WARRINGTON’S Public Health Chief is urging residents to stay safe while enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend, especially with known cases of the Indian variant of COVID-19 now in town.
While many residents will be visiting their local park, restaurant, cinema or pub over the long weekend, they should remember to take steps to protect themselves and others this bank holiday.
Restrictions lifting recently can lead to some people letting their guard down, but it’s vital that people continue to stick to the rules in place, as these steps vital in keeping the number of COVID cases low in Warrington. As the weather warms up in time for the long weekend, residents are urged to try to meet people outdoors where possible, as this will help to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
If you are travelling to see friends and family over the bank holiday, you should plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes where possible. You should avoid sharing a car with people outside of your household, but if this isn’t possible, you should open the windows, wear a face-covering unless exempt, and leave seats free to social distance.
If you are going out over the bank holiday weekend please keep a note of who you have had ‘close contact’ with and the dates. The definition of a close contact includes a person who has been within two metres of someone else or a person who has travelled in a small vehicle, or large vehicle/plane close to someone. This information can be useful for contact tracers should someone subsequently test positive for coronavirus.
Residents should also take regular symptom-free tests over the weekend, in order to prevent unknowingly spreading the virus to loved ones, as they enjoy the bank holiday.
The council’s symptom-free testing sites will be closed on Monday 31 May, but residents will still be able to order tests online, or collect a home test kit from pharmacies that remain open. Golden Square Shopping Centre, Grappenhall Parish Centre and Birchwood Business Park testing sites will re-open for people with no coronavirus symptoms on Tuesday 1 June.
School pupils should also take coronavirus tests throughout the bank holiday and half-term in order to continue the pattern of testing and ensure pupils do not unknowingly bring COVID-19 back into the classroom.
If you have any coronavirus symptoms, no matter how mild, you should self-isolate immediately and book an NHS (PCR) test via gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.
Public health director Thara Raj
“We hope you enjoy the bank holiday and fingers crossed for some warmer weather, but please remember to follow the basic steps, even when you are out and about, to help keep yourself and others safe.
“We have surveillance systems in place that give us an early indication of the different COVID variants that are circulating, including whether the S gene has been detected locally. This is important because we know that the Kent Variant tends not to have the S gene, so it gives us an indication that other variants are present.
“There are currently three confirmed cases of the variant of concern, first identified in India, and we have followed up all of the close contacts and settings that are relevant to these cases. We are also aware of a number of people who work in Warrington who have tested positive for this variant, so we know that it is likely to spread in Warrington.
“It is vital that we continue with all of our hard work and progress and not stop with our hands, face, space and fresh air measures just yet. Washing your hands regularly, wearing a face covering and staying two metres apart are still the most effective things we can all do to help the spread of COVID-19 in our local area.
“While I understand how tempting it is to go away to one of the green listed countries, any travel introduces further risks, so my advice is to think twice at this time before you travel outside of the UK this half term and get as much fresh air and exercise as you can.”
For more information on coronavirus in Warrington, visit: warrington.gov.uk/coronavirus
