COVID-19 Street Wardens have been introduced in Thanet’s high streets and town centres this week.
Thanet council says the COVID-19 Street Wardens will help to support a safe trading environment for local businesses and customers in the district. Their role will focus on providing information, guidance and advice to the public. It will not be their responsibility to enforce any of the current COVID-19 regulations and the Street Wardens do not have enforcement powers.
If enforcement is required it will be carried by Environmental Health Officers.
There will be two teams of two COVID-19 Street Wardens who will be out and about daily, between 9am and 6pm. They will cover Margate High Street, the Old Town and Northdown Road, Broadstairs and Ramsgate High Streets as well as Birchington and Westgate.
Cllr Rick Everitt, Leader of Thanet District Council said: “We’re pleased to be able to provide this additional support to our local businesses and residents. We know that people want to feel safe to go about their day to day lives and to feel supported as they navigate the various restrictions in place. Having COVID-19 Street Wardens across Thanet will mean that we can help to manage our high streets and town centres and help them to thrive.”
“The street wardens will be easily identified by their distinctive high visibility vests and will be trained to manage conflict. They will focus on proactively helping to manage pedestrian flow and queues, encourage people to adhere to social distancing, and remind them of the need to wear face coverings in stores unless exempt.”
The Covid ‘alert level’ in Thanet is currently medium, which is the lowest of the three tiers. On October 26, according to government data, Thanet saw 25 daily positive cases and 138 in the seven days to yesterday (October 26) which was up by 72 on the previous seven days. The rate per 100,000 is 73.3 which is just below the national average. In the last seven days Thanet has experienced zero deaths within 28 days of a positive covid test. According to the Covid symptom study app there are 513 active cases estimated in Thanet today.
Find daily data from the government here
Before the half term several schools needed to send home year bubbles due to confirmed positive covid tests. This weekend also saw some isle businesses affected.
The Bedford Inn in Ramsgate posted to social media on October 23 to say the business was taking precautionary measures after a staff member received a positive test.
They said: “Unfortunately a member of staff has been tested positive for Covid-19. We are taking all necessary precautions and closing the business for 14 days so our staff can self isolate. Customers who may have been in contact with the staff member are being contacted via our track and trace details.
“Please note we have taken this very seriously and will only reopen when completely safe to do so- for you and our team. Thank you for your love and support.”
It is understood the York Arms in Ramsgate has also been affected by a positive test, believed to be a customer, with the site having undergone a deep clean. The pub is now open for business.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms:
A high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus get a test as soon as possible. You and anyone you live with should stay at home and not have visitors until you get your test result – only leave your home to have a test.
Anyone in your support bubble should also stay at home if you have been in close contact with them since your symptoms started or during the 48 hours before they started.
Find out how to book a test at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
