Essex

[dollychopss]

Probably going to Tier2

What on earth is going on in Rochford though? Are the figures bad because it’s next to Southend (which isn’t in the rest of the Essex figures)?

@Polkadotties

Councillor Finch has said that he doesn’t want Essex to be the next Liverpool

Which is, again, an argument for increased national restrictions but, without providing any other evidence than what is publicly available, doesn't make any sort of case for specific local restrictions in Essex

I wonder whether it is to do with money but I though the support was at tier 3. Maybe you need to move gradually up the tiers and the council is gaming the system?

Apparently if Essex county council go higher then Southend and Thurrock are both unitary and aren’t calling for it and Thurrock have already said they won’t follow Essex county council so that could make for interesting times.

@Polkadotties

Councillor Finch has said that he doesn’t want Essex to be the next Liverpool

I'll hand in my drivers licence - wouldn't want to have a car crash.

They're mad.

You can bet your last penny they are seeing what other councils are getting and want a slice of it! Moving up the tiers is the way to go I suppose.

They are doing it for money nothing else I literally broke down when I heard it

WHAT Im in North Essex Our town has 22 per 100,000 in a town that has 155,000 inhabitants. They are taking the piss.

Cronyism rife again .. why am I not more shocked?

From Twitter

Replying to
@BBCEssex
According to Essex Website rate in Braintree is 26.9 down from 34 last week! There must be money involved. Certainly not mental health and well being of the residents. Wonder how they changed the figures????

Tendring has very high rates of infection though, perhaps that's why?

@Rushjob I'm not sure where you got that data from, but I follow a few mid-Essex towns on Covid Messenger and cases have gone up dramatically in the past week. Where I live they have almost doubled. We are starting from a thankfully low base, but it's not looking good.

Here's the info for Braintree from this morning's email.

Pinned post at the top of ECCs fb Page. Makes me sick

@Splodgetastic

What on earth is going on in Rochford though? Are the figures bad because it’s next to Southend (which isn’t in the rest of the Essex figures)?

Figures are still quite low in rochford??

www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/south_essex_news/18791294.john-spence-warns-tougher-covid-restrictions-may-not-slow-spread-virus-essex/?fbclid=IwAR0Xwg5PeZci83c34CTro-qNa777lsGU2EKX18cMvdv7_9vltzomQZBIb1c

Essex coronavirus restrictions could be in place beyond Christmas

Council bosses have warned there is "no guarantee" proposed restrictions on household mixing will be lifted by Christmas.

But Essex County Council's health boss John Spence says bringing in tougher rules early will give the region the best chance to celebrate the festive season with loved ones.

County Hall has announced it will ask Health Secretary Matt Hancock to move Essex into the 'high' Covid alert level tomorrow.

The region is currently in the medium category as it has a low infection rate compared to other parts of the country

But County Hall says it wants to take action now after seeing a surge in coronavirus cases in Essex in the past month.

Experts believe the county will likely be put into the 'high' alert level in the near future and fear hospitals could soon be filled with coronavirus patients.

Moving Essex into the second tier of restrictions would mean a ban on households mixing indoors.

Speaking after plans for tougher rules were announced in a council meeting this morning, councillor Spence called on residents to get behind County Hall's attempts to suppress the virus and stop the rate of infection going up.

He said: "Everyone is tired of this pandemic and we all want it to be over. We are asking the people of Essex to go with us on this and help get the number of new cases down.

“We can’t promise this will be over before Christmas but we believe this will give us the best possible chance.

“It’s not a good thing that we are the first county to voluntarily want tougher restrictions but we are being courageous.

"We don’t want to wait on the national advice to go into the high category.

“The longer we leave it to take action, the higher the second peak is going to be to overcome.”

Mr Spence did warn there was "no guarantee" the proposed restrictions would help slow the rate of infection in Essex.

But he hoped it would halt the current trend and stop Essex being placed in the 'very high' alert level.

He added: “This will be a three pronged attack. We want the county to be moved in tier two, enhance the already excellent track and trace programme and have further enforcement.

“We have already held discussions with police about this but we hope people will comply without the need for fines.”

A decision on whether to move Essex into the 'high' alert level and impose household restrictions will be made later this week.

@ILookAtTheFloor

So embarrassing. As I've said on another thread, we're already the butt of many jokes.

I'm heartened to see the overwhelming negative comments on social media feeds about this. My mum and dad are in a London Borough with double the rates and that council aren't clamouring for more draconian measures.

I'm seething still.

I'd be seething too..on behalf of your poor parents. How shit for them to be stuck living in an area where those in charge lack any kind of foresight (unlike the very sensible London Mayor, who knows that London needs more restrictions).

We all know it makes sense to take proactive rather than reactive action. Contain Covid before it gets further out of hand. Unfortunately some people are so shortsighted they can't see beyond the middle of next week.

Still, all this ridiculous stupid tier nonsense. What a load of rubbish. Good diversion tactic, however, all this division and resentment between regions. Helps people look away from the real problem - which is the government failing to take effective containment measures.

People live, work, shop, and go to school across regions. Viruses travel across made-up by humans boundaries.

We need a coherent joined-up national approach.

Just heard Spence on BBC Essex.

Mike Gaughgerty (sorry it's not spelled like that) the director for public health in the county doesn't have any faith in the rule of 6 apparently. This was a big driver for him to push to the council.

@HeIenaDove

WHAT Im in North Essex Our town has 22 per 100,000 in a town that has 155,000 inhabitants. They are taking the piss.

What do you want to do? Wait until cases increase and only take action when it's too late? The time to act is before things get worse - to prevent them ever getting that bad.

ECC dont give a shit about the people here. They just want the money.

Well I am suffering severely with mental health , I know of 2 suicides !!!! 2 feeling suicidal so how much more can people take

The time to act isbeforethings get worse - to prevent them ever getting that bad.

Do you think the whole country should implement extra restrictions?

It's pathetic and I won't be complying.

@Pertella

The time to act isbeforethings get worse - to prevent them ever getting that bad.

Do you think the whole country should implement extra restrictions?

Yes.

We should have a national approach. Setting various areas against each other is a unnecessary diversion from what needs to be done, i.e. a properly functioning test, track, and trace system etc.

Re areas currently (apparently) lower (who knows with our testing shambles!) we should act before things get bad - to prevent them ever getting bad. It's no good shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

I should add a caveat. Strict restrictions are a hardship. It needs to be worthwhile, i.e. contain Covid. Which means we need to restrict our borders (with proper quarantine for essential travel like imports). Any other restrictions are pointless unless we also do this.

So pissed off. Will mess up half term when all the kids would do is see who they've been in school with anyway.