A dentist has warned of a “disaster waiting to happen” as thousands of people flocked to his seaside town in spite of official guidance to stay at home to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Hundreds of thousands of people were reported to have visited Skegness, in Lincolnshire, on Saturday, flouting the advice to maintain “social distancing”.
Marc Jones, Lincolnshire’s police and crime commissioner, has called for the town’s caravan sites and arcades to be closed, “and quickly”.
Clark, who voluntarily closed his dental studio last Tuesday, said he was “appalled” to see his town “looking like it does on a busy summer day” as he drove home from walking his dog along a deserted section of beach.
“I view these actions as massively, massively socially irresponsible. I personally think that those involved should be ashamed of themselves,” he said. “Now is the time for us all to come together, to stay at home bar essential trips, to look after people and to do the right thing.”
He warned that the schools being closed and the caravan parks being open would bring an “enormous influx” of visitors into the small town next week.
“People are treating it like it’s a holiday. It’s not. It’s not a holiday. This is a disaster waiting to happen,” he added. “I, for one, would not ever frequent a local business that chooses to open at a time of crisis purely for their own financial gain. I understand it. I cannot support it. It is socially irresponsible. People will die.”
There were also reports of large crowds along the East Yorkshire coast, and other resorts, including Brighton and Hove, were believed to be busy.
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