COVID support team now in place

COVID Support Assistants have officially started their work this week to encourage people and businesses to follow COVID guidance.

Members of the twelve-strong team completed their training earlier this week and are now walking the streets of North East Lincolnshire offering advice on COVID safety measures.

On their first day on the job earlier this week, the team carried out visits to 62 businesses in the area to offer COVID-19 signage and go over checklists of safety measures that can be put in place on their premises.

The COVID Support Assistants are not carrying out enforcement work.

Councillor Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities, said: “It’s great to see our new COVID Support Assistants out on the streets speaking to residents, local business owners and greeting visitors as they arrive at our resort.

“Lots of other Council’s in the country have adopted a similar approach, offering a voice on the streets to encourage people to follow the advice around social distancing, hand washing, and mask-wearing. They are in place to make us all safer and not to be abused.

“It’s vital that we all stick to the guidance issued by the NHS and the Government to stop the spread of COVID-19. We have to work together to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.”

Sadly, there has already been one instance of members of the team receiving abuse from a member of the public.