A NEW 'Covid secure team' has been created to ensure businesses are complying with coronavirus rules and stamp out local hotspots.

The team, which is a joint initiative by all Oxfordshire councils, and backed by Government funding, will be 'firm but friendly' with businesses to give people peace of mind when out and about.

New penalties for breaking the coronavirus rules have come into force nationally, with fines of up to £10,000 for rule breakers.

Fines for not wearing masks or following rules have increased to £200 for the first offence.

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The team will be working across Oxfordshire, alongside the existing city and district environmental health teams.

Where data shows an emerging risk in an area, the team will prioritise that spot, to increase the impact of local intervention measures.

They will be out and about across the county to ensure that local businesses are continuing to properly abide by regulations, such as the 10pm curfew on pubs, bars and restaurants.

Where necessary, the team will be able to take enforcement action against those who do not comply, with the support of Thames Valley Police.

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Ansaf Azhar, director of public health for Oxfordshire, said: “We have seen nationally the impact of high infection rates resulting in local lockdowns.

"Our Covid secure teams will allow us to ensure that we can better help businesses comply with the latest Government guidance, better enforce the rules, and help to prevent us from seeing the kind of restrictions that we have seen elsewhere nationally.”

Councillor Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, said everyone want to keep infection rates down in Oxford and avoid the need to add any further restrictions.

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Oxford city centre. Picture: Ed Nix

She said the new team has a 'vital role' in helping businesses and residents follow the rules.

The councillor added: “Most people and businesses are trying hard to stick to the rules, but it only takes a small number of people or businesses breaking the rules for the spread to rapidly increase.

"The team is there as a constant reminder that the rules are being followed, and enforcement will be used if necessary. Until medical science finds a solution, controlling the spread is down to how we behave and we all need to protect each other.”

Andrew McHugh, lead member for health and wellbeing at Cherwell District Council, said the Covid secure team 'builds on council officers’ local knowledge and expertise' to make sure residents and businesses 'are in no doubt' about what they need to do to stop the spread of the virus.

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He added: “The team will be a firm but friendly presence; they are there to inform and advise in the instance, but we take the risk coronavirus poses extremely seriously and people who fail to respect the rules will be left in no doubt that we are ready to use these new powers if necessary.”

Sue Cooper, leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “While the rate of transmission and the overall cases of coronavirus thankfully remain low in South Oxfordshire it would only take one or two reckless individuals or premises to cause a problem.

"Therefore, I’m pleased that we now have this additional resource in place to assist our environmental health officers in ensuring businesses understand and follow the new rules.”

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This was echoed by Emily Smith, leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, who said: “I know everyone is desperate for things to return to normal as quickly as possible.

"However, until we have a widely available vaccine the only way for us to achieve this is to significantly reduce the infection rate across the country.

She added: "This means everyone following the new laws and our new Covid secure team working in partnership with the existing district resource will help to ensure that happens across Oxfordshire.”

Michele Mead, cabinet member for health at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Above all, this team is here to help residents and businesses understand their obligations."

She added there was 'understandably' some confusion as the guidance has changed in recent weeks. Ms Mead said: “The aim is to ensure that everyone follows the rules and that way we have a much better chance of keeping infection rates as low as possible in West Oxfordshire.”