This from COMRU in Cumbria.
"Travel to Open Spaces but not the Mountains or Underground.
COMRU - your underground rescue team.
We cannot stress enough the importance of please staying away from underground sites in Cumbria and beyond at present.
COMRU is a volunteer rescue team whose members are highly skilled in working underground and bringing rescues to a successful conclusion. However, any rescue will put its members at risk of contracting Covid-19 virus from a casualty or fellow team member who is not showing symptoms. This will in turn have repercussions for their families, dependants and of course the NHS.
We, like our partner teams and organisations throughout the County are expecting an influx of visitors to the area following the changes to ‘lockdown’ rules, which in turn presents difficulties. Cumbria has the one of the highest infection rates in the country and we do not want to increase this. One team member becoming infected can mean that the whole of COMRU will be quarantined for 14 days. The impact of this on any future rescue response would be considerable.
The Government’s slogan is “Be Alert” and we want people to be alert to the risks you are placing on yourself and our volunteers.
Be alert that the systems that we and our partner teams have in place for COVID virus protection will mean that it will take us longer to get help to you.
Be alert that we have limited personal protective equipment, increasing the risk of cross infection to you and our members
Be alert to the fact we have to decontaminate vehicles, equipment and clothing afterwards; some of which cannot be reused and will have to be replaced
Be alert that the area’s infrastructure, still partially closed down, cannot cope with a surge of visitors.
So very much “Be Alert” but also “Be Kind”.
Be kind to our volunteers and our emergency services, be kind to our NHS, be kind to our rural communities and be kind to our farmers.
We want you to really think about your trip underground and its potential effect on others. The risk of an accident is small. The consequences of a rescue are massive.
Thank you for being kind to us. We will still do the best we can in the event of an incident."
The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time.
Henry David Thoreau