Police in Sefton say they have had to break up house parties while there have been ‘higher numbers of people out enjoying the good weather’ as they urge people to stay home this Easter.
34 people with Covid-19 have now died at Southport Hospital and Ormskirk Hospital while cases of people with coronavirus in Sefton have risen above 300.
Police officers now say they will carry out spot checks on vehicles over the bank holiday weekend, making sure people are making essential journeys.
And they urged people to only leave their homes for ‘essential reasons and the half hour exercise that is permitted’.
Southport attractions including Southport Pleasureland and Southport Pier will remain closed over Easter, as will all coastal car parks.
A Sefton Police spokesman said: “Ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend we are continuing to advise people in Sefton to abide by the government’s Coronavirus lockdown rules.
“We want to remind people that they should only be leaving home for essential activities – shopping for food and medication, exercising and going to work if they are key workers or can’t work from home – and also the importance of social distancing when in public places.
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“It is essential that everyone adheres to the guidelines – if we don’t the Coronavirus will continue to be spread and more lives will be lost.
The vast majority of the public across Merseyside are heeding the Government advice and only going out for essential reasons and the half hour exercise that is permitted.
“But this week we have seen indications that people are starting to ignore the advice. The roads are busier and there have been higher numbers of people out enjoying the good weather.
“In Sefton we are seeing more people not adhering to the restrictions.
“In a couple of instances we have also been made aware of people having parties in their home, which goes against the social distancing guidelines and is not an essential activity.
“As a result we will be out and about this week to check that people aren’t flouting the restrictions and to remind people why those restrictions are in place and to encourage them to do the right thing and go home.
Police officers based at Southport Police Station have patrolled local beauty spots in Southport and Formby, urging people to stay at home to stop the spread of Coronavirus
“We will be doing ad hoc stops to check that motorists are making essential journeys and officers on foot patrols will be talking to members of the public who are out and about to check that they are not breaching the regulations.”
Superintendent Paddy Kelly said: “We appreciate this is a bank holiday weekend and normally a time when people are going on holiday or when friends and families gather together and socialise but these are extraordinary and challenging times and everyone needs to abide by the rules in order to keep loved ones safe.
“The government has instructed everyone that they should stay at home unless making an essential journey. That means people should not be going out on day trips, rides out in the car to the beach or local beauty spot, or having BBQs or parties with other people, apart from those living in their own households.
“The restrictions have been in place for more than two weeks now and we understand that people will be getting fed up, but remember why the restrictions are in place and use the time at home to do things together as a family.
“Merseyside Police has taken a fair and common sense approach so far. Our officers have been out and about in local communities engaging with the public but if people are persistently flouting the restrictions and not listening to advice we will have to use the powers that have been given to us.
“Please work with us. These are unprecedented and challenging times for all of us, but we all have loved ones and we need to think about them and understand the danger we are putting ourselves, and our loved ones, in if we won’t stop the spread of this virus.”
