2 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed on the Isle of Wight this week after several weeks of no new cases being recorded.
Last Friday, Island Echo reported that it seemed the Isle of Wight was almost COVID-free with no new cases of coronavirus confirmed between 6th and 23rd July.
However, the latest data from Public Health England has revealed that 2 cases have been identified locally over the past week.
1 new case was added to the running total on 29th July, with another case added today (31st July). That brings the total number of COVID-19 cases confirmed on the Isle of Wight since the start of the pandemic to 423.
The infection rate on the Island is 298.9.
Nationally, 302,301 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed with 45,999 associated deaths.
Here we go..
Does anyone know what the actual r rate number is on the IOW now?
Bachman turner overdrive, You Saint seen nothing yet!
No social distancing, lots of visitors and most people not wearing a mask.
Beaches packed and most people don’t give dam, get ready for another lockdown and a bankrupt country…
And guess what! Everyone will blame the government…
Just been down to the red funnel terminal in east cowes as the were unloading .the ferry was packed solid with holiday makers and due to heavy traffic they were backed up from york ave to the ferry terminal. I had a word with one of the staff and was told that all the ferrys are booked solid in to next week. Ithink we are in for a big outbreak of covid-19 stay safe out there
Having seen just Compton beach today no wonder
Being a resident in east cowes myself it’s a daily thing now with a hell of alot of people disembarking from the ferry, almost like theres never been a pandemic. Another lockdown is imminent. Please everyone with an ounce of common sense take simple precautions, and stay as safe as possible, we as islanders need to stick together.
Yawn .meaningless figure .
Probably due to holiday makers coming over
How will the Island survive without visitors?
As we do in winter .
What 70% closed down – Greatly looking forward to that!
But the island needs the summer visitors to enable the island to survive the winter. No summer visitors = island shops hotels and restaurants etc would not survive.
easily, we did it before.
You have had a pandemic before? When?
With properly organised industry and agricultural jobs, but not concreted-over green spaces for housing estates.
We certainly don’t need more houses if there’s no jobs…..no jobs means more people here on benefits.
There are other sources of income. Lives over money not the other way around. Stop being so narrow minded.
most of the money goes to big companies anyway lidl tescos macdonalds etc etc therfore goes off the island
Without a doubt.
Again money over our lives.
Easy to say when money is not an issue for you .
Completely agree there are a lot if very narrow minded people out there.
Oh for goodness sake why are you so quick to blame holiday makers when all your young folk have been cramming the beaches all along,and i’m not just blaming your young folk.the younger generation all over the country are not observing social distancing at all.Don’t forget lots of people from the Island work over in Portsmouth and elsewhere off the Island so they may well have brought it back to the Island.Most of us here on the mainland do know how to behave and I personally would never knowingly put anyone on the Island in danger ,so PLEASE stop blaming all the holiday makers.Stay safe all of you.
The older older generation are the worst with social distance and masks by far…..
Very true. Just stood in post office and old bloke in front of me had no face covering. One yesterday in Tesco nothing said.
Sorry it was me saw you staring ,I find it hard to breath I have 4th stage lung cancer
Some people are exempt from wearing a face covering & some just don’t wear 1 cause they are pointless & if they were so important we would of been wearing them months ago
Unfortunately due to government ruling the elderly don’t have to wear masks if they have a respiratory issue. But…. any of them can use that as an excuse. Same as children, and as we know children have started to contract the virus.
Can you not understand why? No probably not!
Can understand why people want to go on holiday really do but if infection rates are starting to rise again why cant we stop people coming over before it’s too late and then if we do have anything over here it’s easier to contain.
To be honest as much as I understand people everywhere need a break/holiday I just think this year is a right off for it.
Why is everybody worrying about the infection rate!? The average age of deaths is 81. It’s the death rate to be worried about, and that has fallen off a cliff! So what’s the problem? I just don’t get you people!
It isn’t necessarily people coming here on holiday. People that live here work on the mainland, visit people on the mainland and have been abroad since lockdown lifted.
