[ad_1]
The mayor of Liverpool has condemned the large crowds of revelers who gathered in the city center hours before the lockdown measures were enforced and threw drinks at police cars, saying their actions “put our city to shame” .
Intensive care doctors in the city said they were “disgusted” by the scenes, while police said there would be “additional patrols” to help enforce the new measures.
Videos on social media showed large crowds of people dancing and singing in Concert Square, a popular nightlife spot, at 10 p.m. after pubs and bars closed for the last time before further closure measures took effect. strict at midnight.
The Liverpool city region is the only part of the country that moved to higher level 3 closure restrictions on Wednesday, meaning pubs and bars that do not serve meals have been forced to close and mix Social is prohibited indoors and in private gardens. Gyms, gambling shops and casinos have also been closed, while restaurants may remain open.
City Mayor Joe Anderson criticized partygoers saying, “These photos embarrass our city, attacking our brave police officers is unacceptable. Our health service is screeching, 300 in the hospital and 30 people dead in the week, ignoring these facts is the reason why we are at level 3. “
Joe Anderson
(@mayor_anderson)These images put our city to shame, attacking our brave police officers is unacceptable. Our health service is screeching, 300 in the hospital and 30 people dead in the week 😱 ignoring these facts is the reason why we are in Level 3 of measures. https://t.co/WIW12AuAhr
Downing Street also condemned the ‘irresponsible’ behavior, and the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: ‘In terms of what were the actions of a minority of people, I think you would have to judge it as irresponsible in the sense that we shouldn’t be doing any anything that could put others in danger of contracting the virus. ”
Videos posted on social media show crowds disobeying the rules of social distancing, many of them without masks, as they dance, sing and sing songs in the middle of the plaza.
Another video, taken from a nearby flat, shows the crowd booing a police car as it enters the plaza, before throwing drinks at the vehicle and banging on the windows.
Merseyside Police said officers were dispatched to the area immediately and a large crowd dispersed quickly and safely, no arrests were made and no police vehicles were damaged.
An intensive care physician working in Liverpool told Sky News: “They don’t care that people are dying from this disease, it is heartbreaking to watch.”
Another added: “We are operating at 100% capacity. Our emergency departments are packed. Social distancing is not possible. I fear we are headed for disaster.
“So you see crowds behaving that way. I’m really devastated and upset. “
Chief Superintendent Peter Costello said there would be “additional patrols on the streets” to enforce the new rules. “It is obviously extremely disappointing to see so many people choose to blatantly circumvent the Covid rules and put themselves and other people at risk,” he said.
Liverpool has the third highest number of hospital admissions for Covid-19 in Europe, and more than 95% of the city’s intensive care beds are occupied.
About half of the intensive care beds in the city’s university hospitals, the foundation of the NHS, have been occupied by patients being treated for Covid-19.
[ad_2]
