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Over 700 people call Birmingham's COVID-19 whistleblowers’ hotline in three weeks

 A woman wearing a face mask and gloves as a precaution while in a queues to enter a supermarket amid Coronavirus pandemic. Shoppers Queue and observe necessary Social distancing which has become the new rule in the UK. (Photo by Keith Mayhew / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)
A woman wearing a face mask and gloves as a precaution while in a queue to enter a supermarket. (PA)

A hotline for residents to inform Birmingham City Council of concerns they may have that businesses are not adhering to coronavirus guidelines has been bombarded with calls.

Some 739 calls were logged to the whistleblowing hotline by 31 August – the equivalent of 35 calls every day since the service was set up on 11 August.

Birmingham is currently on a national coronavirus ‘watchlist’ because of a recent increase in cases, which could result in a local lockdown if numbers persist.

Residents have been encouraged to inform the council of any possible breaches to government guidelines in relation to the pandemic.

Coronavirus information is seen around the gym at Ultimate Fitness Gym in Birmingham as indoor gyms, swimming pools and sports facilities can reopen as part of the latest easing of coronavirus lockdown measures in England.
Coronavirus information is seen around a gym in Birmingham. (PA)

These include businesses opening up when they are meant to be closed and encouraging workers to go to work even if they have COVID-19 symptoms.

According to the council website, residents are also encouraged to get in touch if:

  • Businesses have not carried out risk assessments in line with government requirements

  • Businesses are not following government COVID guidelines, such as the correct use of personal protective equipment and hand washing facilities

  • Businesses have inadequate barriers or other protection measures

The council is able to shut down businesses and premises not adhering to the guidelines, Birmingham Live reported.

The council website states: ”We have enforcement staff to deal with any issues of concern, so if you are aware of any businesses or venues ignoring the government's rules, please let us know by completing this form.”

Whistleblowers to the hotline will stay anonymous, the council added.

A council spokesperson said: ”As of the end of Monday (31 August 2020) we were at 739 contacts.

"This is a mixture of phone and web.”

A spokesperson added to Yahoo News UK: “At this stage we do not have available deeper analysis.”

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