A LEADING pharmacist based at the University of Bradford has urged people to stay “vigilant” as local lockdown restrictions are eased in certain parts of the district.

Professor Mahendra G Patel, a top pharmacist on national and local boards, raised concern that many people perceive coronavirus measures as “temporary”, having forgotten the days when ‘wash your hands’ was a key message during daily Government briefings.

He has warned of a growing “complacency” and “indifference” towards basic steps, such as washing your hands, social distancing and using hand sanitiser.

In an appeal for Bradfordians to make these “daily habits”, the professor said: “The fact we are easing lockdown doesn’t mean to say we are going to stop wearing the masks or stop washing your hands. This has got to be daily practice.

“I’m worried about that. I’m worried about the complacency. I’m worried about indifference.

“It’s the case other people are impacted with this as a result about people being relaxed about this.

“I’m concerned the culture will change again because we’ve got an ease down in the area.

“I had somebody yesterday who came round who I didn’t know. We had some repairs to do. He said ‘Shall I wear my mask?’, and I would, but how many people will have said what I said? We need to get into these microcosms of behaviours and activities.

“We are our own vaccines. If you take these precautions the chances are less likely that you contract the coronavirus. It’s in our own hands if we are not going to get this, as much as waiting for a vaccine.

“I do feel like people are not as vigilant now in terms of touching surfaces and using sanitisers and if you’re driving for example they may be touching their car wheel and whether they’ve cleaned that off. You couldn’t be vigilant enough.”

As the latest restrictions are set to be lifted on nine of Bradford’s wards, the Professor has questioned whether too many people have become “tired” of the Government’s messages and whether a new approach is needed.

“If I give you the same breakfast everyday you might skip breakfast,” he said.

“Are people getting tired of these messages? Because it’s the same messaging they switch off.

“We do need to change the style, the way we deliver our messages because people are getting tired and people also thinking ‘Well, we’ve heard that’ and become indifferent.

“It’s not just reminders. Are these reminders now water off a duck’s back?

“We need people out there as champions, not just the people knocking on the doors but we need the people that engage with the communities, the leaders, the religious leaders, to continue to work with these people on a regular basis.

“The community pharmacists are the perfect place for great investment and support to be able to deliver those messages.

“We’ve got now easing of lockdown in parts of Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Manchester area. All we’re doing is confusing people, all you’re then doing because people are taking the biggest message that it’s easing off now so it’s fine. The easing off does not mean to say, ‘Fine’. It means ‘Let’s continue to be vigilant in our means of protecting ourselves.”

He has expressed hopes that young people could begin to police and encourage habit changes by learning the science behind it.

Primary and secondary schools are preparing to reopen their doors next week and could play a key part in boosting awareness in the heart of communities, Prof. Patel said.

He continued: “If the children can get that message right they can be teaching when they get home. They’ll say ‘Mrs Gomersal said we need to do this’. It becomes habit to just relax. Why can we not just make this part of everyday? People think it is temporary and it isn’t.”