Anti-mask, anti-lockdown, anti-common sense: Kettering protest planners warned by police

Police have warned anyone thinking about attending an 'anti-mask, anti-lockdown' protest in Kettering tomorrow (Sunday) to stay at home.

The town's general hospital currently has more than 170 Covid patients and this afternoon it was announced its children's ward would temporarily close to become a Covid ward.

Yet a 'small number of people' are considering holding a protest in the town centre tomorrow against lockdown measures and the enforced wearing of masks.

And they've been warned by police that attending is not a legal exemption under current emergency coronavirus rules, leaving them open to a fine.

A Kettering and Corby Neighbourhood Policing Team spokesman said: "At a time when the hospitals in this county are under extreme pressure, we would strongly encourage people to comply with the regulations or risk being fined.

"Covid-19 is very real and these restrictions are in place to prevent its spread and keep everyone as safe as possible.

"Leaving your house to attend a protest is not a legal exemption under current regulations and we would urge people not to attend."

One person who commented on social media said: "This is shocking. They may not care about themselves but not to care about others is beyond belief."

Another said: "Oh my goodness. The stupidly of some folk blows my mind."

Earlier this week KGH intensive care matron Jo Snow told the Northants Telegraph that comments from people claiming the pandemic is a hoax and seeing people openly flouting lockdown rules have left frontline staff on the verge of tears.

She said: "If it wasn’t for the fact that we are professional and that we need to maintain privacy and dignity of our patients, those individuals should need to see what goes on here. It is absolutely devastating.

"It is a living nightmare really. The volume of people that are sick, how long they are sick for, the fact that some of them are not recovering, the trauma it’s having on families, I just find it unbelievable that they don’t believe that this is actually happening.”

Hundreds of comments in support of frontline KGH staff poured in with their plight also documented on regional TV bulletins.

Police thanked everyone who is following the rules in a bid to stop the spread of the virus.

The Kettering and Corby Neighbourhood Policing Team spokesman added: "As ever, we would like to thank the vast majority of the public who recognise the seriousness of the situation and are therefore following the rules.

"We know it’s a frustrating time but we must all pull together to protect the NHS and help save lives."