Derbyshire council leader says 'everyone must do their bit' to stop spread of coronavirus - after social distancing rules flouted by some in county

Over the weekend, pictures emerged showing crowds of people visiting places across the UK – including Matlock Bath – and not staying two metres apart.

MORE: Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK

Health Secretary Matt Hancock insisted the Government advice on social distancing was ‘really clear’ – and said those flouting the rules were ‘very selfish’.

On Sunday, Derbyshire County Council closed its country parks with immediate effect as ‘the high number of of visitors is sadly making social distancing impossible and putting people at risk’.

Barry Lewis, leader of the council, said today: “Uniquely in the country Derbyshire and the Peak District are visited by day trippers from major conurbations and cities that surround us and that normally we’d welcome with open arms.

“But the current crisis makes our countryside, our lovely villages and towns and our parks and gardens melting pots for potentially bringing Covid-19 into our communities and then staging to other places and communities.

“We know our NHS is already creaking because of Covid-19 – in two to three weeks, if we don’t get on top of it, it’ll be overwhelmed.

“Here’s a scenario discussed by a A&E consultant on BBC radio just the other day: in two to three weeks there could be only one ventilator to every eight patients that need one.

“That means seven people could or will very likely die.

“We would’ve loved to have kept parks and our national park open to sensible visitors.

“However we are in a position where we cannot risks our residents and communities.

“People absolutely must do their bit to ensure that they do all they can to keep themselves and others safe.”

According to the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg, the Government is now considering closing all non-essential retail stores and introducing fines on people who ignore the current coronavirus advice.

Labour has called on the Government to increase lockdown measures to ‘keep people safe’.

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