Borderers warned against travelling south as new Covid-19 rules come into force in Northumberland

Two months after nationalist extremists staged a demonstration urging travellers from England to stay out of Scotland, health chiefs here are advising against heading in the opposite direction.

That warning from health and council chiefs, also calling on people to take care if they do have to travel to the likes of Alnwick or Hexham for work or other reasons, has been issued despite the latest weekly infection rate figure for the two regions being identical, 30 per 100,000 head of population.

It comes two months after nationalist extremists staged demonstrations at the border north of Berwick calling on drivers to avoid travelling in the other direction to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Keith Allan, associate director of public health for the Borders, said: “We are continuing to see increased numbers of cases of Covid-19 across the UK, with our neighbouring local authority area of Northumberland now facing restrictions on people mixing and curfews in pubs.

“As a result, we recommend that people in the Borders should only be travelling to Northumberland for essential purposes such as school or work, and they should be extra vigilant.

“If you experience any of the Covid-19 symptoms – a fever, persistent cough or loss of taste or smell – you must self-isolate immediately and book a test.

“It remains of vital importance to follow up-to-date advice and guidance in relation to infection prevention and control.

“Whilst you wait for your test, all of your household members must self-isolate. This is really important to prevent potential spread of this highly contagious virus.”

To date, 433 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed among the Borders’ population of 115,000, up nine overnight.

South of Carter Bar, 1,873 cases of the disease have been reported among Northumberland’s population of 319,000.

There have been 277 fatalities linked to coronavirus in Northumberland, almost four times the death toll of 75 it’s claimed in the Borders.

England-wide, 329,213 cases of the disease have been confirmed, equating to 585 per 100,000 head of population, more than a quarter higher than Scotland’s 23,573 cases adding up to 432 per 100,000 people.

The new restrictions in force in north-east England – covering Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and County Durham as well as Northumberland – include pubs and restaurants being forced to observe a 10pm curfew and socialising between households being banned.

Holidays, including trips to the Borders, are permitted, however, though visits to other people’s homes or gardens are not.