Health

As the weekend approaches, Sefton Council is reminding people who live and work in the Borough, that unlike many of us COVID-19 doesn’t take Saturdays and Sundays off.

Additionally, people are being warned not to drop their guard even if they have been vaccinated. They could still pass on the virus even if they are fully vaccinated with both jabs.

Over the last few weeks there has been a significant rise in cases in Sefton as the more infectious Delta virus, first identified in India, takes hold across the country.  Earlier this week, Peter Hampshire the clinical director for critical care and pain at Liverpool’s main University Hospital Trust warned that they were starting to see a fourth wave in the city.

Tempting

Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health said: “With longer, lighter, warmer days, more of us having had both vaccination jabs and the end of lockdown in sight albeit delayed, it’s tempting to start forgetting what we need to do to stop the spread.

“Recently, numbers of cases in the Borough have been doubling as quickly as every four or five days.

“It’s no good us getting tested, wearing masks and socially distancing in our workplaces and classrooms through the week and then forgetting it all at the weekend.

“Yes, it’s better if we gather outdoors but we should still be maintaining the two-metre rule and wearing face masks on public transport and in shops as well as when moving around in restaurants and pubs.

“And, we need to keep up the habit of washing our hands, frequently and thoroughly to prevent the spread of coronavirus and some other vomiting bugs which are going around at the moment.”

Vaccinations

COVID vaccinations are now available to everyone aged 18 or over. To book their jab, people should visit www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination.

When cases of the Delta variant were first identified in the Formby area but numbers of remained low, Margaret Jones attributed this to high local levels of vaccination.

She said: “The Delta variant is more transmissible than other COVID variants but the vaccinations available remain resistant to it so everybody over 18 should get both doses, which offer the highest level of protection.

“But we need to remember that even once we’ve had both doses, there is a slight chance we can still contract the virus and we can also still pass it on to other people around us for whom it could be serious.”

Rapid tests

Government recommendations say people should be taking rapid tests, which provide a result in around 30 minutes, twice a week even though they do not have symptoms. Anyone with the main coronavirus  symptoms of a raised temperature, a new persistent cough or a loss of taste or smell should self-isolate straight away and book a PCR test by dialling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.

Free home test kits are widely available from all Sefton’s pharmacies as well as online from www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests .

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

Rapid testing for people without symptoms is also available at Bootle Strand and Southport’s Splash World. The Splash World site is open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. The Bootle Strand site, the former H Samuel unit, is open 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

And, people can also choose to have assisted testing at the Bootle Strand or Splash World test sites.

Find out more.

As the England and Scotland teams prepare to line up against each other tomorrow, continuing a long history of hard-fought rivalry, Sefton Council is urging residents and visitors to unite in following the COVID safety measures.

Celebrating or commiserating

Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health, whose Scottish lilt will have become familiar to many during the pandemic said: “Whichever side of the fence we’re this evening and whether we’re together celebrating or commiserating, it’s important we all do so in a way that protects ourselves and others.

“If you’re watching at home, remember the rule of six still applies and that it’s always safer to meet outdoors or in well-ventilated areas so maybe set up a screen outside or go to an outdoor event or a screening in a pub garden.

“And if you’re going to the pub, try to help staff by following the restrictions that are there for your safety. That means remaining seated when drinking and eating and wearing masks when moving around.

“And I know we’ll all be tempted to shout at the telly but let’s try to do so behind a mask and not in someone else’s face.”

Caution

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “We want everyone to enjoy the Euros but to enjoy them safely which is why we are urging caution. Taking all the necessary steps will help to slow the spread of infections and help us avoid the need for any future local restrictions.”

Mrs Jones also stressed the importance of taking regular, free rapid home tests that help pick up the significant number of people who do not show coronavirus symptoms. And the need for anyone with a positive test outcome self-isolates and books a PCR test by dialling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.

Rapid home tests provide a result in as little as 30 minutes and involve taking a throat & nasal swab, dropping the sample into the container supplied and then checking for the result after 20 to 30 minutes.