That coupled with the people that think they are sheep if they follow government guidelines won’t help anyone.
I know our economy has to get back on its feet but, in my opinion, lockdown was lifted to soon.
I’ve never been on a holiday in my life. Phobias about travel mainly. I wish I had one of those virtual reality thingies that could make me feel I was somewhere with blue sea and white sand and palm trees, and everything idyllic with a warm balmy breeze and a pineapple drink and pretty fruit bats in the trees.
Not correct! Get some new glasses>
What……down the pubs, clubs, raves, social gatherings, can’t wait to be old, what age is old??
It’s not blaming, it’s a valid fact the more people come over from far and wide the more likely it is for it to be brought over. I’m allowed an opinion thank you.
And we have a family of 6 from Manchester who were in Newport Morrisons telling someone the problems in their home area.
I f the Island didn’t want visitors to come and spend money there,then why open places like Robin Hill ,Blackgang Chine etc,because I;m quite sure that not many of the locals can afford the prices they charge to get in,and no one is saying you aren’t entitled to an opinion,but as you haven.t got and are not likely to get any proof whatsoever that holiday makers brought the virus over,then you shouldn.t keep on blaming them.Stay safe and remember the rules just as we on the mainland are doing.
2 new cases after 0 cases where else would it come from? And as soon as the holiday makers start to come over aswell, it’s a very high possibility and lastly on the island we had 0 cases for a good couple of weeks so we have remembered the rules quite obviously.
2 new cases of Covid in less than a week after 0 cases. …… where has it come from then?Would be interesting to know if they are residents or visitors.
Trouble is that stupid confidentiality rules prevent this information being published! Tell this to your local Public Health Officer and MP.
Wait until children are sent back to school. Soon Autumn coughs and colds will be naturally doing the rounds, making the confusion of ‘is it, or isn’t it’ CV a massive problem, not only for the schools, but the parents of such children, should we all stay home now from work, etc.
Businesses will suffer as staff are intermittent, some with CV, some with the ‘sniffles’ in the family and some, just throwing a extra couple of weeks hols into the mess.
All those people now masked stood outside of shops in warm summer weather will be rain and gales lashed, reducing shopping to only the necessity, impacting further on income for hard pushed shop and business owners.
The Summer trade gone, and reality of a likely second wave to hit at the wrong time.
Worrying times for so many reasons.
Let’s hope a vaccine is found, and it is British vaccine which is available to all here first.
Glad your not running the country!!!
Keep taking the medication…
Maybe this is to difficult for you to understand, this is a case of, what we don’t understand,we disregard! Shame.
At least it would be a truthful one if he was! Unlike the one we have now. Corrupt and full of bullshit!
Thank you mrs brown ,a voice of common sense and rationale, unlike most it seems on here! Even when I quote from the article in question, which the sheep follow, they still disbelieve. The lack of intelligence, that’s what Is I question!
Businesses making redundancies, DFL’s bringing the pandemic – The future is Bright (Wave 2 is unavoidable)
Wake up and smell the coffee ☹️
Tourists go back HOME !!!
Bring them over enjoy this lovely island
Yes go home holiday makers we all want a holiday but it’s not happening this year for me we are in the middle of a pandamic use you common idiots
I agree go home, Holiday makers come down hear. Don’t care about us they walk in front of you don’t stop so you can pass in a safe place I have been bumped in too several times no apologies. There like cars keep going there’s a pedestrian coming don’t social distance and when you stop to let them pass they look at you as if too say why are you stopping for. If they want to come down hear respect us on are island. Or simply go back to where ever you have come from. And why let EF students come over from other countries to the island is that child neglect
I didnt want to come … tried to change dates. Cottage refused ! As a family, we are extremely careful… your attitude not warranted
Then if you are being careful and respectful then you are the minority.
PLANDEMIC YOU MEAN
No ! You move to mainland!!!!
