Increasing Covid cases in Falmouth means action is needed

While there has been help on the ground from Falmouth Town Team who delivered over 500 lateral flow tests to businesses in Falmouth yesterday, not enough is being done by Cornwall Council to help businesses who are on a 'knife edge'.

Richard Wilcox BID manager for Falmouth said there was need for immediate action by the council to ensure businesses in Falmouth survive. He praised Falmouth Town Council but said there was only so much they could do.

“From a Town Team perspective, the absolute priority and key focus must be the proactive and immediate, operational response," he said.

"The fact is, we have businesses on a knife edge, doing their utmost, throughout the pandemic, to adapt and survive, and our priority is concern and support for them.

"That is why we have taken the positive step of hand delivering thousands of lateral flow test kits to businesses this week which has been extremely well received, and are pushing for a series of other measures such as in-town vaccination drop in sites, more effective and targeted comms and mitigation of certain business costs, to be instigated as soon as possible.

"We want to see urgent, practical action that focusses on and places front and centre, our Cornish business communities.”

Yesterday the town team delivered more than 500 lateral flow tests to local businesses

Yesterday, Falmouth county and Cornwall councillor Jayne Kirkham asked the Tory led cabinet cabinet, particularly Cllr Andy Virr (member for Public Health), what Cornwall Council and the government would be doing to support Falmouth with its high Covid rates.

She said the answer she got was 'hazy'. "He agreed to discuss it," she said.

Daniel Rossiter of Good Vibes Cafe on Killigrew Street said it was already too late for some businesses.

"We are now in a catch 22 where if you want to be busy and get the summer trade you need to open your doors, the more your door is open, the more staff you have the higher risk of someone having to isolate or worse test positive for the virus," he said.

"Once you reopen you’re chasing ten days lost trade and same thing is going to happen.

"Other option is to change to takeaway only but that has a huge impact on takings… without guidelines is up to every individual business to make their own decisions and that isn’t helping."

Falmouth as a whole town continues to record the highest number of cases, with a combined 149 from its three clusters: Falmouth West & South (39, up by 32 cases), Falmouth East (52, up 21) and Falmouth North (58, up 29).

Neighbouring Penryn has also seen cases rise in the last week, from 14 a week ago to 37 in the latest update. Cases are now starting to rise across the county.

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Businesses in Falmouth continue to suffer from the rising case numbers in Falmouth following the G7 with the The Games Room announcing today that it was 'devastated' that it was having to close because one of its staff had tested positive for the virus.

Posting on Facebook they said: "We have just been informed one of our staff has tested positive. This news is devastating for us after all the hard work we have put in to keeping this virus at bay. We are ensuring Track and Trace notifies all those who may need to self isolate, including those who checked in using our Track and Trace number.

"Sorry guys we really tried but we are now forced, like many others, to close our doors due to staff shortages.

"We are going to regroup, take a breath and work out a reopening date. Until then stay safe."

Yesterday The Waterside bar in Flushing also announced that it will be closing until June 30 because of the recent rise in Covid cases in Falmouth.

Posting on Facebook the Waterside team said: "Unfortunately due to the recent rise of Covid 19 in Falmouth and surrounding areas, we have decided to shut our doors until Wednesday the 30th June. We apologise for the inconvenience to all our customers."

Many more businesses in Falmouth have also been forced to close because of Covid.

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When asked at a media briefing this week, Cornwall's health chief Rachel Wrigglesworth told the Packet there is no need to set up a vaccination centre in Falmouth and that the Stithians showground site is near enough. Even though the vaccination centres are the responsibility of the NHS the county council could push for them.

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Local businesses say they are getting increasingly frustrated by the lack of action from Cornwall Council, which although they have responded verbally, has not been followed up with action.

At a meeting with business leaders last week, the county council said it was looking into a pop-up site for Falmouth but it has not materialised.

The Packet put a series of questions to Cornwall Council yesterday afternoon:

Again, why is Falmouth not getting a vaccination centre or at least a pop up centre like St Ives getting to try and combat the spike?

What support is available for businesses and when will they be getting it?

What marketing campaigns is Cornwall Council initiating to target the 18-29 year olds, the current group seeing the highest rise, to encourage them to take up the vaccine?

Today we are still waiting for a reply but will publish it once it is received.