Nottingham. Our rate of infection is now rising higher than many other parts of the country.”

“This is a significant and worrying change.”

“It means the measures we currently have in place are no longer enough to stop the spread of the virus in our city. We will have to do more to keep people safe in Nottingham.”

This comes after Boris Johnson has dismissed the claims that COVID-19 has “robbed me of my mojo” as the PM announced promises for social care and green energy, as well as housing during his speech at the Conservative Party conference.

Alison Challenger went on to say:

“We would urge people to take action now and not mix indoors with people from other households.”

“It remains OK to mix with those in your support bubbles unless someone has tested positive or has symptoms.”

“And we strongly advise young people, including students in the city, to remain in their social bubbles and not mix in their homes with people from other households.”

Council leader David Mellen added:

“It is clear from the rate of infection that we must take more precautions. Nobody can afford to be complacent.”

“Everyone needs to ask themselves, ‘am I doing enough to guard against a disease that could harm me, or the person next to me or my loved ones?’

“If not, you need to change your approach and stick rigidly to the rules, if we are to see a reduction in the number of cases that are currently sweeping through our city.”

This comes after people might have been infected with COVID-19 as a result of nearly 16,000 positive coronavirus cases being missed from the government’s test and trace scheme, a cabinet minister has admitted.

It comes as over a thousand students and members of staff at the University of Nottingham, as well as at the University of Sheffield have been forced to self-isolate following testing positive for the coronavirus.

These infections follow the movement of students throughout the country as they have travelled to other cities in order to start a new term at university.

Manchester’s two main universities, Manchester University and Manchester Metropolitan University, have also suspended all in-person teaching for the rest of October.

The University of Nottingham is currently running its own COVID-19 testing programme on its campuses, and has put its high number of recorded cases down to the scheme providing the necessary level of testing.