WARRINGTON’S health chiefs are reminding people to keep their guard up as the “Roadmap” out of lockdown begins as some restrictions are lifted.
As Schools and colleges fully reopen and people can meet socially distanced outdoors as some restrictions begin to be carefully eased, residents are being reminded to only leave their home for essential reasons, to visit someone in a care home, or to meet with another person outside for exercise and recreation following social distancing guidelines.
Thara Raj, Warrington’s Director of Public Health, said: “It is fantastic to hear that the rates of coronavirus have come down in Warrington. It is important to keep the number of cases down so you should still follow the basics of hands, face, and space to make sure the virus isn’t being spread unknowingly. Remember coronavirus is still contagious, so please let’s keep our guard up.
“When meeting with someone from outside your household or support bubble outdoors, please remember to only do so in the permitted circumstances and keep a safe distance in order to keep the number of COVID cases as low as possible to protect our most vulnerable.”
Changes from yesterday, Monday 8 March, following the government roadmap announcement include:
· All children and students to safely return to face-to-face education in schools and colleges. Higher Education students on practical courses can also return
· People are allowed to leave home for recreation and exercise outdoors with their household or support bubble, or with one person from outside their household
· Care home residents are allowed one regular visitor
· Outdoor recreational meetings between two people from different households is allowed, meaning you can go out for a coffee as long as you remain socially distanced
· Weddings and wakes for six people and funerals where 30 people are in attendance are permitted
As part of the schools returning, twice-weekly testing is being offered to adults working in the wider school community, including bus drivers and after school club leaders. Secondary school pupils and all school staff (both primary and secondary) will get tested twice a week at their school. The tests will be available to order online or for collection from a local PCR (NHS) test site, and you can find your closest test site by visiting the site finder at find-covid-19-rapid-test-sites.maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk.
As the restrictions begin to ease, it’s also important that symptom-free residents who cannot work from home or provide care get tested regularly. This is because 1 in 3 people do not display any coronavirus symptoms, which could mean these people could spread the virus unknowingly. Test sites at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Grappenhall Cricket Club, and Croft Youth and Activity Centre are available for those who cannot work from home and are open throughout the week. More information about testing is available on the council’s website at warrington.gov.uk/TestAndTrace
Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, cabinet member for public health, wellbeing and housing, added: “Although it’s good news that the current lockdown restrictions are starting to carefully ease and we are taking a small step in the right direction back to normality, it is still vital that everyone stays at home as much as possible and continues to follow the current restrictions.
“One of the conditions of the roadmap to restrictions being gradually eased is that case numbers continue to fall, the vaccination programme continues to help combat the virus, and infection rates do not risk a surge in cases and pressure on the hospital. We need to ensure that we keep the number of infections in the borough low so that the hard work and sacrifice from the past 12 months doesn’t go to waste. This means staying at home as much as possible, getting tested regularly especially if you have symptoms, taking up the offer of a vaccine, and self-isolating when required.”
More information on the roadmap can be found on the gov.uk website at gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021/covid-19-response-spring-2021-summary
