RESIDENTS have been told even tighter restrictions could be introduced if the town can’t get coronavirus under control as it battles an ‘astronomical’ surge in new cases.

Health and council leaders delivered another public broadcast on Covid-19 today, Wednesday.

The panel included council leader Cllr Russ Bowden, council chief executive Steven Broomhead MBE, director of public health Thara Raj, chief executive of Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Professor Simon Constable and clinical chief officer of NHS Warrington CCG Dr Andrew Davies.

It comes amid a steep rise in hospital admissions.

READ MORE >> Year eight at Great Sankey High School isolate after coronavirus cases

There has been a large increase of people being admitted into intensive care over the last few weeks in Warrington, with more people becoming extremely unwell because of the virus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has introduced a new three-tier system of Covid-19 alert levels in a bid to simplify local rules.

They have been set at medium, high and very high.

Warrington’s has been placed into tier two of the restrictions – a ‘high’ alert level.

The current rules in the borough include a ban on people meeting anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor setting.

Businesses in the hospitality sector can remain open, with table service only, but venues must be closed between 10pm and 5am.

The town avoided the toughest measures of tier three, which the Liverpool City Region has been placed in.

Cllr Bowden thanked residents for their ‘tremendous efforts’ during the pandemic.

However, he said the town’s coronavirus case numbers are ‘stubbornly high’ and the ‘last thing we really want is a Liverpool-style shutdown’.

The Labour politician told residents the council believes tier two is the right position at the moment.

Warrington Guardian:

The council leader has thanked residents for their ‘tremendous efforts’ during the pandemic

He said: “But we have to recognise that it is a very fast-moving and fluid situation and at some point, unless we get the virus under control here in the town, it might be that we have to step up to tier three and take on additional restrictions.

“This current decision gives us that time to protect jobs and it also makes sure that there are regulations in place that try and limit the spread of the virus and it’s more important than ever that people follow the rules, they follow the law and they follow the good advice and guidance that they can find from Government websites and obviously the council’s website.”

Cllr Bowden also reassured people that those who ‘continue to break the rules’ will have appropriate enforcement action taken against them.

He said there will an increased enforcement presence around businesses in the hospitality sector to ensure they remain Covid-19 secure.

Cllr Bowden confirmed Cheshire Police will be using a ‘Covid car’ as part of its targeted enforcement support and, with additional funding from Government, the council is in a position to bring in Covid wardens in the town.

In relation to a question on enforcement powers, council chief executive Steven Broomhead said if people break the restrictions they are breaking the law and run the risk of very hefty fines.

He added the council will be working with the police, particularly around this weekend, to step up enforcement arrangements.

Meanwhile, Thara Raj, the council’s director of public health, highlighted the ‘absolutely high’ infection rates in the town.

She said over the last seven days there have been more than 700 new coronavirus cases, which she labelled as ‘astronomical’.

Mr Constable says the situation at Warrington and Halton hospitals is ‘escalating pretty quickly’.

He said there are currently 83 in-patients with Covid-19, of which 12 are in the intensive care unit.

He confirmed the unit is typically configured to have no more than 20 patients in normal circumstances – and that there will be other patients who aren’t coronavirus positive being looked after in intensive care.

Mr Constable said all the patients with the virus are being looked after at Warrington Hospital.

He stated that at the peak of the pandemic there were 124 patients in total with Covid-19, with 22 in intensive care.

“So we are very rapidly approaching that figure that we saw back in April and clearly it is of concern that we’re getting there and we’re getting there so quickly,” said Mr Constable.

But he added the rate of escalation does not appear to be as rapid as it was earlier in the year and there are ‘tried and tested’ escalation plans in place.