Authorities warn Portsmouth punters and venues to help avoid 'second spike' as pubs and restaurants re-open

From tomorrow, pubs and restaurants will be allowed to welcome customers through their doors for the first time in more than three months.

But punters are being encouraged to respect safety measures put in place and social distancing rules.

It comes as police and licensing authorities have worked with venues to ensure they are up to scratch on the restrictions in place.

John Knighton, medical director at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said he acknowledged it was important people were now over the weekend able to see ‘family, friends and loved ones a little more’.

But he added: ‘The virus hasn’t gone away and it hasn’t been defeated.

‘It still exists in the community and the reduction in pressure that we have seen and the reduction in the numbers of people getting seriously ill are because of the lockdown restrictions that have been in place.

‘So I would ask everyone to think really carefully and responsibly about the way we behave over this weekend and the coming weeks.’

New data taking into account all types of Covid-19 testing reveal the Portsmouth council area has seen 492 confirmed cases as of Thursday night. The Hampshire council area has seen 4,990 cases.

Dr Knighton added: ‘If we don’t follow the guidance then there is a risk that the number of cases will increase, the R rate will increase and we could see a second significant surge or wave of Covid infections.’

Hampshire police assistant chief constable Scott Chilton said his team has been working with venues to ‘prevent a second spike of the virus’.

Mr Chilton said he was ‘confident the majority of people want to enjoy themselves safely'.

But he added: ‘We have patrol plans in place throughout the two counties this weekend to ensure the easing of restrictions is approached safely. Social distancing and good hygiene remains paramount and it’s everyone’s responsibility to follow this guidance.

‘If you are visiting bars and pubs this weekend, please drink sensibly, and pre-plan your travel and how you are going to get home. Reassess your plans if you arrive at your location and realise social distancing isn’t achievable. Be aware of how excess drinking and violent behaviour may impact the emergency services and the NHS. Covid-19 still presents a significant and deadly threat to public health.

‘It’s important to remember that it is our collective effort to comply with the guidance, such as keeping our distance and washing our hands, that has led to the reopening of our local businesses.

‘Ultimately, we are still all in this together so it’s important that we all continue to limit the spread of the virus, whilst enjoying the summer.’

He revealed the force has a short-term absence rate of 0.18 per cent, and bosses have not had to cancel leave to police what Boris Johnson has dubbed ‘independence day’.

Portsmouth has an infection rate of 228.7 cases per 100,000 population, while Hampshire’s rate is 362.6 and Southampton has a rate of 362.

Leicester, the first English city forced to go back to tough restrictions seen at the start of lockdown, has a rate of 1,034 per 100,000 population.

Helen Atkinson, director of public health at Portsmouth City Council, said: ‘I understand that many people are looking forward to venues like bars, restaurants and cinemas reopening.

‘To be able to enjoy these for the long term, and not face having to go back into lockdown restrictions, it remains really important to follow the health guidance.

‘We all need to keep our distance from others, wash our hands more regularly and thoroughly, and wear a face covering on public transport and in enclosed public spaces where we can't social distance. We should still all be looking to stay two metres apart from people we don’t live with; with the exception of a support bubble for single adult households, and should only reduce this to one metre plus when two metres isn't possible.

Anyone with symptoms, including a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or changes in their smell or taste, is advised to self-isolate and request a test.

See nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119 for a test.

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