Sad news. But not unexpected But this whole mask business is a mess. It is a rule with no one prepared to take responsibility for it. Shopped at Tesco yesterday, 1/2 the people doing picking (for internet or click and collect) were not wearing masks. The orders they were fulfilling could be going to an old or vulnerable person. Stores can’t make them wear them apparently. Where is the sense in that? Personally I would say no mask – no work = no pay!!
Totally agree Ryde Reader. I’ve experienced the same at Tesco, would have thought it made sense for the “Pickers” to be wearing masks, at the end of the day they are no different to shoppers.
Apparently it’s down to the individual, I asked the manager at our Tesco why aren’t the pickers wearing masks because I have to and feel it’s a step towards being safer and he just smiled – Every Little Helps!
AGREE. EVERYONE SHOULD WEAR MASKS. Most people do follow the guidelines. Senseless going into a shop as a customer, putting on a mask then seeing half the staff without a mask!
Because it’s not real! Flu
Troll.
Umm..
THAT is why i have stopped going to tesco’s.
Your missing the point hear! Why hasn’t the liars( government) told everyone, that includes bus drivers, shop works, ferry operators, that ALL have to wear masks, because after all ,it’s such a deadly virus , due to kill 500,000 in the U.K.. Think!.?
Hopefully get the population down
Another one with the conspiracy theory lol
Your own lying government said 500,000 to die,wheres the conspiracy then? You really havent a clue!!
Hi reader I work at that supermarket and I can tell you now most of the pickers were wearing masks .the ones that wasnt have health issues .so its upto them if they feel happy being on shop floor. I was working yesterday and I saw loads of customers without masks so would you like to bring them into your arguement .the government states that we can ask for a mask to be worn but if the customer refuses then the store has no powers to stop them .
If they have health issues then surely they should be allocated a job more suitable? What other posters are trying to say is that if customers are expected to wear a mask on the shop floor then why aren’t the shop workers who primarily work on the shop floor expected to wear a mask? Doesnt matter whether you work there or not if you are carrying the virus you’ll still spread it. It doesnt make sense. And if you really knew what the govt have said you would know that if a customer refuses to wear a mask then you can refuse entry.
Shop staff have no power to enforce face coverings & the advice is not to challenge those not wearing them due to putting themselves at risk from potential abuse, it may be mandatory to wear a face covering but very little can be done to enforce it given the lack of police, they simply cannot be everywhere
I’m not saying they have the power to enforce, I’m saying they have the right to refuse entry, Tesco have security staff standing at the front door at all times surely that is a role that should be allocated to the security staff to politely ask customers to wear a mask, if that person refuses then they should refuse entry!
Other businesses like hairdressers are saying if you don’t wear a mask you can’t come in. It’s the choice of the business and Tesco has made the choice to lose mine because of their attitude towards their staff and customers during this pandemic.
Really! So someone has a disability and they refuse entry for that? See you in court for my lovely big pay out. You haven’t a clue!
Mr justice seeing as you are so up to date with your knowledge then you should surely know that if you have a genuine disability that means you cannot wear a mask you can get hold of a card stating this to make people aware that you cannot wear a mask for health reasons.
Shop staff that have health conditions for there own safety should be moved to a more appropriate area of work.
Those cards dont mean a thing,only to stop other people attacking people with a disability, which is disgusting! Go to your own government website,and it clearly says ,if wearing and removing a face covering causes severe distress, you are not required to wear one. End of.
They are available because people like you who think everything is a conspiracy refuse to wear a mask full stop, to be honest no I do not think people with disabilities should have to prove anything but there is such a thing as hidden disabilities which are not always evident visually therefore cards are provided to combat this.
This maybe the purpose of these cards. But please tell me where my conspiracy lies.?
Please point out where my conspiracy is? Agenda 21 FACT! Chinese social credit system FACT! Covid 19 flu like virus FACT! Shall I continue? See it’s people like you that DONT get the facts,and quote lies from theMSM and the liars (government)
And sadly, the ignorant types know that. They know they can just get away with it so they don’t care. Just selfish.
In some countries they wouldn’t even have to worry about abuse. But this is Britain of course, where bolshy yobbishness seems to be the order of the day.
As a Company, Tesco should be saying Via tv broadcast or media that no one enters their stores without a mask regardless of age or health. Security guard can then control at entrance. If they refuse, they don’t go in. Simple….
At 10 o’clock in the morning a lot of the pickers were not wearing anything. Even one not wearing a mask is too many. But why can’t they wear a face shield if a mask is not possible?
I haven’t been to tesco since the lockdown started. It’s much better in Wairose. they are so responsible the way they have always dealt with it there. I dread to think what Morrissons, Asda and Lidl are like, not to mention Home Bargains and B&M , the type of customers they attract at least on the few occasions I’ve been there in the past leave a lot to be desired.
Stick to Waitrose then! Not that hard. Not everyone can afford to shop there!
I have to live on the state pension, and when I shop at Waitrose I buy mainly organic fruit & veg. Much of what they sell is actually cheaper than elsewhere, certainly cheaper than the co op in many cases. They used to have notices up saying anything Tesco charge, they will match. A lot of the silliness spread about Waitrose, is just that. Also it depends on what you want to buy. Just ordinary basic food is no dearer than anywhere else. I don’t go out drinking, I don’t drive a car, don’t go flying about the world on airplanes, and don’t have a lot of the little luxuries that most people take for granted, I also don’t appreciate the rudeness and ignorance of so many of the people who choose to shop in the other places I mentioned in my original post, At least Waitrose customers, by and large, usually behave in a civilised manner and all the staff there couldn’t be nicer and more helpful. Don;t think that only rich people shop at Waitrose, because nothing could be further from the truth in my case.
A lot of the silliness spread about Covid-19, is just that. Like your entitled to your opinion so am I! If I want to think rich snobs shop at Waitrose then I will, just as your saying rude and ignorant people shop at the other places! Don’t be such a hypocrite!
I’m not being a hypocrite, just stating facts about the kind of behaviour I’ve witnessed from shopping in those other places. Someone had taken a bite out of a croissant and put it back in the bag then back on the shelves at Lidl when I was there once, and that is just one example. Disgusting.
Yep, expect more very quickly, that’s on top of the 5 that were not reported anywhere. If you have noticed it always seems the visitors, 2nd home owners who are the ones ignoring the guidance, “oh I forgot my mask”, “I only wear my mask when my disabled wife is with me”, “I can’t wear a mask in your shop. I have breathing difficulties.” But once outside lights up a cigarette. People are taking the piss, if only it was them who got ill, but 9 times out of 10 it isn’t. Oh well second wave will hit the island come September. So us islanders will get be lumbered, and you can be sure we will get no help from the council, all they will do is bang on about how we need to keep the ferries running and keep tourism going. I get the feeling they would rather all us islanders popped off and then the mainlanders would buy up all the homes and shops and the council could then charge shedloads in council tax and rates.
‘Couldn’t agree more.
It’s the most typical of lowlife people that are the main ones being irresponsible. I’ve seen quite a few on the buses this week, and it’s mainly been the lowlife types not wearing masks. One large woman comes to mind recently, the only one on there without a mask, tattooed, loud, seemingly aggressive type that most people would be too afraid to say anything to, so many of those types can claim “well it’s me diss a bill ii ee, innit” as an excuse for not wearing a mask, because anyone claiming ‘mental health problems’ can not wear one. Ir’s an insult to anyone with real mental health problems. But the ignorant types are more likely to be the ones who come up too close and jostle you, or push past with no thought or care for social distance. Why should the rest of us have to suffer in the heat feeling smothered on the buses, wearing a mask to protect them from us, when they are the ones more likely to spread any infection around anyway, and they are the ones who don’t wear a mask? We’re told that wearing one protects others, not ourselves, but so many of the lowlife brigade don’t, so we are not being protected from them, but we are protecting them by wearing a mask ourselves.. It is madness.
Ow no its coming for us run and hide
The council needs to do something now. It’s the government’s fault, they lifted lockdown to early. They care too much about the economy forgetting about the public wellbeing. Quarantine rules should apply to any holiday makers even coming over to the Isle of Wight.
The government don’t care. Either do shop workers or the council. If they did care things like face masks, hand sanitiser and gloves should be free. We shouldn’t have to Pay to be safe.
Pathetic. You are as bad as the ones who complain there was even a shutdown to start with.
The IOW is a county same as all other counties. If all inter county travel was restricted then yes, but otherwise it would be totally wrong.
Damn shame the IOW is not independent, like people tried to make it years ago.
Without a doubt not only the island but all holiday destinations need visitors, no visitors, no ‘green’ (money). Unfortunately it is inevitable the virus will spread and more people will become infected. Seems bizarre, we are in the midst of a global pandemic, people are still moving around and behaving as if everything is as it was ‘before’ China unleashed this virus into the world. I just hope everyone keeps to the distancing guidelines, ‘masks up’ as instructed and practices good hand washing ‘cos we here on the IOW don’t want it.
Rubbish. The island is doing well hardly any positive test Lots of holiday makers here money flowing In just go out social distances from each other and wear a mask life must go on
Check the Covid number in 2 weeks. Today it’s only 2 but 2 too many
What a shame you are not telling us how many tourists on the Isle of Wight have Covid 19 about time the truth was told and something done about it.
How the foook do we know
Visitors from the mainland are far more aware of the precautions they need to take! We have been very lucky here on the Island. They’ve had it tough we should be more welcoming!
According to someone today from St Marys they have six visitors in hospital with Covid19 just don’t want us to know
Just come across your post regarding 6 visitors in hospital . Is this St, Mary’s as I have friends working there in various departments..I asked one and they are astonished to hear of this and say the opposite. I’m afraid that someone is giving you false information. Naughty,naughty. Not your fault but it’s best to get 100% confirmation than gossip. Could cause unwarranted alarm.
There were 5 for sure in the last 3 weeks on top of the 2 announced today. FACT. The council are hiding figures to keep the tourists coming. Wake up everybody.
Check the post from Lin. She states six visitors are in St Mary’s – where. Not even confirmed . Why – wards are virtually empty. Unfortunately you need to realise it’s instructions from the top to put the fear of god into people . Drive past Medina High School to Cowes 4 times a week. The testing station visible from the road is virtually empty. Good but it’s getting noticed like myself and many others that something is not quite right. No denying there is a virus circulating but it’s getting less thank Christ. I firmly believe that the Government doesn’t want this as it’s mucking up their plans for our future. Could be wrong. Let’s hope I am.
I work there and that’s total rubbish
Twat
Like I said lack of intelligence, is that all you can say? Pea brain!
Childish mentality!
You seem to have a real problem with Island youngsters on the beach, they live here,leave them alone.
That was a reply to Suzanne
Mandy ,hi ,I really don’t have any problem with Island youngsters on the beach ,I have two really great teenage grandchildren.What I do have a problem with is them thinking they are immune to this dreadful virus and thing they are not in the age group to be vulnerable.Well it has now been revealed that 17 to 24 year olds are now causing a spike in many parts of the country .They are clearly vulnerable and are then able to spread it to others.All we all need to do is follow the rules and keep our distance.Please don’t think I hate teenagers because I really don’t,but its just so scary when you see groups of them no more than a foot apart huddled together chatting.I do feel for them all,not being able to go out and meet their mates or go to parties or attend school leaving events,but if we all observe the distancing rules we can get rid of this horrible virus quicker.Stay safe all of you.By the way Mandy I and my family have been coming to the Island for over fifty years My husband was born there and we love it .
d Suzanne, we all love the lsland and that’s why we are worried, l know you think we are being harsh on the holiday makers but if you were here at the moment you could see why . The majority really do think that when they get off the ferry it’s ok over here, and they are being rude when being reminded to social distance. Let’s just hope everything is going to be ok , because another lockdown will be a disaster for many.
This is why people needs to wear masks so every places they go can minimum reduce of the COVID-19♀️ “Wearing a masks isn’t a law” is the most irresponsible phrase I’ve ever heard and it is a law just for COVID-19 situation, doesn’t mean they can do what they want during this phenomenon like geez calm down because wearing masks doesn’t hurt anyone♀️
The cold hard facts……30 per cent of the population of our Island only has seasonal employment much of it hospitality related….tourism based accommodation is one of our largest business sectors and the tourism and visitor economy is vital to the Islands conomy. No tourism means significant job losses over and above that already seen……no tourism means significantly less money going into again an already stressed retail sector. Our hospitality industry cannot take the equivalent of three winters in a row without a good summer. So if you want the Island to be plunged into our very own recession pull up the drawbridges and enjoy the towns full of empty shops and boarded up hotels. Watch as businesses movie off the Island following the exodus of people with the right skills and lack of investment. Or welcome the tourists and encourage them to be socially responsible which the majority are in equal numbers to us Islanders. If anything they are more cautious based on my experience as a business owner. Be unwelcoming at our peril because they will remember our attitude towards them and not come back in the future. It isn’t a case of money over lives….not having tourists will result in significant increased poverty, mass unemployment, rising social inequality and all of the associated outcomes such as high levels of disease and illness.
Well written Squier, 100% agree with your post. The island needs an income, we don’t need COVID, so everyone, PUT ON A MASK, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND REMEMBER TO WASH OUR HANDS. It’s really not difficult. What’s the problem?
Oh god we are all going to die! We did we ever live with POLIO, TB, DIPTHERIA, WHOOPING COUGH, and a host of other nasty bugs. Stop the pathetic blame game an take some personal RESPONSIBILITY!!…..
As we are not testing people for fear of the numbers ‘putting off’ tourists, in case Councillors with ‘vested interests’ in keeping the ice cream tills pinging then do not do so at the same rate, I guess when the Summer season ends, it will resume, then we will see the damage done.
People are saying stop the blame game. Go and get a job in the hospital wards when it all kicks off and then say stop the blame game
What you mean like the first wave,when most hospitals were empty. You people are like goldfish ,a 30 second memory. 500,000 will die in U.K. said the liars( government) and they have had to fabricate the numbers to get 46,000. And you still believe all this? Gullible!
Stop the holiday makers now before it’s too late
You just stay indoors and we might be all safer
As I stated a long while back. HMG know many if not most will over time catch this. They ‘used’ the lockdown time to get more beds so we can all be taken into hospital to be cured or to die.
IF there were not enough beds, and we had to die at home, the public outcry would mean that the Tory party would never be voted in for a decade.
HMG have to balance the economy as well as care to some degree for the peoples health, but to them the economy has to come first, but to each individual, their life is more important.
So parents now have a choice, do as HMG want and send your child to school, OR do as nature has ‘hard wired us’ to do, and keep your child away from serious danger, at the slight risk they may end up with a slightly lesser education.
But when you add up the totally wasted time in all schools learning pointless subjects that only a handful will EVER use then it wouldn’t imo, take long to catch up with the core subjects ONCE the vaccine is issued later in the year.
A lower grade, or lowering of a little white coffin is to me an easy choice to make.
We went to walk the dogs from freshwater Bay to alum Bay across the downs. when we got to alum Bay Park we could not believe how crowded it was it was packed out no social distancing very few masks been warn it was the same down the hut and other cafe around Colwell the beach rammed so if we get a second wave you have yourselves to blame and highly doubt the government will bail everyone out like the first time without bankrupting the country.
Ha ha, the liars (government) have already planned for a second so called wave. 13 people died in uk with this covid and the country has to put up with all this. They are taking the p… out of us all, and you lot believe them lol.