People from the Isles of Scilly fear ‘selfish’ outsiders coming to escape lockdown and have a pint, after becoming the only tier one area left in England.
The islands’ 2,000-strong population remain under the most lenient level of coronavirus restrictions, with everywhere else now in tier three or four.
Local business owners will breathe a sigh of relief after avoiding further curbs in the latest review of the system, as millions more have been plunged into tier four from today.
Linda Thomas, a 69-year-old librarian from St Mary’s, said the news is ‘no time for jubilation’, as residents worry about their relatives on the mainland and the risk of the virus coming to the isles – which only have one small hospital and a high elderly population.
She said: ‘Having seen our family and friends in Cornwall go from a tier one to a tier three in under a week because of mindless selfish people from higher tiers travelling down is very disturbing.
‘We know that some of these people were heading to the islands and I have no doubt that some made it.’
Another islander, Barbara Simpson, 78, said: ‘Those who freely admit they have come to Scilly to get away from the virus obviously have no idea (or don’t care) of the risk they pose to us.
‘The total lack of awareness and arrogance of these people is staggering.’
Both women said they would not be visiting a pub or restaurant for New Year’s Eve on the island even though they will be open, with the rule of six and table service in place.
However Tim Jones, who moved to St Mary’s from London six years ago, said he and his partner would be wearing fancy dress to his local in Old Town.
The 55-year-old IT consultant added: ‘We are making the most of it for the children, but finish by 7pm.’
The Council of the Isles of Scilly urged islanders to stay local for their New Year’s Eve celebrations.
It said: ‘Please consider whether the risk of spreading the virus on a single night out is worth jeopardising the massive effort made to keep our community and services safe so far this year.
‘As we have previously advised, just because you can do something, doesn’t necessarily mean you should, so please consider the Prime Minister’s advice to ‘see in the new year safely at home.
‘We strongly urge anyone planning to travel to the islands against this advice to reconsider, in light of what bringing the virus to the islands could mean for our community, particularly at this time of year.’
Jonathan Smith, a councillor for St Martin’s who also runs a small organic fruit and vegetable farm, said remaining in the lowest tier of restrictions is a relief but ‘no great surprise’ as they have had no recorded Covid-19 cases since September.
He added: ‘It’s an interesting paradox that Scilly remains the only place left in tier one.
‘We are probably the place in the country for fewest options for travel, shopping and eating out in the winter months.’
He said Scilly had struggled over the summer as most of its economy is tourism-based, but stressed that outsiders should not travel to the islands for a ‘New Year or winter holiday’.
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