"Hastings Bar Closures Mean Virus Is Still A Real Threat" — Borough Council

Wednesday, 9 September 2020 14:27

By John Warburton @Warblefly

Hastings: Praise For Good Covid-19 Safety Response (photo: © John Warburton)

Leaders of the local authority in Hastings say the coronavirus is still a "real threat" in the town, as three local bars close down after managers discovered a customer had tested positive for Covid-19.

Hastings Borough Council today (September 9) praised the Dragon Bar, The Bat And Bee, and The Owl And The Pussycat for "acting quickly" and for following public health guidance for safety.

Members continued by urging the borough's population to continue to follow government advice on limiting the spread of the disease.

Cllr Kim Forward, leader of the council, said:

"We know local businesses are working hard to ensure their premises are safe by meeting the Government guidance and taking contact details from customers for the NHS test and trace scheme.

"The recent good practice of the Dragon Bar, the Bat and Bee and the Owl and Pussycat, after becoming aware that a customer had been tested and found to have COVID-19, is really positive."

The local authority also repeated its appeal for businesses seeking guidance or support to get in contact, as government rules tighten once more.

Meanwhile, East Sussex County Council officials moved to calm fears surrounding reports of a rise in cases.

Darrell Gale, Director of Public Health at East Sussex County Council, said:

"We are seeing a slight rise in COVID-19 cases across East Sussex as a result of people going back to work and school, but this was completely expected.

"We are not yet seeing an excessive increase of cases in East Sussex; but we may begin to if people don't maintain social distancing and hand hygiene, don't wear face coverings; if they don't isolate when they have symptoms and if they start attending events that have not been approved.

"Pubs will always be a place where we may see positive cases occurring, as they are social mixing environments.

"Closing to clean and to reach out to the customers who may have been in contact with a positive case is very sensible and good practice, which we are glad to see has been exercised by these premises in Hastings."