Continue to play your part to reduce the spread of COVID-19

Cheshire West and Chester Council is closely monitoring the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the borough and supporting residents and businesses to prevent and manage local outbreaks.

This week we have seen 19 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 infections in west Cheshire (from 22-28 July).  The number of positive tests in each borough is updated regularly and our data can be viewed here.

Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Councillor Louise Gittins adds “We all need to play our part in helping reduce the spread of coronavirus. We are seeing a rise in cases in other regions, including the latest in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire, where separate households have been banned from meeting each other indoors.  We still need to remain vigilant in west Cheshire and help protect each other, our families and our communities, reducing the risk of a local lockdown.  Please continue to follow government guidelines, maintaining 2 metre social distancing, wherever possible and continue to regularly wash hands. 

“Face coverings are now mandatory on public transport, in shops, supermarkets, shopping centres and enclosed spaces with more places being added to this list, such as cinemas and places of worship from 8 August.  We all need to adopt to this new norm of wearing face coverings.  We are encouraging residents to buy reusable face coverings, wherever possible.  This could be a scarf, bandana, religious garment or hand-made cloth covering. The face covering needs to fit securely around the face and safely cover the nose and mouth. Wearing a face covering will protect others and help reduce the transmission of the virus. 

“If you are exempt from wearing a face covering, you can make this clear when visiting shops or travelling on public transport by printing one of these face mask exemption or severe learning disability information cards and carrying it with you when you leave home. You do not need a certificate from your GP to prove you are exempt.”

The Government has issued the following scenarios, when the wearing of a face covering is not required:

·      young children under the age of 11

·      not being able to put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability

·      if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress

·      if you are travelling with or assisting someone who relies on lip reading to communicate

·      to avoid harm or injury, or the risk of harm or injury, to yourself or others

·      to avoid injury, or to escape a risk of harm, and you do not have a face covering with you

·      to eat or drink, but only if you need to

·      to take medication

·      if a police officer or other official requests you remove your face covering

·      if speaking with people who rely on lip reading, facial expressions and clear sound

The Council has published an Outbreak Management Plan which can be viewed on the website.  This explains how we will prevent and manage local outbreaks.

Protect yourself and your family and friends by getting a coronavirus test if you have symptoms (a high temperature, new, continuous cough, loss or change to your sense of smell or taste). To get tested, please call 119 or visit nhs.uk/coronavirus. Protect your community by then self-isolating for 10 days if you have symptoms or 14 days if alerted to do so by a contact tracer.