Free home test kits

Free home test kits are widely available, from test centres, from all Sefton’s pharmacies as well as online from www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests.  They can also be collected between 2.30pm and 8pm, seven days a week, from walk-through Local Test Centres opposite Bootle Town Hall and at Crosby Library Car Park, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall. No appointments are needed.

Rapid testing for people without symptoms is also available at Bootle Strand and Southport’s Splash World. The Splash World site is open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. The Bootle Strand site, the former H Samuel unit, is open 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

And, people can also choose to have assisted testing at one of Sefton’s Rapid test sites, which are also open 8am to 8pm seven days a week and located at Bootle Leisure Centre and at Splash World in Southport.

Mrs Jones added: “Tomorrow night’s match will be a game of 90 minutes plus stoppages but if we all take care and do our bit to protect ourselves and others, we can all avoid any injury or illness time, which is what I call a result.”

Find out more about testing in Sefton.

The Government has announced that Sefton, along with the rest of the Liverpool City Region’s boroughs and other parts of the country will be receiving additional support to help identify and prevent the spread of COVID Delta variant, which was first identified in India.

Additional support that can be deployed rapidly can include surge testing, tracing, isolation support and maximising vaccine uptake. These measure are also being rolled out in Birmingham, Blackpool, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester and Warrington.

They were announced on the day that the Prime Minister confirmed that he was delaying the final fourth stage of lifting lockdown restrictions by up to one month, until Monday 19th July.

Control spread

Testing, isolation and vaccinations will help suppress and control the spread of the virus and variants in both the short and longer term, when used in combination with people following existing guidance such as hands, face, space and fresh air.

Extra guidance included as part of the enhanced support package, include minimising travel in and out of the affected areas, to keep loved ones and communities safe.

Support available can include specialist Surge Rapid Response Teams and the military to support measures such as testing and door-to-door visits, supervised in-school testing and wastewater testing sampling. Communication support can also increase awareness in all communities, maximise vaccine uptake and enhance contact tracing.

Self-isolation crucial

Following feedback from Sefton’s track and trace teams, a campaign is underway to remind Sefton resident of the importance of self-isolating if they get a positive COVID test result.

It reminds residents that if they or a member of their household is experiencing coronavirus symptoms or if they have had a positive rapid test result, it’s crucial that they ALL self‑isolate and book a confirmatory PCR test.

If the result of your PCR test is positive, they must self‑isolate for 10 days  but if the result is negative, they no longer need to self-isolate.

Find out more about including 10 top tips on self-isolating during Covid-19.

Stay safe

However, testing for people with and without COVID symptoms, self- isolation and getting vaccinated along with existing guidance on distancing, mask-wearing and handwashing remain key ways to stay safe and control the spread of the virus.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “We are doing everything we can to stop the spread of the Delta variant, and working with local authorities, we are providing a strengthened package of support in areas where cases of the variant are increasing.

“We know this approach has made a real impact in South London and in Bolton where we have seen it stall rising cases.

“I urge people living these areas to get tested, come forward for your vaccine as soon as you are eligible and make sure to get the all-important second jab – that is how we will beat this virus.”

Dominant

Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency Dr Jenny Harries said: “The Delta variant is now the dominant strain across the UK, with cases continuing to rise in some areas. People in these areas can help protect their community by remaining cautious, by working from home if possible and remembering to practise hands, face, space and fresh air.

“Getting the vaccine gives a strong level of protection against this variant and I strongly recommend that everyone gets both jabs when the NHS invites you – it will protect you and your loved ones.”

Early research shows that vaccines provide strong protection against the new variants. Effectiveness against symptomatic disease from the Delta variant is similar after two doses compared with the Alpha variant first detected in the UK. Even higher levels of effectiveness are expected against hospitalisations and death.

The government and its world-leading scientists are closely monitoring the evolving situation and the rates of variants, and will not hesitate to take additional action whenever necessary.

Find out more about vaccinations in Sefton.

Weddings

Despite the delays in Stage 4 of restrictions being lifted the 30-person limit applied to weddings will end in England from Monday 21st June. That means there will no limit on numbers at receptions or ceremonies, whether they are indoors or outdoors.

Capacities will be limited by the highest number of people venues can accommodate while remaining Covid-secure.