Newark: Move into step 3 of roadmap from coronavirus lockdown is a success

The move into step 3 of the government's roadmap out of lockdown, which saw hugging permitted and the re-opening of pubs and restaurants indoors as well as cinemas, has been an initial success in Nottinghamshire.

That was the messaging from the director of public health in the county, Jonathan Gribbin.

Speaking today to journalists, Mr Gribbin said: "It was only a few days ago that we moved to step 3 of the roadmap and I'm really delighted to be able to report that the feedback we have had from across the county is that that move has gone really well.

"We've not had any significant problems reported to us so I want to once again thank residents and businesses right across Nottinghamshire for the part they've played in enabling us to do that in a way that's really safe.

"Our rates in Nottinghamshire county in the week to the 15th of May are slightly higher than they were a week ago.

"Across Nottinghamshire county as a whole, they now stand at 25.5 per 100,000. That represents 211 cases across the whole of the county in that seven day period to the 15th of May.

"That's just a little higher than the England average of 21 per hundred thousand and the East Midlands average, which stands at 23 per 100,000. Within the county there is some variation and we see rates in some areas as low as 19.3 in Rushcliffe for example, but also as high as just over 30 where in Mansfield we've rates of 30.2 per 100,000."

Mr Gribbin said the increases were mainly in children and young people, in particular secondary school-age, 12-17, who accounted for 52 cases.

He said that a further positive was that the hospital position remained stable, but he wanted to avoid situations seen in other areas of the country where people who haven't had a vaccine were ending up in hospital.

"I'm urging people right across Nottinghamshire to protect yourself. When you become eligible to receive the vaccine, so if you're over 34, come forward quickly. There's no shortage of appointments currently. across Nottinghamshire county.

"If aged between 40 and 49 we've also got walk-in facilities, including Newark Showground.

"So do protect yourself with the vaccine as it's the single biggest thing that you can do that will keep you safe and enable you this summer to do the things that you want to; the things that you're planning.

There were 113 cases of coronavirus in Nottingham city last week, and, like in the county, there are no active outbreaks in care homes.

The cases in Nottingham, however, are now more predominantly the more highly-transmissible Indian variant.