A plea from Cornwall

[SachaStark]

After a day of hearing from friends about how the holiday cottages and second homes they live near are suddenly filled again, and after seeing the A30 chock-full of caravans and campers:

If you have come to Cornwall from elsewhere, or you are planning to do so, please stop. Stop now. Cancel your travel. If you’ve arrived here today, please turn around and go home again.

We do NOT have the capacity to deal with the sudden influx of virus-carrying tourists. We have a disproportionately large elderly population, and are already the poorest county in England with some of the worst infrastructure.

We have ONE hospital.
In that hospital, there are TEN ventilators.

Why on earth would you want to be here anyway? What if you get sick, is that the kind of mathematics you want to be dealing with? Ten ventilators for 600,000 locals, plus thousands of tourists?

Please, do not come to your holiday cottages, second homes, or camp sites. In the nicest possible way, we don’t want you here. Social distancing does NOT include heading to your cottage in Cornwall, and potentially adding to the burden in an already well overwhelmed area.

We’ve refunded both families who were due to go to the holiday let we have in Cornwall at easter as well as the group who were going next week. No one in at the moment. We won’t be going down ourselves, as tempting as it is to get some fresh sea air. Yes, could take all food with us and just have a lovely time on the beach being socially distant, but what if one of us became ill? Would hate to be a burden on local health services.

People are still advertising holiday breaks - I'm on a FB group for holidays with dogs - and it's bloody irresponsible. They are selling the cottages/caravans as being ideal for social isolation. Well yes unless you stroll into the village to buy some groceries which it's highly likely you will do. Plus if you are infected person cleaning cottage likely to get it and start spreading amongst all their friends and relatives.

It's not a time to go on holiday. People need to understand that. And don't get me started on those posting for accommodation " Our honeymoon abroad was cancelled yeah ever think why that was so we'd like somewhere lovely in the country with a hot tub"

This has all got real in a short space of time. Last Thursday I was bemoaning the loss of my ski holiday as decided not to go and lost all the money. This week I'm so glad that I didn't do the stupid reckless thing and go.

Hallelujah the FB site I was talking about has literally just posted that they are changing policy so that owners can continue to advertise but without current dates so for future breaks only.

Same on the north Coast of northern Ireland

I am just shocked that people can't see what has happened in Italy and Spain and don't understand it is happening here too

Yes please, please stay away!! We have family who run an air bnb and have cancelled all of their bookings. I'm glad they are taking things seriously.

On another note I am terrified of the effect this will have on the local economy, not just business but local people. Many are struggling to get by in full time work as it is.