Coronavirus: Follow the rules or NHS in Peterborough could be overwhelmed, leading city health chief warns

Dr Liz Robin, director of public health at Peterborough City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council, said Peterborough could see a very significant spike in cases if people continue to socialise normally.

The past few days has seen an outcry both nationally and locally as people ignore government rules on social distancing, such as staying at least two metres away from other people and not being in groups of more than two, while also staying at home as much as possible.

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And Dr Robin warned that a failure to follow the rules could see a large spike of cases in Peterborough as the number of deaths nationally continues to rise.

“The only way we can really tackle coronavirus and protect our NHS and genuinely save lives in Peterborough is everyone coming together as a community to stop the spread of this illness,” she told the Peterborough Telegraph.

“If people go about business as usual the evidence is anyone with coronavirus will infect another two to three people who will then also infect another two to three people.

“The number of cases then grows quickly until there are hundreds of cases.

“If you don’t follow the rules you could be that person who causes a number of cases.

“We don’t want everyone to get ill at the same time as it stops people getting the best treatment. If you slow that down you protect our NHS and that saves lives.

“People in Peterborough really need the communities to come together and follow the rules and save lives.”

Dr Robin said she could not comment on what plans might be in place locally to cope with a potential surge of cases, but warned that the number of positive tests in the city (which at the of going to press was six) is not a true reflection of the real picture with only those showing the most severe symptoms and going to hospital being tested.

“The numbers are the tip of the iceberg,” she stated. “Their main use is to compare the situation to the rest of the country.”

Asked if she agreed that builders and factory workers should be allowed to go into work, as is government policy, she replied: “We have to trust the advice we are getting from the scientists nationally.

“When people do go to work the advice would be to try to work in a way that does not expose you to other people within six feet, and you should be able to wash your hands frequently and have access to tissues.”

There have been numerous reports across the media of people ignoring government rules on social distancing and not congregating in groups of more than two people, and Dr Robin stated: “The real challenge at the moment is I don’t think they understand what they are doing.”

Asked how the city council is connecting with different communities in Peterborough, she added: “We’re working very closely with communities to get the messages out there to everybody.

“I would encourage people to get these messages back into their communities to other people by phone or social media to let them know.”

What to do if you have symptoms

The two main symptoms to look out for are:

. High temperature - either feeling hot on the front or back, or recording a temperature in excess of 37.8 Celsius

. A new continuous cough

If you have those symptoms you should self-isolate at home and stay in your room as much as possible.

Take extra precautions to avoid other people - staying at least two metres (six feet) away - and use rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms separately, while also disinfecting them after use.

Anyone from the same household as someone with symptoms should self-isolate for 14 days and not go into work.

Although there is no current cure, people self-isolating can take paracetamol to help with their symptoms.

Anyone who thinks they might Covid-19 can visit: https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms-and-what-to-do/.

For the best stay at home advice, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.