Covid rules have left a number of businesses in Swanage having to shut temporarily because staff either have Covid or are self isolating due to coming into close contact.
The number of people testing positive for Covid over the last seven days in Swanage, up to 10th July 2021, now stands at 20 confirmed cases in the town.
Also impacting local schools
The increase in those testing positive is also impacting local schools. The Swanage School, The Purbeck School and most recently Swanage Primary School have all had pupils testing positive for Covid.
At Swanage Primary this has led to four year groups being sent home and it’s likely they won’t be returning until after the summer holidays, leaving working parents struggling with childcare.
East Bar, The Ship, The Club and The Old Brick
Among the businesses temporarily forced to close have been the East Bar, The Ship, The Club and The Old Brick restaurant in the High Street, who all come under the same ownership.
With 60 staff across four venues, four staff members tested positive and three others are self isolating. The co-owner, Michael Bird said that they responded by closing all the premises to give them a deep clean:
“It’s a major blow at the height of the season – now at the start of the school holidays. But we’re going to do the best we can to stretch ourselves to make sure people have a good holiday.
“It’s an industry that’s struggling anyway, especially with furlough extended until September, and recruiting staff proving difficult as well.
“Obviously, it’s the right thing to do but it’s the way it includes people who are close to the ones who test positive, that’s making the situation worse.
“One of the workers who tested positive has been double jabbed.
“It’s just confusing isn’t it? And with the ever changing guidelines it’s just very difficult and it’s affecting the whole hospitality sector and people who want to work in it.”
The East Bar and The Ship have now reopened.
Michael Bird, co-owner of the East Bar, The Ship, The Club and The Old Brick restaurant in the High Street
Purbeck Valet and Straight Razors
Other businesses also closed include the new barbers in Tilly Mead called Straight Razors and the dry cleaners Purbeck Valet in the High Street.
On the door of Purbeck Valet it says:
“Like ketchup and Ribena, a staff member has tested positive for Covid, which means under the current crazy rules, we have to close for 10 days! Apologies for stupid government rules – see you all in 10 days time.”
“A huge negative effect”
On social media Straight Razors posted:
“I’m sorry to let you know that Straight Razors will be closed until Monday 26th July due to Ryan testing positive for Covid-19.
“It goes without saying that after the many closures we’ve already faced, unfortunately this will have a huge negative effect on Straight Razors as a whole!”
Number of Covid cases is rising
The number of Covid cases is rising across Dorset, although the number of hospitalisations remains relatively low. The current number of Covid-19 patients in hospital beds in Dorset is 17, compared to 14 in the last update on 9th July 2021.
Public Health Dorset data
Confirmed cases in last seven days to Friday 16th July 2021
- Dorset: 581 (compared to 365 in last update on 9th July 2021)
- BCP: 979 (compared to 936 in last update on 9th July 2021)
Seven day case rates per 100,000
- Dorset: 153.4 (compared to 96.4 in last update on 9 July)
- BCP: 247.6 (compared to 236.8 in last update on 9 July)
“Far fewer people in hospital with Covid-19”
Public Health Dorset is urging residents to bring forward their second Covid vaccination to eight weeks by either attending a walk-in clinic or rebooking their appointment.
Director of Public Health Dorset, Sam Crowe said:
“Thanks to local people getting their jabs, we currently have far fewer people in hospital with Covid-19 than at points in previous waves when we were seeing similar case rates.
“This shows that the vaccination programme is having a significant impact, and I urge anyone who hasn’t yet had their jabs to book their appointments now or attend one of our local walk-in clinics.
“With Covid-19 circulating in our communities, getting both doses of the vaccine is the best way you can protect yourself from serious illness caused by the virus.”
Wareham Hospital walk-in Covid jab clinics
More dates for walk-in Covid jab clinics at Wareham Hospital have been confirmed.
Pfizer vaccine
- Monday 19th July 2021 – 9 am to 1 pm and 1 pm to 5 pm
- Thursday 22nd July 2021 – 9 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm
- Saturday 24th July 2021 – 9 am to 1 pm
AstraZeneca vaccine
- Friday 16th July – 9 am to 1 pm and 1.30 pm to 5 pm
- Tuesday 20th July – 9 am to 1 pm and 1.30 pm to 5 pm
Further information
- A list of walk-in vaccination sites across Dorset are on the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group website
- The latest update on Covid by Public Health Dorset
- UK Government map that shows the number of Covid cases by local area
