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BRITAIN'S beaches could fuel a second coronavirus wave and may have to be locked down, MPs have warned.

Coastal MPs have raised fears too many visitors hitting the beaches could cause a second wave and see areas slapped with further restrictions.

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Bournemouth beach has been incredibly busy, sparking fears of another lockdown
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Bournemouth beach has been incredibly busy, sparking fears of another lockdownCredit: EPA

Matt Hancock raised the prospect of localised restrictions yesterday - hinting that areas hit harder by coronavirus could face tougher measures than others.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun, politicians from multiple parties have now warned beaches could be those forced to lockdown due to the influx of visitors.

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas claimed the Government's test and trace wasn't advanced enough yet to cope with the thousands of day-trippers heading to the coast.

She said: "Local businesses in Brighton are already suffering hugely from this crisis. 

"It would be a disaster for them if strict lockdown measures had to be re-imposed locally because of a rising infection rate partly brought about by thousands of visitors. 

"To visitors who love coming to Brighton, we love having you, but I’m asking you now – please, stay away until the city is ready to welcome you."

It comes as:

  • A SAGE member claimed Britain going into lockdown so late "cost a lot of lives"
  • Boris Johnson told ministers to lift the lockdown after being warned three million jobs are at risk
  • A new report warned China knew Covid-19 was a “clearly contagious” coronavirus in December yet failed to inform global health authorities
  • Easyjet, Ryanair and BA prepared to mount a legal challenge to 14-day quarantine rules imposed by Government


Sheryll Murray, the Tory MP for South East Cornwall, also warned social distancing would get harder as the tide changed.

She said: “We see waves at the beach but the wave I do not want to see is a second virus wave caused by too many people coming to our fabulous coastline. 

"People should also make themselves aware of tides.  When the tide comes in the beach can shrink substantially and this should be taken account of. 

St Austell and Newquay MP Steve Double suggested things were ok as they were, but admitted too many visitors could see the area forced into lockdown.

He said: "Whilst people have the freedom to travel to visit beaches, we would ask people to continue to be responsible.

"If you arrive and a beach looks full then please don’t go onto the beach, it’s very important that if people do visit they maintain social distancing.

"Clearly if too many people visit our beaches and behave in an irresponsible way then we do run the risk of the government taking steps to restrict access to our beaches. "

Caroline Lucas warned entire beaches could be locked down
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Caroline Lucas warned entire beaches could be locked down
Beaches have seen huge numbers of visitors since the restrictions were eased
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Beaches have seen huge numbers of visitors since the restrictions were easedCredit: Bournemouth News
Brighton beach has been inundated with sunseekers
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Brighton beach has been inundated with sunseekersCredit: London News Pictures

Currently Brits can only go on day trips, but can meet in groups of less than six outside if they maintain social distancing.

Warm weather in recent weeks has led to concerns about increased levels of social contact and a possible second spike in infections.

A contact tracing scheme was rolled out across England on May 28 with a team of 25,000 contact tracers who manually contact those potentially at risk.

Anyone who has come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the deadly bug will be told to self-isolate.

But it has been branded a "complete shambles" after trained contact tracers claimed they couldn't log in on the first day - and weren't told when they would be starting.

Last night The Sun revealed ‘Hundreds’ of NHS Test and Trace staff who said they were left with nothing to do have been let go.

The scheme launched on May 28 but many have now been released after a week.

Labour have now warned if the Government's test and trace does not improve there will be no way to track the thousands of people flocking to the beaches.

Shadow Communities Secretary Steve Reed said: “Until the government sorts out its shambolic track and trace system, overcrowded beaches will be a tragedy waiting to happen for tourists and locals.

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“After the sunniest Spring on record, locked-down Brits would love nothing more than a trip to the seaside. Local businesses that rely on tourists desperately want to re-open.

“But until the government listens to frontline professionals with the expertise to hunt the coronavirus down they are risking a catastrophic spike in infections that would risk lives and jobs.”

 

Brits flout social distancing rules on 27C scorcher on Bournemouth beach
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