FACE MASKS and social distancing could be reintroduced by the borough council, under new powers granted by the Government.
Local authorities will have the ability to introduce covid safety measures, in a bid to prevent the NHS from becoming overwhelmed.
It does not allow councils to introduce a lockdown, but does let them respond to “respond to serious and imminent threats to public health”.
This includes social distancing in public spaces, buildings and transport, the ability to close premises, cancel events and introduce mask-wearing again.
Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health at the borough council, said this would only happen under Plan B, of the Government’s winter plan.
The ambition, it to follow Plan A, which relies on booster vaccines and jabs for 12- to 15-year-olds to control Covid cases, hospital admissions and deaths.
But Plan B would include working from home, social distancing, and mask-wearing.
Cllr Margetts said it is good for the council to have “tools in its toolbox” should covid cases increase to a point of concern.
“If the situation declines, we have the legislation in place to take steps to jump on cases,” the councillor said.
He said it was helpful to give councils this power, and that it would be a case of “making sensible precautions”.
