People cuddle each other whilst watching the city skyline on top of Primrose Hill in London, Britain on March 26, 2020.(Xinhua/Han Yan)
In a plea to Liverpool's near half-million population, Mayor Joe Anderson said "the cases in Liverpool are almost doubling daily. Everyone is and will be affected in some way by it. Please, please stay at home."
by Larry Neild
LIVERPOOL, Britain, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Home to the world famous Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Britain's key medical establishment the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool is in the frontline in combating the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Since the outbreak, the deadly disease has given a painful hit to the city, as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 "almost doubling daily," said Mayor Joe Anderson of the city in Merseyside, North West England.
One of the first victims of the virus here was the 76-year-old legendary singer Cy Tucker. The musician, who was well-known for performing with The Beatles, fell ill with COVID-19 last week after performing a gig.
Commenting on his death, one fellow singer posted on social media "If this doesn't make you wake up to COVID-19 nothing will."
"What makes his loss even more heartbreaking is the fact that it could have been so easily avoided had it not been for coronavirus," Tucker's family said in a statement, urging people to follow the government's advice "and do what is necessary so not many families have to experience this nightmare."
Photo taken on March 25, 2020 shows an empty street in York, Britain. (Photo by Craig Brough/Xinhua)
If anybody knows better about the implications of coronavirus, the city's police chief Andy Cooke is one of them.
Back on frontline duties after overcoming the virus, the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, who spent two weeks in isolation after tested positive for the virus, told local media that the virus had "knocked him sideways".
"During my career I can count the times I've been off sick on one hand, so this wasn't an easy decision for me to make and in a way the outcome of the test proves the point," said the police chief in a message to citizens of Liverpool.
From Monday midnight, Britain has entered into a lockdown. People across the country are only allowed to leave their homes for "very limited purposes," including shopping for basic necessities, for any medical need, for one form of exercise a day, and to travel to and from work when necessary.
Cooke's officers now have a new duty added to their daily routines -- encouraging young kids about social distancing in Liverpool.
A number of calls have been received reporting large groups of youths gathering in areas of Liverpool and Merseyside, and local officers are encouraging young people to practise social distancing and limit social interactions as much as possible, according to local police authority.
A woman rides her scooter up to Primrose Hill in London, Britain on March 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Han Yan)
On Tuesday, mayor Anderson confirmed that one infected cases of COVID-19 was under the age of 25 -- the youngest confirmed cases in Merseyside.
"We understand this is a difficult time and that children may be increasingly bored if not attending school with their friends. However, now more than ever it's important that the government's guidelines are adhered to so that children, their families, friends and the wider communities are protected," said Wirral Community Policing Superintendent Gary O'Rourke.
"Limiting social interactions is key to slowing the spread of COVID-19 and although we understand how frustrating staying at home must be for young people, it is in the best interest of all," said O'Rourke in a reminder to parents, guardians and children.
In a plea to the city's near half-million population, Anderson said "the cases in Liverpool are almost doubling daily. Everyone is and will be affected in some way by it. Please, please stay at home."
Nobody yet knows when the famous streets of Liverpool will once again become vibrant as more citizens bunker down in the safety of their homes. But for the mayor, Liverpool will emerge from the pandemic and ready to re-build its fortunes, just as it has done in the past. ■
