A NEW wave of businesses across the Keighley district have reopened.

Pubs, cafes, restaurants and hairdressers were among those able to welcome customers again for the first time in months at the weekend.

The move was welcomed, but a district health chief has warned that coronavirus “has not gone from our lives” and remains a real threat.

Sarah Muckle, the area’s director of public health, was speaking after it was revealed that Bradford district has one of the highest infection rates in the UK.

She said: “As we take further steps towards returning to a more normal life, it’s easy to believe that Covid-19 is less of a threat to our health and the health of our family and friends. This is simply not the case.

“While lockdown was essential for reducing the levels of the virus circulating in our communities, the easing of restrictions takes us into a phase of learning to live with the virus.

“Bradford still has high numbers of people testing positive for Covid-19 – higher than other parts of the UK.

“It has not gone from our lives. We are still seeing people in our hospitals with the virus and it still has the potential to make our loved ones seriously ill.”

As the relaxation of restrictions continued, Saturday saw hospitality businesses reopen – with measures in place to protect staff and customers.

Keighley MP Robbie Moore visited newly-opened businesses across the constituency.

He said: “All of them have taken a range of measures to ensure that numbers are limited, customers’ details are properly logged and contact is limited to essential transactions.

“It may be a while before the economy gets back to representing anything we recognise as normal, but I am so proud of the resilience of the businesses in my constituency – and the community spirit of our friends and neighbours who have gone out to support them. The support was enthusiastic but cautious, with everyone I met understanding and accepting the changes they have had to make to the way they go about their daily lives and I hope this continues.”