Cheshire West and Chester Council urges everyone to keep fighting Coronavirus

People who live, work in and visit Cheshire West and Chester are being urged to continue to do all they can to stop the spread of COVID-19.

With infection rates in the borough remaining high and the end of lockdown looming large, health chiefs and political leaders at Cheshire West and Cheshire Council are appealing to everyone to keep working hard to stop the spread of the virus. 

The Council is urging everyone to continue to use the basics of hands, face and space to help beat Coronavirus. 

Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “Last week our rate was the highest in Cheshire and Merseyside.

“There is no room for complacency when it comes to this virus.

“Washing your hands regularly kills the virus on them, covering your face in an enclosed space reduces its spread and keeping two metres away from people you don’t live with makes you less likely to pass it on or catch it.

“We have found from a number of recent local cases that have happened in different work places, that it’s easy to let your guard down , especially when having a well-earned break, having your lunch with others or with car sharing – that’s why it’s so important to always remember hands, face and space.

“You don’t even have to have symptoms of Coronavirus to spread it – so I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to get into these habits.

“If we all continue to work together to reduce infection rates, our borough will be in a better shape when we emerge from lockdown. This could mean that we can get the local economy moving again faster. This will help to get our retail, leisure and hospitality sectors up and running again and ultimately protect people, their livelihoods and safeguard jobs.”

The latest infection rate data shows that in the seven days to 17 November there were 900 new cases of COVID-19, and a rate of 262 per 100,000 people.

Ian Ashworth, Director of Public Health at Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “We’re all hoping that national lockdown ends on Wednesday, 2 December, but it is up to all of us to affect what happens next.

“We’re expecting to go back into tiers, and the infection rate in our borough will have a bearing on what tier we go into.

“We know Christmas won’t be the same as usual this year, but if we can get our infection rate down that will help to get restrictions eased.

“Please play your part by remembering hands, face and space and together we can turn this around.”

Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 – a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss or change in your sense of smell or taste – should self-isolate immediately and book a test by calling: 119 or visiting: nhs.uk/coronavirus.