As you’ll be aware, Monday 19 July marked the move to step four of the national roadmap out of lockdown and the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
In Cheshire West and Chester, our infection rates are still very high and continuing to increase.
Although many of the existing measures in place to control the spread of COVID-19 are no longer a legal requirement for us to follow, the borough’s COVID-19 Outbreak Board is asking everyone living, working in and visiting Cheshire West and Chester to go above and beyond the minimum guidance required.
People are advised to do the following.
- Get fully vaccinated – it’s shown to be safe and effective against the virus, including new variants, and is the best way to keep yourself from getting seriously ill. It also reduces the risk of passing the virus on to someone else.
- Be kind and considerate of others who may be feeling extremely nervous about the further lifting of restrictions.
- Continue wearing face coverings in crowded indoor areas where social distancing can’t be followed and it might make others feel uncomfortable, such as supermarkets, public transport and health and social care settings like hospitals, care homes and GP surgeries.
- Continue social distancing by not unnecessarily being in crowded areas and continuing to work from home if possible.
- Try to meet others outside where possible.
- Continue to practice good hand hygiene, particularly hand washing.
- Keep getting tested – everyone should take part in twice weekly rapid symptom free testing using lateral flow tests (LFT). If people experience generally associated symptoms, such as a headache, a stuffed or runny nose, tiredness or weakness, aches and pains, sore throat or diarrhoea, they should take an LFT and follow up with a PCR test if the LFT test is positive. If people have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19, such as a high temperature, a new continuous cough or loss or change to their sense of smell or taste, they must stay at home and book a PCR test.
- Self-isolate if you have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19, especially if you work in a high-risk setting.