Avoid another lockdown – we all have a responsibility now to act

As the number of Covid-19 cases continue to rise in Waterford, Waterford Chamber is appealing to everyone to please be extra vigilant and compliant over the coming weeks.

We have been informed by Waterford Council and the HSE that the coming weeks are critical. We are facing down the barrel of having to move to Level 3 – lockdown. It has also come to our attention that a number of businesses have been somewhat lax in their approach and this is not acceptable.

Another lockdown would be a disaster for Waterford’s economy, which has been hit so much in recent months. Times have been tough, they continue to be so, but a second lockdown would be unthinkable. There are so many external factors at play in our lives right now, Brexit, a recession and of course Covid-19, all of which spell impending troubled waters ahead.

We have a window of opportunity to bring this disease under control and to keep Waterford at Level 2 restrictions. To do so, we all need to act now and break the chains of transmission, to ensure we live as optimally as we can with the virus, keep our schools open, resume non-covid healthcare and protect our vulnerable people.

We all have a responsibility now to act. Protect yourself and your staff, follow the guidelines and move on if you are not comfortable in an establishment that isn’t following guidelines.

In your personal life, please adhere to the following:

• Meet less people inside your home.
• Limit the number of people you meet outside your home as much as possible.
• Avoid crowds.
• Prioritise the people you need to see, keeping groups small, and seeing them regularly, rather than meeting lots of different people from different households. Concentrate on your core circle in the coming weeks.
• With those you do meet, be particularly attentive to safe practices – keep your distance, wear a face covering where appropriate, cough into a tissue and bin it, wash your hands.

The message remains the same, but please double your efforts in the coming days and weeks and let us all be advocates of Covid good behaviour.

Let’s not exacerbate the situation by adding a second lockdown. Do your bit – keep your community and yourself safe.