More Covid Safety Officers have been introduced across Bath and North East Somerset in a bid to encourage better social distancing and reinforce lockdown guidance.
Covid Safety Officers on Westgate Street | Photo © B&NES Council
B&NES Council has stepped up patrols in the centre of Bath, Alice Park, Royal Victoria Park, Midsomer Norton, Radstock and Keynsham Memorial Park.
For the first time, the uniformed officers will also be sited in Chew Magna, where concerns have been identified over social distancing.
The officers, who work in teams of two, were introduced last November to help ensure people understand lockdown guidance around when it’s permitted to leave home, keeping in family bubbles and that being outdoors is for exercise, not socialising.
Councillor Dine Romero, B&NES Council leader, said: “It’s a concern that certain locations have become busier in recent days.
“To make sure we keep people as safe as possible and help them to ensure they’re doing the right thing, we have increased the number of our Covid Safety Officers in these key areas.
“It’s especially important that families using our parks understand that this should be for exercise only and adhere to hands, face, space.
“The coronavirus guidance stipulates that we should all stay local, which means the village, town or part of the city we live in. We should not be travelling to visit other areas for exercise.
“The number of Covid cases is continuing to fall in Bath and North East Somerset which is reassuring, however we cannot afford to be complacent.
“The guidance from Public Health England is still to stay at home and to ‘act as if you have it’. We all need to continue to play our part in following this guidance to keep ourselves and others safe.”
