Sefton Council to target recent rise in Covid-19 cases and outbreaks in Formby

Sefton Council is working with the Government and Public Health England in response to a recent rise in Covid-19 numbers locally.

There have been a number of outbreaks of cases in the Formby and Hightown area. 

According to Government Coronavirus figures, cases in Sefton rose by 91.9% in the seven days up to 5th May. 

Total cases in that week were 199, a rise of 57 on the previous week, giving a rate of 43.1 per 100,000. 

Trinity St Peters Primary, Formby High School, and Range High School – all of which are in Formby – sent home bubbles after positive test results were found among their school communities.

The Hightown Pub and Kitchen, on Lower Alt Road, will be closed until 13th May after positive Covid cases were discovered.

Last week Formby Pool, which also includes a gym and fitness studio, announced that it will close for 10 days after positive Covid-19 cases were linked to the centre.

Sefton Council Chief Executive Dwayne Johnson said: “Covid cases are increasing in Sefton, and it is essential we follow the national advice of face, hands and space and getting tested.”

The local authority is liaising with health experts in an effort to investigate the hotspots and trace any contacts of the confirmed cases. 

Sefton Council Leader, Cllr Ian Maher, said: “Once again we have joined forces with the Department for Health and Social Care and PHE to respond promptly to a localised outbreak of infections.

“I am confident that our local communities, as they have throughout the pandemic, will remain vigilant, will get tested if they show any Covid symptoms and will self isolate so that infections can be identified, traced and contained before they spread any further.

“This is a fast-moving situation and we will, of course, provide more information and updates to our local communities as soon as we’re able to.”

People across Sefton are being reminded of the need to continue taking every precaution, getting tested and registering the results.

Health leaders are also highlighting the need for anyone with coronavirus symptoms of a new, persistent cough, a fever or loss of taste or smell to self-isolate and book a PCR test by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.

For anyone displaying Covid-19 symptoms – a new persistent cough, a high temperature or a loss of sense of taste or smell – there will be mobile (drive through) test sites at various locations throughout the borough. These can be booked by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus .

There are also four local walk-through test centres, open 8am to 8pm every day, for people who do not have a car and who should not travel by public transport.

They are at:

Bootle Town Hall, L20 7AA

Crosby Library Car Park, Haigh Road, L22 OLQ

Netherton Activity Centre, Glovers Land, L30 3TL

Southport Town Hall, PR8 1DA

Anyone without symptoms can visit the asymptomatic test sites at Bootle Town Hall and Splash World in Southport from 8am-8pm seven days a week, no appointments are needed.

Home Testing Kits 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.

Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com