A HEALTH boss has said that fines could be put in place for those regularly breaching lockdown rules but still expects to see a 'bumper year' for tourism and the local economy.

With question of foreign holidays, all evidence points towards staycations once more this year, but the director of public health for Cumbria has warned that Covid rules still apply.

"Potentially there are fines for those breaking the rules, but we want to work with people positively and make sure they understand why the rules are still in place and support them," Colin Cox said.

"As we saw last Summer there may well be places that insist on breaching any of the regulations that remain on a repeated basis and yes, enforcement is an option for them.

"It is certainly possible to get to a point where we have zero coronavirus cases, our testing is better so it is more likely we will pick up on cases, but it is possible if things continue the way they are.

"We are not there yet but we have not seen anything to suggest otherwise and over the last fortnight we have had one day where there was only one positive case.

"Even if we get to that point, it could just be a blip, and I expect to have a Summer of cases of low levels with the occasional spike."

HEALTH: Colin Cox

HEALTH: Colin Cox

With holidays likely to be more UK-based Cumbria is bracing itself for what could be a 'bumper year' for tourism, which is something that was a concern for many residents last Summer in terms of Covid transmission, but the director of public health suggested that this was not necessarily a danger.

"The public health message is predominately up to the public to drive forward, but the virus tends not to be spread by visitors, but by groups of family and friends meeting up rather than anything else," Mr Cox continued.

"Tourists tend not to have long close contact with those who live here as it tends to be outdoors and brief.

"The intention is to open foreign travel but there is a lot of question over this and those wanting to travel abroad are taking a little bit of a risk of finding themselves having to quarantine when they return home as these things are brought in on short notice.

"It has a potential to be a bumper year for Cumbrian tourism there is no question."

Step 3 of the Prime Ministers 'roadmap' is expected to no earlier than May 17 where restaurants and pubs being allowed to open indoors which Mr Cox believes is something they will monitor closely to ensure no breakouts occur. Following that he next step toward ending lockdown on June 21 will potentially see the end of social distancing rules.