Every day we get the latest Covid infection figures for our area on TV (I assume everyone does). During the 2nd wave, like everywhere else our figures rocketed from a very low level to around the national average, but now after several weeks of steady falls it's going back up again. Why?
The local health officer put his finger on it when he said that those who are less at risk will just not stop congregating, but I think he is being disingenuous when not pointing out the large immigrant groups in the main town area who are acting as though completely oblivious of the rules. Although we have our share of black people, it does not seem to be them flouting the safety measures but the larger numbers of Asian and Eastern Europeans who came for the factory work who are now congregating in large groups with no masks, no social distancing, frankly no precautions at all. Is it not time we began to take action against foreign minorities who flout the rules, would not ejection from the country be a good idea?
Since I am shielding, in spite of having my vaccination over 5 weeks ago now, I am following Government advice and going out only when absolutely necessary, I have a younger friend (50's) still working on a building site who corresponds with me tells me that on his way to work he passes through the main immigrant residential area and sees many groups of men, no doubt furloughed, standing around on street corners smoking, shaking hands and standing close together. Even in our relatively sheltered area I see many families exchanging visits indoors.
The uptake of the vaccine in our area is 95% for the over 75's, but I fear the uptake will be much lower for other groups, particularly those who rely on social media.
Mike.X
