Scientist’s recommendation bars and restaurants should remain closed until May gets mixed reaction from Portsmouth publicans

Researchers from the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M), a sub-group of SAGE, have been modelling reopening after lockdown and have stressed the premature opening of the hospitality sector would lead to a ‘bump’ in Covid cases which could continue to put a ‘very unsustainable level of pressure on the NHS’.

Dr Marc Baguelin said: ‘Something of this scale (reopening of hospitality), if it was to happen earlier than May, would generate a bump in transmission, which is already really bad.

‘So you have a lot of pressure on hospitals, you will have another wave of some extent.’

It’s a sentiment shared by Professor Anthony Harnden deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) who said the lockdown should continue until the late spring.

Responding to the suggestion, Southsea Village landlord Rodney Watson, 44, said: ‘We put in place all the measures and have never had a single case of Covid with any of our staff or customers. I don’t think it’s fair for us not be able to trade.

‘We are in good position but a lot of small businesses will struggle if they are not allowed to open until May.’

While understanding of the reasons behind the suggestion The Hole in the Wall landlord Jon McKerracher, 50, feels it would be unfair to single out hospitality.

He said: ‘We can no longer serve take-away drinks but I do find it strange I can walk down the street and buy beers at the local Co-op while other people are in the shop.

‘I fear that locally owned pubs may no longer exist as when owners throw in the towel the big chains will come along at the end of the pandemic and buy many of them up.

‘I’m not surprised by the May suggestion, I’m certainly not expecting to open any time soon. I fully expect the hospitality industry to be the last to open.’

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However the suggestion has the full backing of owner of the Sally Port Inn Mark Smith, 51.

Mark commented: ‘I think it’s a really sensible idea - it should be May at the absolute earliest. I may be an owner but I feel pubs should be the last to open. They are a luxury and a place for people to meet and mix.

‘The industry will be negatively affected but the government is doing all it can with grants and furlough to provide support.’

Owner of the One Eyed Dog and Porters in Southsea, Joe Collis, is also understanding of the need to remain closed.

Joe commented: ‘It’s would obviously be devastating for the industry but we all understand the importance of staying shut to get rates down, allow people to be vaccinated and relieve pressure on the NHS. Unfortunately some venues won’t survive but in this situation public health has to be the priority.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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