Anyone in the North East?

[PennyDreadfuI]

Gateshead has just been added to the govt watchlist and Newcastle is on amber alert. Sunderland have had over 200 cases in the past seven days.

Are we next for a local lockdown? What do you think it will entail? Given Newcastle's reputation as a party city I'm guessing restricted hours for bars maybe - they were packed to the rafters over the August bank holiday weekend, which may account for lots of the new cases.

[TheGreatWave]

It is worrying, just on tenterhooks all the time.

[PennyDreadfuI]

@TheGreatWave it is. DD has a job interview in Northumberland in a couple of weeks (we're in Newcastle) - not sure how a lockdown would affect that. As well as the not knowing whether it'll happen being a worry, the not knowing what it would entail is crap, too. Whether it'll be strict like in Leicester or just rules about people visiting each other (they've already stopped visits to care homes and some hospitals).

[Jrobhatch29]

I'm south tyneside. We've got 2 mobile testing units here now so numbers will obviously go up too. They've stopped visits to the hospital. It is worrying after we were doing so well.

[Biancadelrioisback]

I'm in Northumberland but work in Newcastle and all my friends and family are there. We're talking about moving my grandad up to ours while the rates are lower so he doesn't get stuck on his own again.

[PennyDreadfuI]

@Jrobhatch29 we were doing so well weren't we - I was surprised our numbers stayed so low even after the pubs etc reopened because Geordies love a night out! It seems to have kicked off really recently - maybe the August bank holiday did it. There's also been the open air arena thing near me which has been sold out every night - 2000 people per show, ostensibly socially distanced, but it did seem a bit risky to me.

I've noticed the supermarkets have been selling out of stuff in the last few days - let's hope people are sensible and don't panic buy like they did last time!

[Jrobhatch29]

It's definitely linked to pubs and restaurants around me. Loads have had to close in the last two or three weeks.

[HarrietOh]

The Burnside club charity football game hasn't helped!

[PennyDreadfuI]

@HarrietOh

The Burnside club charity football game hasn't helped!

That's why Sunderland's rate is so high for the past week isn't it?

So many schools reporting cases too.

The next couple of weeks with the universities returning should be interesting. Something like 20,000 students will be coming into Newcastle alone. And they're not known for being solitary, retiring types are they

[HarrietOh]

Apparently so but I know of cases in Sunderland not linked to that on the rise.

Just as all the students are about to arrive in the North East too... this surely is only going to go one way?

[Shitfuckoh]

Co Durham here. Reports of positives in pubs/working mens clubs, nurserys, schools & even Mcdonalds!

[SabrinaTheTeenageBitch]

I live in the area which the Burnside club outbreak has affected. I think there are upwards of 60 cases and counting from that incident alone. Incredibly frustrating as up until that point we had been doing exceptionally well. Just shows how quickly it can spread

[wherestheotherone]

Yes, numbers are going up rapidly. New cases being found in schools, clubs, pubs and restaurants every day. I give it a week. It's march unfolding again.

Testing is dreadful. It could be do good but they have totally underestimated the need and the distances to cover.

[SabrinaTheTeenageBitch]

If we did have a local lockdown imposed (which is looking increasingly likely if Sunderland continues the way it is) what restrictions would be in place? School closures again?

[RedCatBlueCat]

Yep. Teesside.
We went on the watchlist last week, and the numbers are getting worse.
We've just finished day 4 of waiting for a covid test result. Another child in my sons class got a result in 36 hrs yesterday. Mine has symptoms, other positive hasnt (dont know what triggered the test).

I'm hoping that schools will be the last to close.

[PennyDreadfuI]

@SabrinaTheTeenageBitch I think schools closing will be a last resort. Pubs having to close early or not open at all, maybe? The Metrocentre have just today announced that they'll be going back to pre-lockdown opening hours (they were still only open from 10am-7pm) so I wonder if that'll go ahead.

What with the new national rules (rule of six, clamping down on t&t in pubs etc) any local lockdown rules will have to go above and beyond that. Public transport is a huge concern for me - if it goes back to essential journeys only and reduced timetables it'll be so restricting.

[Jrobhatch29]

South tyneside were 5th in England for cases last week but we have dropped down again. Still on watch list. Sunderland is 2nd now im sure. My DP works in sunderland, he's a supervisor and all he does now is deal with updating staff lists of who is positive, who has symptoms, who is isolating. He's fed up. Normally it's just people who have had a test, are negative and then come back... But the number of positives has gone up

[clareykb]

Yes Gateshead here and work in Durham. Flew back from visiting family down south last week with a stag do of at least 14 well oiled for a night out on the toon...hoping the rule of 6 might stop that. It is worrying how quickly it has shot up though. I did have to pop to the MetroCentre though the other day and was pleasantly surprised with mask wearing and compliance. I work in a school and I think that blanket school closures are unlikely but lots of random 2 week closures are very likely.

[clareykb]

Also apparently another test site is opening in Gateshead next week .

[SabrinaTheTeenageBitch]

@PennyDreadfuI I think schools are going to be a shambles anyway unfortunately. Both of mine, primary and secondary are currently at home with what is clearly a cold (lots of snot, the joy) but coughing as they always do with colds. Because the area we live in is now a hotspot due to the Burnside Club fiasco there is a testing centre literally at the top of my street but I cannot get an appointment so both kids are stuck at home waiting for postal tests turning up. They have had four school days between them before being off again!

[Scarby9]

I walked through Newcastle city centre on Saturday evening from the Civic Centre, down Northumberland Street, round to Grey's Monument, down Grey Street and along the Quayside to the Millennium Bridge.

Lots of people about, in and outside the restaurants and bars, including large groups (6-10ish) of young people as well as families and older couples. No sign of social distancing among or between the groups although at that early time and with the wider pedestrian areas there was room for us to swerve round people.

The only noticeable difference from pre-Covid was how many young people were about at such an early hour. Presumably, with night clubs closed, people have moved their socialising earlier.

[Scarby9]

Forgot to say that we were walking between 7 and 8pm.

[PennyDreadfuI]

I've just seen this morning that Newcastle will also be on the government watchlist.

Last week was the most normal I've had in months - we went up the coast, I went to Morpeth to do a bit of shopping and we went for drinks and dinner. Just as well we did all that when we could because it looks like it might be a while before we can again!

[simplybed]

I'm north east too.
It's worrying isn't it.
Near me a man went around a few pubs whilst waiting for he's test results ..came back positive so the pubs had to close.

[UpToonGirl]

Any one else in the NE struggling to get testing for a child? Youngest has a temp and cough but when I look for testing sites nothing is coming up and I'm wondering if they are not testing under 18's at the sites near me - I'm in Newcastle.

[Jrobhatch29]

@simplybed

I'm north east too.
It's worrying isn't it.
Near me a man went around a few pubs whilst waiting for he's test results ..came back positive so the pubs had to close.

Yeah i heard about that too!