Appeal to stay at home to save lives as virus spreads

Borough residents are being urged to ‘Stay at home’ to help beat COVID.
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The past week has seen grave developments in the Coronavirus pandemic, and in particular the growing strain that the Health Service across Northern Ireland is currently dealing with as it battles the third wave of this pandemic.

The increasing prevalence of the virus across Northern Ireland is clear, with the latest figures indicating that around one in 10 (12%) people tested, test positive, and more alarmingly within the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, this figure is currently at a rate of one in 4.

This highlights a widespread and rapid growth in community transmission, which can only be reduced through people adhering to the ‘stay at home’ guidance.

Photo by Aaron McCrackenPhoto by Aaron McCracken
Photo by Aaron McCracken

Due to concerns in relation to the worrying statistics within the borough, the Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Councillor Kevin Savage, issued a joint appeal with the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Kyle Savage, to urge borough residents to take the lockdown seriously and stay at home.

The Lord Mayor said; “We are urging the residents of our borough to help stop the spread of COVID-19 within our community.

“ Everyone has an individual responsibility to support the restrictions that are now in place, and legally enforceable by the PSNI, to stay at home. We are asking everyone to make a collective effort to protect our community at this critical time.”

He added; “This is serious. People in our community are dying, and our health service is under extreme pressure. We have all seen the pictures from our local hospitals.

Photo by Aaron McCrackenPhoto by Aaron McCracken
Photo by Aaron McCracken

“Our Health Care staff need us to act now to ease this pressure.”

The Deputy Lord Mayor said; “We are deeply concerned for the people in community, our families, and our friends, because this virus is spreading at an incredible rate across our Borough. The ABC area now has the highest growth rate of this virus in Northern Ireland and we need to stop this spread now.”

He added; “We are appealing to everyone to take this lockdown seriously and abide by the restrictions. Every single person’s actions count, therefore it is everyone’s responsibility to act in the best interest of our community.”

The Northern Ireland Executives message is very clear people must ‘Stay at home’, limit their social contacts, only go out for essential purposes, and follow the Public Health Guidance by keeping distance, wearing a face covering, and washing your hands regularly.

STAY AT HOME, TO PROTECT THE NHS, TO SAVE LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

For further information, advice and guidance please log on to: https://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/coronavirus/

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