An independent health care charity that covers Fenland has heard concerns about people who are not wearing face masks when they should, despite the number of Covid-19 cases rising.

At a healthcare forum for people in Fenland – organised by Healthwatch Cambridgeshire - people shared experiences of shopping, collecting medicines and visiting care homes and hospitals.

Healthwatch engagement manager Miranda Knell said: “For those of you living in Fenland what is the general feeling at the moment when you are out and about?”

One person replied: “People are worried about going out not only because of Covid-19 but also because some people are taking the whole thing much less seriously than we appear to be doing. “The infection rate is rising again day on day, whether that’s because of a lack of social-distancing or mixing in pubs and clubs I’m not sure.

“What I can say is from my own experience is that I still see people not wearing masks when they go shopping.

“In one instance I was at a supermarket and the man who walked in before me had no mask – he apologised to the girl supervising the entrance saying that he’d ‘forgotten it’, and she said ‘Oh, never mind’, and just let him in!

“Now that can’t be right surely? They’re risking all of our lives by letting in one person that way. What should be done is if they have no mask to turn them away, or offer them one..

“It’s making people frightened, wanting to stay indoors and not risking going out.”

Another member of the public said: “I’m genuinely afraid to leave the house now for fear of catching something as I am both elderly and vulnerable with asthma.

“People have become apathetic to coronavirus because the novelty has worn off, but it’s still out there and it’s serious – and it worries me.”

Members were assured that Healthwatch is already in a state of readiness for a second wave of coronavirus next year.

A local NHS representative said: “The big worry is that it’s going to come this winter coinciding with all the pressures that we usually associate in a normal ‘flu season’.

“The NHS services are very mindful of this and prepared, but educating people to stay safe and to think of others is vital.”

Healthwatch can be contacted on 0330 355 1285

https://www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk/