A motorist has crashed their vehicle after allegedly going for a drive during the coronavirus lockdown “because they were bored,” according to police.
The black Ford Fiesta veered off the road and hit a metal fence in Chelmsford, Essex in the U.K. on Tuesday evening, police said. Paramedics responded to the scene, but it was not immediately clear if the driver sustained any injuries.
Essex Police said the driver had breached measures put in place to curb the spread of coronavirus. They urged people to stay at home. The driver has been reported, police added.
Alongside pictures of the wrecked car, Essex Roads Policing Unit South wrote on Twitter: “Driver of this car was bored so went out for a drive! Us and the ambulance crew are both really busy and don’t need extra work. Another person breaching the regulations.”
Chelmsford. Driver of this car was bored so went out for a drive ! Us and the ambulance crew are both really busy and don’t need extra work. Another person breaching the regulations. Please don’t please stay home. Driver has been reported. MA GB. pic.twitter.com/xCgB6hTrUM
— Essex Roads Policing Unit- South (@EP_RPU_South) April 7, 2020
They added: “Please don’t please stay home. Driver has been reported.” Essex Police have been contacted for additional comment.
Over the weekend, Essex Police urged people in the region to avoid the temptation of going out unnecessarily despite the weather getting warmer.
“We know it’ll be tempting to make the most of the good weather coming our way and we ask everyone to just be mindful of the government guidance, which is there to help keep us all safe,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.
“Please only go out for essential food or medication, to go to work if you can’t work at home, or for exercise. It’s so important and if we all work together on this it will really make a difference for us all.
“Please enjoy your daily one hour’s exercise locally wherever possible. We know it’s tempting to make the most of our fantastic coasts and beauty spots, but if you don’t live close enough to reach them without a car, please save your trip for when we can safely enjoy them.”
While the U.K. is under lockdown, people are only permitted to leave their homes for a few reasons, such as shopping for necessities, one form of exercise per day, for medical or health reasons or to travel to and from work—but only if they cannot work from home.
Last month, police forces in the U.K. were given powers to issue fines to those breaching the government’s guidelines on social distancing. Officers can hand out a £60 ($75) fine for a first offense, £120 ($150) for a second offense and double the amount on each additional offense.
Earlier in April, a man in the U.K. was handed a fine after police caught him driving more than 100 miles to visit his girlfriend.
Also this month, another man in the U.K. broke into a zoo’s restaurant and helped himself to beer and wine, according to police. The 44-year-old suspect, who was not named, was charged with burglary and contravening a restriction of movement during an emergency period — under a new law introduced by the U.K. government recently to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The U.K. has more than 55,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and 2,352 deaths, according to the latest figures from Public Health England. More than 900 of the cases are in the county of Essex.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advice on Using Face Coverings to Slow Spread of COVID-19
- CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering in public where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
- A simple cloth face covering can help slow the spread of the virus by those infected and by those who do not exhibit symptoms.
- Cloth face coverings can be fashioned from household items. Guides are offered by the CDC. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html)
- Cloth face coverings should be washed regularly. A washing machine will suffice.
- Practice safe removal of face coverings by not touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash hands immediately after removing the covering.
World Health Organization advice for avoiding spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Hygiene advice
- Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub.
- Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before, during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste.
- Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.
Medical advice
- Avoid close contact with others if you have any symptoms.
- Stay at home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and runny nose, to avoid potential spread of the disease to medical facilities and other people.
- If you develop serious symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and contact local health authorities in advance.
- Note any recent contact with others and travel details to provide to authorities who can trace and prevent spread of the disease.
- Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.
Mask and glove usage
- Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person.
- Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
- Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning.
- Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask.
- Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of the mask.
- Do not reuse single-use masks.
- Regularly washing bare hands is more effective against catching COVID-19 than wearing rubber gloves.
- The COVID-19 virus can still be picked up on rubber gloves and transmitted by touching your face.
