This week (5th), Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that covid restrictions will soon be lifted in the final stage of the lockdown roadmap.

The PM said he was confident enough to go ahead with relaxing a majority of coronavirus restrictions later this month.

The changes would include an end to social distancing, masks and all businesses reopening on July 19th.

However, the decision to go ahead with a full reopening was met with concerns by Jayne Kirkham, Cornwall Councillor for Falmouth Penwerris, with consequences expected on Cornwall and a further rise in cases.

Falmouth and Penryn are still feeling the impact of a serious rise in covid cases - believed to be down to the loosening of restrictions in May and half-term visitors, 164 cases have been reported in the last seven days up to 1st July.

Speaking to Nub News Councillor Kirkham said there would be an even larger number of visitors this summer, who will be using the already depleted hospitality industry.

She said:

"This time with no restrictions on social distancing and potentially no masks to protect young, unvaccinated hospitality industry staff from infection.

"This could mean even higher case numbers in our communities feeding through into more businesses closing and affecting staff in our NHS, care, retail, transport and other vulnerable front line keyworkers until everyone is vaccinated.

"Even then the vaccine does not always prevent infections and people being ill and off work."

[H3] "Our major acute hospital is at breaking point - as is our ambulance service" [.H2]

Councillor Kirkham believes the pressure of a summer staycation will be intense, made worse by a lack of staff due to covid, housing and Brexit.

She concluded:

"In short, I am concerned that the sudden removal of all restrictions will have at least a short term summer impact on our hospitality businesses, workforce, health and communities and lead to an even sharper rise in cases in Cornwall than we have experienced in the last few weeks."

Click here to see more from Jayne Kirkham.

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