Emergency services workers gathered on Westminster Bridge on Thursday as they paid tribute to the NHS. Keeping their distance, the workers were then joined by members of the public who clearly flouted the social distancing warnings. Despite the emergency services keeping two metres apart, there was little they could do as large numbers began to gather on the bridge within close proximity of each other.

Flouting the required two-metre distancing, the video soon sparked outrage on Twitter.

Initially posted by junior doctor, Damir Rafi, he told Storyful the video had done more harm than good. 

He said: “I think that though people may have wanted to go outside to show their support for healthcare workers, applauding them while being in a crowd is likely to have done more harm than good.”

BBC journalist Andrew Neil said: “Social distancing really being enforced, then.”

BACK BRITAIN’S BRAVE NHS HEROES – CLICK HERE NOW

Express.co.uk has also launched a new campaign for Captain Tom Moore to get a knighthood, read his story here. 

Commenting on one video from the London Fire Brigade’s Lambeth station, some expressed their displeasure at the apparent lack of social distancing displayed in the video from members of the public.

One person wrote: “So much for social distancing.”

Another said: “We’re all told two metres apart & self-isolate yet Westminster Bridge is packed.”

A third wrote: “Great idea, a nice big get together.

“You must see how this could come across badly.”

JUST IN: Leo Varadkar loses control! Ireland’s caretaker leader powerless

The Government instituted strict social distancing measures on March 23 to reduce the chances of social contact.

Under these restrictions, members of the public must stay at home except for essential trips, while certain businesses were closed.

All gatherings of more than two people in public are to be stopped.

There are two exemptions under mass gatherings, however.

DON’T MISS
UK doctor explains why face masks could lead to MORE coronavirus cases [Comment]
Grant Shapps overrules Sadiq Khan face mask demands [Video]
We must look after the generation that built the NHS, says ROSS CLARK [Comment]

As stated under the Government’s guidance, those who live together or where gathering for essential work – such as NHS staff or police – is needed, are exempt.

In order to enforce these measures, the Government has given the police additional powers to reduce day to day contact.

If members of the public do not comply, the police have the power to instruct you to leave or ask you to disperse.

As a last resort, the police can take you home or arrest you if their instructions are not followed.

These measures will be reviewed by the Government in three weeks.

Interim Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, Dominic Rabb announced a three-week extension to the measures on Thursday.

Mr Raab insisted the measures must remain as relaxing them too soon would be damaging to the public and economy.

He added that the infection rate in the UK is not at a rate which would allow measures to be lifted.

He said: “There is light at the end of the tunnel but we are now at both a delicate and a dangerous stage in this pandemic.

“If we rush to relax the measures that we have in place we would risk wasting all the sacrifices and all the progress that has been made.

“That would risk a quick return to another lockdown with all the threat to life that a second peak to the virus would bring and all the economic damage that a second lockdown would carry.”

Source: Read Full Article