Revellers who partied in the town centre after Watford were promoted to the Premier League have been urged to get themselves tested for Covid-19 this week.
Watford Borough Council described some of the behaviour in the High Street on Saturday as “worrying”, with hundreds of Hornets fans having gathered to celebrate the club’s promotion clinching 1-0 win over Millwall.
Several jumped into the pond whilst others chanted and danced to mark Watford's return to the top flight at the first time of asking, although most were not observing social distancing while very few could be seen to be wearing face masks.
The council has now urged those who took part in the celebrations to book a rapid test and to self-isolate should they start displaying symptoms of coronavirus.
Main symptoms include a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of taste and smell - people with symptoms can book a PCR test.
Justine Hoy, Head of Community Protection at Watford Borough Council, said: “All the community has worked so hard to keep covid rates down. Whilst I understand and am also very pleased with the football club’s promotion, it was worrying to see some of the behaviour at the weekend.
“Rates are relatively low at present, and the groups were outside, which does lessen the risks of spreading the virus, but if we want to have a summer we can all truly enjoy and for our businesses to be fully open we all need to keep on playing our part.
“I would encourage all of those who mixed at the weekend to take lateral flow tests this week, if you feel any symptoms isolate immediately and make sure you keep those you love safe and well.”
Jim McManus, Hertfordshire’s director of public health, echoed the council’s comments, adding that the virus may have spread with people getting so close to each other.
During a Covid-19 press briefing this morning, Mr McManus said: “I would say look, I know it's hard, but the more we keep to the rules at the minute the more we will exit restrictions and supress this virus. What each of us does has a direct impact on whether we end up back in restrictions.
“My message would be to monitor your symptoms, get a rapid test whether from your employer or from one of our rapid test sites and monitor your symptoms. If you do come down with symptoms, ring 111 immediately or get advice and get a PCR test.
“Most of them will have been fairly young, but we don’t want anybody becoming ill avoidably in the county now at this stage.”
Find out more about testing in Hertfordshire here
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