‘Verging on stupidity’ to go out with Covid

A Ventnor member of the Isle of Wight Council has issued a “stay at home” message to his town.

Despite the government’s self-isolation guidelines, people in the town had been spotted out and about when they had Covid, said Cllr Gary Peace. And one person was heard to be admitting they had the virus while standing in a queue at a chemist.
Cllr Peace told a meeting of the Isle of Wight Council’s Local Outbreak Engagement Board last week: “I have heard recently of people disregarding the fact they have Covid.
“One example is they were stood in a chemist’s queue and admitted to everybody they had Covid at the time.
“It is a complete disregard to the safety of everyone else but it is verging on stupidity. That is a strong word but you are putting people’s lives at risk if you knowingly have Covid and you are going out and about.”

Cllr Peace said messages needed to be reinforced and people reminded that they should not go outside if they have tested positive, especially if they know they have the virus.
He said: “There have been two cases locally where people have ignored that advice and guidance and I know it is happening elsewhere on the Island. If you have got it, you do not go out and some people don’t seem to realise that is what the rules are.”

The newest variant of Covid-19, which accounts for 90 per cent of cases on the Island, is 70 per cent more transmissible than other strains.