There is welcome relief for one of the hardest hit sectors of the Cornish economy as the PM yesterday (Tuesday) announced the restarting of tourism.

However, Cornwall Council is keen to say that safety is to be prioritised as the county welcomes visitors from July 4.

It says that it will remain on guard against any change to the current low trend in Covid-19 cases, and will take action if that position changes.

Julian German, leader of Cornwall Council, said: “Thanks to the fantastic efforts of the council, our partners and of course the NHS, Cornwall has been lucky to avoid the worst of the virus so far.

“It means we can now look forward to restarting our visitor economy, and begin to welcome holidaymakers once more, providing the number of cases does not begin to rise.

“The tourist industry is vital for Cornwall, and is responsible for tens of thousands of jobs, many of which are currently furloughed.

“We will be cautious, and protecting our residents will always be our first priority. We will be asking visitors to pay as much care and attention to the rules as our residents have already done throughout lockdown.

“Our public health team will continue to monitor the situation very carefully and we will not hesitate to take early action if there is any sign that the virus is making a comeback.”

The economic effects of the pandemic are profound and will take time far beyond the summer months to resolve.

Consequently the council is calling on the government to provide more support in the form of business grants and extended furloughs to help Cornwall’s recovery.

In addition the council is asking visitors to plan ahead, follow the guidance on face coverings and social distancing, and be considerate of those who live and work here.

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Cornwall’s interim director of public health, Rachel Wigglesworth, said: “Since the start of the crisis, we have kept an incredibly close eye on the spread of the virus through Cornwall, and so far, it has been slow, and has not risen since the beginning of the easing of lockdown restrictions.

“We will be urging people to remain cautious and to follow the public health messaging around social distancing and maintaining good hygiene.

“The relaxing of the lockdown does not mean the danger from the virus has gone away, and we will be monitoring the situation closely and encouraging testing and contact tracing to control any new cases.”

To ensure that businesses that will be able to reopen and operate safely, Cornwall Council’s public protection team, in conjunction with Visit Cornwall, are working with businesses to ensure they are Covid-safe, which may involve changes to ensure social distancing, along with enhanced hygiene measures.

Visit Cornwall has also stressed that it is essential to pre-book, not only accommodation, but also dining reservations and activities, and recommends buying advanced tickets for our attraction - that way everyone can have a great holiday and help keep themselves and our communities safe.