UK's calls for social distancing sees towns deserted and thousands head to the countryside

BBC
Sat, 21 Mar 2020 12:00 UTC

© Eddie Mitchell

Hove seafront in East Sussex attracted many visitors on Saturday morning

Thousands of people have been heading to seaside attractions in the sunshine despite government advice to avoid social gatherings due to coronavirus.

One beach in Sussex is to close, while Lincolnshire's police and crime commissioner called for caravan sites and arcades in Skegness to shut.

PCC Marc Jones said there were "hundreds of thousands of visitors".

West Wittering Beach was being shut at 18:00 GMT after "thousands" of people turned up, the estate office said.

There are also reports of large crowds along the East Yorkshire coast.

© Arwyn Roberts

Crowds gather on Snowdon on Saturday at Pen y Pass

Other resorts, including Brighton and Hove, were also reported to be busy.

'Arcades open'

Mr Jones said it was "time for everyone to be socially responsible or be made to be".

Local councillor Jimmy Brookes said it was "madness," adding: "Skegness is packed, cafes and arcades are open."

A member of the management team in West Wittering said: "The crowds were into the thousands - dispersed on to the large beach - but it's the method of getting here... we're at the end of a peninsula, there's one way in and one way out."

Police in Cumbria had earlier warned tourists not to travel to the Lake District and urged them to follow the government's advice on social distancing, which is intended to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Skegness dentist Dr Mitchell Clark, who voluntarily shut his practice last week over the coronavirus outbreak, said many local businesses were "acting like nothing is happening".

In a video posted on Facebook he called for caravan sites and businesses to close and people to remain at home.

"I was appalled to see as I drove home Skegness looking like it does on a busy summer day," he said.

"I view these actions as massively, massively socially irresponsible and I personally think those involved should be ashamed of themselves."

He added: "We are a small town. We have a cottage hospital supported by two main district hospitals and this is a disaster waiting to happen."

© PA Media

The Swan Inn in Lewes, Sussex, has now reopened as a farm shop following the orders for pubs to shut to fight coronavirus

On Friday Butlin's announced it was closing its Skegness resort as well as its sites in Bognor Regis and Minehead.

Lincolnshire Police said: "We expect business owners will want to support the measures designed to keep us all safe.

"If officers see specified businesses open, they will remind them of the government advice."

However, in Lewes, Sussex, the Swan Inn has now reopened as a farm shop following the orders for pubs to shut, and urged customers to keep a distance from each other.

Comment: Wales Online reports that while crowds have left the city centres they have flocked to Welsh landmarks:

The streets of Cardiff and Swansea were deserted on Saturday as pubs and restaurants closed and people stayed at home as the stark reality of social distancing became clear.

But popular tourist sites like Pen y Fan, Snowdon, Barry Island, Porthcawl and Cardiff's Roath Park were busy, leaving some concerned that social distancing was not being effectively practised. And mountain rescuers warned they cannot guarantee help amid the coronavirus crisis.

Hundreds of cars lined the roads around Snowdon and Pen y Fan as people sought to get fresh air and exercises but stayed away from city centres.

© Mark Lewis

Visitors to Barry Island stayed apart on the beach

At Snowdon, hundreds of cars were parked in car parks and along roads, as numerous walkers hiked up Wales' biggest mountain. But they were warned they were putting themselves and mountain rescuers at risk as the covid-19 outbreak escalates.

Expressing his shock at the scene on Facebook, one man said: "I'm one for going round Snowdonia a lot. And I mean a lot... but I have never, ever seen cars parked along the Pass like this."

He added: "Absolutely shocked me, this has."

At Barry Island, people appeared to be well spaced out on the beach but were close together as they queued at a nearby fish and chips booth.

On Saturday afternoon, it emerged that a further 89 cases of coronavirus Covid-19 had been confirmed in Wales and two people with the virus had died. One area of Wales saw a significantly higher spike than others and now has more than half of all the country's cases.

© Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency

And a large number of walkers made their way up to the highest peak in south Wales

The city centres were a different story, however. In Cardiff, St David's Shopping Centre, usually bustling with shoppers and tourists at the weekend, was almost empty as more and more shops closed their doors in light of the coronavirus pandemic. John Lewis announced it was closing all its stores.

© David Owens

The John Lewis car park in Cardiff was empty

The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a package of measures on Friday, March 20, to ensure that employee would continue to be paid up to 80% of their wages if they could no longer work because of the impact of coronavirus.

Car parks, usually full to capacity at the weekend, were deserted of vehicles and silent as footfall was reduced to almost nothing within 24 hours of the latest government guidance.

Many people would normally take the opportunity to shop for essentials at the weekend, but larger stores that would usually be bustling were empty on Saturday.

© Adrian White

High Street was quiet as well

Not everywhere is closing though, supermarkets are still battling with increased demand and panic-buying as queues stretch into the car parks of stores this weekend.

Many supermarkets are reserving their first hour of trading for the elderly and key NHS workers, in an attempt to get food and essential supplies to those most in need and most at risk during the coronavirus pandemic.

On the WalesOnline Facebook page, people have been commenting on the large numbers of people, especially elderly people, out shopping or queuing to get in.

© Adrian White

This couple decided against social distancing for a quick embrace between Welcome Lane and Princess Street