'Harborough's Covid rate is not coming down due to a minority of people choosing to ignore the rules' says council leader

The leader of Harborough District Council is imploring people not to flout the Covid rules.

Cllr Phil King made his impassioned plea at a virtual full meeting of the authority on Monday night.

“The Government has said that 6.53 million people have now received their first coronavirus vaccinations.

“That’s more than 10 per cent of the population and represents phenomenal progess,” Cllr King told councillors.

“It’s fantastic and I’m sure that Harborough is right up there with the national rate of vaccination if not actually ahead of it.”

The Conservative council boss said almost 4,100 people in Harborough have now tested positive for Covid.

Cllr King said the rate of infection was stubbornly refusing to come down locally.

“That’s because some people, unfortunately, are not adhering to the Covid guidance – such as social distancing, washing your hands, not meeting your family and friends.

“A small minority of people are still choosing to ignore the rules thinking that this can’t happen to them,” he said.

“There is an issue with all young people – some of them can feel immune and invincible and there are riskier behaviours.”

Cllr Phil Knowles, who leads the council’s Liberal Democrat group, said: “Covid is a killer.

“Some of us have seen as such among our families and friends.

“We need to increase the number of vaccinations being made here and that’s why I think St Luke’s Hospital in Market Harborough should be used.”

The veteran health campaigner said some people in Harborough were being asked to go to a new big vaccination hub in Birmingham.

“That’s over a 100-mile round trip.

“We should urge the authorities to use far more accessible locations,” insisted Cllr Knowles.

Cllr King replied: “We have suggested venues here but these decisions are made by Public Health England – and some of them do seem peculiar.

“I believe that a mass vaccination centre will open up in Leicester up the road at some point.

“But I don’t know when that will be.”