RESIDENTS in Warrington are being strongly urged to continue stay at home to help reduce coronavirus infection rates even further prior to schools reopening.
All schools and colleges will open from Monday in the first stage of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.
Despite good progress against the virus in the town over recent weeks, Warrington Borough Council is warning that infection rates are still high.
As a result, residents are encouraged to continue to stay at home as much as possible and to remember the basics of washing your hands regularly, wearing a face covering where necessary and making space.
Under current lockdown rules, people should only leave the house for essential reasons such as work, education, shopping and medical appointments.
A small number of cases of the E484K variant continue to be identified in the region, although there is currently no evidence that this mutation alone causes more severe illness or is more transmissible.
Nevertheless, the council is working closely with Public Health England to monitor the strain.
Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, cabinet member for public health, said: “Over the next two weeks, it is really important that residents abide by the current lockdown rules and play their part in reducing infection rates.
“The roadmap out of lockdown is such positive and welcome news, but we cannot risk people reducing their compliance with the rules.
“If the picture should worsen and case numbers start to increase again, the dates on the roadmap could easily shift.
“It is vital that we do everything we can to help our children and young people continue with their education uninterrupted when they go back to school.
“With lower rates, we can also look forward to the gradual easing of restrictions over the coming months as set out in the national roadmap.”
A combination of the vaccine roll-out, local symptom-free testing and NHS testing is helping to reduce the risk of those most vulnerable to the virus becoming seriously unwell.
The vaccine programme is running well across the borough, with good uptake among priority groups meaning that the 60,000 vaccination target is expected to be hit this weekend.
READ> Warrington residents aged 60-64 to be offered coronavirus vaccine
Those who cannot work from home and do not have symptoms can still access regular testing at asymptomatic testing centres at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and Grappenhall Cricket Club, which are open between midday and 6pm on weekdays and 8.30am and 3.30pm on Saturdays.
A new symptom-free testing centre at Croft Youth and Activity Centre on Smithy Lane will also be open each Thursday up to March 25 between 2pm and 7pm.
Importantly, if you go to a symptom-free testing site and test positive, you should self-isolate immediately and you must do so by law.
If you start to develop coronavirus symptoms after testing positive at a symptom-free testing site, you must restart your 10-day self-isolation period from the point of developing symptoms.
If you generally experience any symptoms of Covid – a fever, new continuous cough or loss or change of taste or smell – or if you are contact traced by someone who tests positive for Covid, you should self-isolate immediately and book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.
For those who need support during this difficult time, visit kindtoyourmind.org for details of 24/7 crisis helplines and resources to help mental wellbeing.
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