DOCTORS and councillors from across Trafford have urged caution as the remaining Covid restrictions are lifted in England.

As legal requirements for mask wearing and social distancing are removed from this week, GPs in particular want people to remain careful to avoid a rise in hospitalisations.

Dr Maz Sangha, clinical director of Altrincham Healthcare Alliance Primary Care Network and GP partner at St Johns Medical Centre in Altrincham, described the decision to remove restrictions as 'perplexing in light of the rocketing cases'.

He said: “Removing restrictions when there are rising Covid case rates in Trafford, enormous demands on primary care where we’re seeing 50 per cent more patients than in pre-Covid times, backlogs in services, issues with long Covid plus pandemic pressures on secondary care, is of very serious concern.”

Dr Kate Jennings, GP Partner at Altrincham Medical Practice, said: “The virus continues to spread, cases continue to rise and we’re treating more patients than ever. Please don’t become complacent as restrictions are lifted.”

Dr Jennings urged people to ‘remain safe’ and said precautions will remain in place in her practice.

She added: “Throughout the pandemic we’ve tried to make our practice as safe as possible. Patients and staff are the priority: those visiting the practice are sick and vulnerable so patients are being asked to continue to use masks, hand sanitiser and socially distance, and staff will continue to use PPE.”

Last week, Trafford’s infection rate was higher than it has been at any other point since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

Cllr Andrew Western, leader of Trafford Council and Trafford Labour, said: “The Government has taken the decision to lift restrictions and of course we all want to see things back to normal as quickly as possible.

“That said, the rates in Trafford over the last few weeks have been higher than ever before so I would encourage all residents to adopt a pragmatic and cautious approach as we try to lift restrictions as safely as possible.”

A spokesperson for Trafford Green Party said: “The government is trying to pretend the pandemic is nearly over, but it isn’t. Cases and hospitalisations are rising too fast. The NHS’s vaccination programme has been brilliant, but there is still a long way to go before the virus is under control.

“Taking precautions such as wearing masks in shops and on public transport remain our best means of controlling the spread of the virus and reducing the risk of vaccine-resistant variants emerging. People should also be supported to continue working from home where possible. Talk of a ‘Freedom Day’ undermines this message. It is also divisive, as it increases risks for vulnerable people. They will be less free to go about their daily lives without fear of infection.

 “There is a danger that relaxing restrictions will actually harm the economy rather than help it. Case rates are already so high that many workers are off after getting infected or having to isolate. The regular cancellation of green bin collections in Trafford is just one example.

“The Green Party will always be guided by science and backs keeping the basic rules on mask wearing, which the vast majority of people are happy to follow. The government should instead focus on ensuring there is sufficient capacity at testing sites, while supporting our cultural and leisure sectors to start up again safely over the summer.”

Cllr Julian Newgrosh, Trafford Liberal Democrats leader and Timperley Village representative, said: “The Conservatives would like to call today ‘Freedom Day’. But freedom comes with responsibility.

“The government’s handling of the pandemic has lurched from negligent to chaotic. But Trafford residents have generally tried to follow the rules and keep each other safe. Whether that was looking out for a neighbour, isolating when required, or wearing a mask in public.

“There are still thousands of residents that are unable to take the vaccine or have weakened immune systems. We have to continue to look out for them.

“So please continue to wear your mask – particularly on public transport. Get tested and isolate if you have symptoms. And get a vaccine if you are able to.”

Last week, Eleanor Roaf, Trafford Council’s director for public health also urged caution, but did say the argument for easing restrictions now with the warmer summer weather ‘on our side’ was a good one.

She said: “At whatever point we lifted restrictions we were going to see an increase in cases; even though the vaccination programme is very good and the vaccine itself is extremely effective, there are always going to be some people who aren’t vaccinated for whatever reason.

“The argument for releasing the restrictions now is I think a good one in that in the summer time you have fewer other things going round, so you’re more likely to have capacity in hospitals and a healthier population. The weather is on our side with releasing restrictions now.”

She added that releasing restrictions is not the same as allowing the virus to ‘run rampant and do what it wants’.

She explained if that were allowed to happen then 'we will see hospitalisations, we will see deaths'.

Ms Roaf said wearing a face mask on public transport, in supermarkets was the ‘courteous thing to do’, for others, for staff working in public spaces and for yourself.

She added regular hand washing must still be observed to prevent the spread and people should work from home and meet outdoors whenever they can.