People in Sefton are being asked to carry on wearing masks on public transport, and in shops, GPs and hospitals and to remain careful about Covid-19 when Government restrictions ease on Monday (19th July).
Sefton Council is advising local residents to carry on wearing face coverings in busy indoor spaces where social distancing isn’t possible, continue getting tested if they do or don’t have coronavirus symptoms and to continue getting vaccinated as soon as they can.
The advice comes as Coronavirus infection rates in Sefton continue to grow.
Figures for the last seven days available (to 9th July 2021) show a rate of 485.9 cases per 100,000 cases with 1,343 cases, an increase of 97 (7.8%) from the previous week.
Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health said:
“Covid-19 continues to be with us in Sefton and that presence will continue after Monday 19th July but if we all continue to take the precautions that could protect ourselves and others, we can carefully continue down the path back to normality.”
The council says that by wearing masks, we can protect ourselves but also those around us while we are carrying Covid-19 but not showing symptoms. And we can do this even if we have had both vaccine jabs.
Buses, trains shops, supermarkets, GP surgeries and hospitals are all places where mask-wearing might make people feel safer.
Everyone who doesn’t have Covid symptoms should undertake free, rapid Lateral Flow Tests twice a week. These help confirm they are not among the people who carry COVID but don’t show the symptoms, which includes those who have been fully vaccinated, who can infect others.
Anyone who does show the coronavirus symptoms of a new persistent cough, raised temperature or loss of taste or smell should take a rapid Lateral Flow Tests and follow up with a PCR test if the LFT test is positive. They should stay home and self-isolate until they have the PCR test.
Vaccination is still the safest and most effective way of avoiding COVID infection and potential serious illness. It also helps prevent you passing the virus on to someone else, although not 100%.
Anyone aged 18 or over can now book a vaccination appointment or go to one of Sefton’s walk-in sites or vaccine centres.
In addition to individuals continuing mask-wearing, testing and getting vaccinated, organisations and employers should continue to ensure workplaces are as safe as they can be with hand washing facilities and proper ventilation with external fresh air in place.
And, maintaining existing COVID-control measures in settings such as care homes could help to protect vulnerable people.
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