Author: Martin Driver

From Friday 9^th April, people in England will be able to access twice-weekly rapid tests for coronavirus.

Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health is encouraging everyone who is going to a work environment or who will be returning to their workplace to take up this offer.

Prevent the spread

She said: “Rapid tests are tests for people without the coronavirus symptoms of a new persistent cough, a high temperature or a loss of sense of taste or smell and they usually provide a result in around 30 minutes.

“One in three people with coronavirus show no symptoms, which means they can accidentally spread it without knowing.

“Taking a rapid testing twice a week will find those invisible cases and help prevent the spread of infection.”

Checking

Rapid coronavirus testing involves taking a throat & nasal swab, dropping the sample into the container supplied and then checking the result after 20 to 30 minutes.

Rapid test kits can be collected from Bootle Town Hall and Splash World in Southport from 8am-8pm seven days a week. No appointments are needed.

Kits can also be collected from walk-through Local Test Centres opposite Bootle Town Hall and at Crosby Library Car Park, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall between 2.30pm and 8pm, seven days a week. No appointments are needed.

And they are available from all Sefton’s pharamacies.

Kits can also be ordered online.

Assisted testing

People can also choose to have assisted testing at one of Sefton’s SMART test sites, which are also open 8am to 8pm seven days a week and located at Bootle Leisure Centre, Splash World in Southport and at Aintree Racecourse although this centre is closed and will re-open on Monday 12^th April.

Find out more about testing in Sefton. 

Positive

Anyone who gets a positive result from a rapid test must self-isolate for 10 days and immediately book a PCR test by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus .

Eligible people who test positive are entitled to the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment in the same way as a regular swab test through NHS Test and Trace.

Vaccinations

As well as getting regular rapid tests Margaret Jones is encouraging anyone who is offered a vaccination to go along and get a jab to protect themselves and those around them.

She said: “Tens of thousands of people across Sefton, including me, have already had their first vaccination and many will have had their second too, but it is important that all of us take the opportunity to get our jab when it is offered.

“Infection rates in Sefton have dropped significantly but vaccination is the best way for to protect ourselves and those around us and underpins our way out of lockdown and a return to the more normal ways of life we all want to see.”

Find out more about vaccinations and who is eligible for a jab.   

Sefton Council continues to work jointly with Aintree Festival organisers, Merseyside Police and other partners to ensure the safety of this year’s event which is taking place behind closed doors from Thursday 8^th to Saturday 10^th April.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic only owners, trainers and staff will be allowed onto the racecourse during the three-day festival.

People living and working in the Aintree area may see a higher than normal police presence over the coming days. Officers from Merseyside Police will be patrolling streets and footpaths in the area around the course to remind people of the need to abide by Covid-19 regulations on social distancing and gathering in groups, even when outside.

Residents are reminded that the SMART Coronavirus testing centre at Aintree Racecourse is now closed until Sunday 11^th April, while the Grand National meeting takes place.

The Borough’s two other SMART testing centres, at Bootle Leisure Centre and Splash World in Southport, will be open as normal from 8am to 8pm every day. People can find out more about testing in Sefton at www.sefton.gov.uk/COVID-testing.

Chief Superintendent Paul White said: “In keeping with the current Government guidelines this year’s Aintree festival will take place behind closed doors.

“We know that the event is traditionally a huge part of Merseyside’s social calendar and annually attracts large crowds from across the UK and the world who attend over the three days.

“This year’s event will be taking place behind closed doors, which is a huge shame, however we are clearly in unprecedented times.

“We have been working closely with Aintree to ensure that the festival can still take place safely and as such there will be a proactive and proportionate policing operation and you will see officers in the streets and footpaths around the course reminding people of the current Coronavirus regulations.

“We know that there are some people whose homes are adjacent to the racecourse and we have already engaged with them to remind them of the current Covid regulations, including the rule of six or only two households allowed to gather in private gardens and that households are not allowed to mix indoors.

“We would ask everyone to play their part to protect themselves, their loved ones and the NHS by continuing to stick to the rules and working together so we can get back to normal as soon as possible.”

Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health said: “We understand how important the Grand National Festival is to not just Sefton but the whole Liverpool City Region and the horse racing community. I’d like to echo the words of our police colleagues and remind people not to be tempted to mix indoors or to get together in large groups to mark the occasion over the coming days.

“Many of our residents might be planning garden gatherings, so I would just remind everyone to ensure they take extra precautions and stick to the rule of six or two household limit on meeting outdoors.

“You are less likely to catch Covid in the open air but it’s not impossible and we should try to follow the basics of hands, face and space when meeting with others and not sharing things like picnic or BBQ equipment. Our priority is to ensure the rate of transmission in our communities continues to fall and we can all play our part in that by following the guidance.” 

The Council’s traffic management team is working with event organisers to ensure there is as little disruption as possible to the road network across the behind closed doors festival’s three days.

Some closures will be in place as follows:

• Melling Road will be closed north of Seeds Lane for the whole festival;
• Melling Road south of Seeds lane will be closed from 07.00hrs – 21.00hrs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the Festival (8^th, 9^th and 10^th April);
• Aintree Station Car Park and Interchange will be closed for the whole festival.