'We've been here before.' Norfolk Police chief's plea to stick with coronavirus rules as cases keep falling
A senior Norfolk Police officer has urged the public to keep following lockdown rules despite the impending return of children to school and the continuing fall in case numbers.
Coronavirus infections both in West Norfolk, and across the county as a whole, are down to their lowest levels since October, according to latest figures.
But Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Julie Wvendth has warned the lockdown is still in place, despite some rules being eased from Monday.
She said: "Infection rates in our area are predominantly low and this, combined with the plan to gradually ease restrictions starting from Monday with the next step planned on 29 March, will undoubtedly influence people’s behaviour.
"However, we’ve been here before. We’ve seen how cases can suddenly increase when restrictions are eased and this is a situation that none of us want to be in.
"Most people in the county have taken a safe and sensible approach, adhering to the rules and observing guidelines.
"Deviating from this approach now will only risk the roadmap journey – these dates are not set in stone.
"Everything is dependent on infection rates so we still need to take action now to make sure we can follow the plans."
Latest data for the seven days to last Saturday, February 27, showed 123 confirmed coronavirus cases in West Norfolk, down by nearly 20 per cent on the previous week, with a rolling infection rate of 81.3 cases per 100,000 people - the lowest since October 23.
The overall rate for Norfolk is even lower at around 53 cases per 100,000 people, the lowest since the second week of October.
And the total of deaths at Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital remains unchanged at 462, according to today's figures from NHS England.
From Monday, as well as the return of pupils to classrooms, people will be able to spend time outside with one other person from outside their household, or with their household or support bubble, for recreation.
But, before that, T/ACC Wvendth warned officers will be patrolling hotspot areas again this weekend to enforce lockdown rules.
A total of 160 fines were issued across the county last weekend and Hunstanton was identified as one of the busier areas.