11 May 2021
Welcome to our latest Covid-19 information update.
If you haven’t already, why not sign-up today to receive regular information and notifications as our action against the virus in Cheshire East continues.
On Monday, the Prime Minister confirmed that restrictions will continue to be eased in England from next Monday, 17 May.
The government is emphasising personal responsibility rather than setting national rules on meeting friends and family. This means that instead of instructing us to stay 2m apart from those we don’t live with, we are encouraged to exercise caution and consider the risks of being in close contact with others.
From next Monday:
• You can socialise indoors in a group of up to six people or two households, including for overnight stays
• You can meet with up to 30 people outside
• Secondary school pupils will no longer have to wear face coverings in classrooms or communal areas
• Indoor hospitality venues, such as restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes can reopen with table service continuing.
• Indoor entertainment and attractions such as cinemas, theatres, concert halls, bowling alleys, casinos, amusement arcades, museums and children’s indoor play areas will be permitted to open with Covid-secure measures in place
• You can attend indoor and outdoor events, including live performances, sporting events and business events. Attendance at these events will be capped according to venue type, and you should follow the Covid-secure measures set out by those venues
• Organised indoor sport will be able to take place for all (this includes gym classes)
• All holiday accommodation in England can open – such as hotels and B&Bs. These can be used by groups of up to six people or two households
• Funeral attendance will be determined by how many people the Covid-secure venue can safely accommodate with social distancing. Limits at other life events, such as weddings and wakes, can increase to 30 people
• Care home residents will be allowed up to five named visitors (two at any time), subject to visitors testing negative for Covid-19
• Higher education students can access in-person teaching
• There will no longer be a legal restriction to international travel. However, everyone must follow the rules when returning to England depending on whether you return from a red, amber or green list country.
 We are currently reviewing the impact that this latest announcement will have on council services and will share more information soon.
In the meantime, we need to ‘protect the gains we have made’ by continuing to exercise caution and common sense over the coming weeks.
Please continue with ‘hands, face, space and fresh air’, test yourself regularly using one of the many testing options available in Cheshire East, self-isolate if you do test positive and take up your offer of a vaccine when your turn arrives.
Changes to Covid-19 testing site opening hours
We have now opened new testing sites at Crewe Alexandra FC and Audlem Town Hall. Testing is now available on Saturdays at the New Life Church and Wesley Centre sites. Our Swab Squad testing team will also be on hand to administer tests at the Middlewich Community Church on Wednesdays.
Almost 1 in 3 people who have Covid-19 don't have symptoms but can still spread the virus. That's why it is so important to take Covid-19 tests even if you don't have symptoms or you have been vaccinated.
All Cheshire East residents without Covid-19 symptoms can access and pre-book rapid, free lateral flow test appointments at our testing sites below and other local participating pharmacies.
Benefits of taking a lateral flow test:
• Protect your loved ones and colleagues
• Support the NHS by reducing hospital admissions
• Test results received within the hour
BOOK your test at a local testing site or pharmacy by clicking HERE
Please note that no walk-up appointments will be available.
Lateral flow testing can be undertaken on the days and at the sites below throughout May between 9am and 6pm unless stated otherwise:
Monday
Crewe Alexandra FC Stadium, Alexandra Suite, Gresty Road, Crewe CW2 6EB
Prestbury Village Hall, Macclesfield Road, Prestbury SK10 4BW
Tuesday
New Life Church, Danesford Community Centre, West Road, Congleton, CW1 4EU
Wesley Centre, Wesley Avenue, Sandbach CW11 1DG
Wednesday
Audlem Town Hall, 12 Cheshire Street, Audlem, CW3 0AH
Crewe Alexandra FC Stadium, Alexandra Suite, Gresty Road, Crewe CW2 6EB
Middlewich Community Church, Brooks Lane, Middlewich CW10 0JG
Thursday
New Life Church, Danesford Community Centre, West Road, Congleton, CW1 4EU
Wesley Centre, Wesley Avenue, Sandbach CW11 1DG
Friday
Crewe Alexandra FC Stadium, Alexandra Suite, Gresty Road, Crewe CW2 6EB
Middlewich Community Church, Brooks Lane, Middlewich CW10 0JG
Saturday (9am to 4pm)
New Life Church, Danesford Community Centre, West Road, Congleton, CW1 4EU
Wesley Centre, Wesley Avenue, Sandbach CW11 1DG
Our Swab Squad pilot rapid testing advice in supermarkets
The Swab Squad, our local testing team dedicated to supporting both residents and local business with Covid-19 testing, have piloted a new rapid testing service.
A new mobile pop-up service offering a walk-in collection service for rapid symptom-free home testing kits was trialled at Asda in Crewe on 6 May. Other pop-up services are being trialled at Tesco and Morrisons in Crewe later this month.
The squad were on hand to answer any questions that residents had about the kits before they were taken home.
Our mobile unit will provide an excellent opportunity to collect home testing kits and receive any advice needed, while out and about in Crewe later this month.
Our Swab Squad will be on hand at the mobile units offer advice and information about our testing programme, including: where you can get a test, how to carry out the tests, how often and what to do next in the event of a positive result.
For regular news and updates about this new service and other local testing facilities available, follow the Swab Squad on their Twitter page
For full details about our testing facilities for both asymptomatic and symptomatic testing visit our web page
Vaccinations update
Over 35 million people, have now received a first dose of a vaccine, more than 17 million people in the UK have now being fully vaccinated. Those who have had their first dose up to 12 weeks ago, should now book for their second vaccination via their GP practice or via the national booking service.
The roll-out is progressing to younger adults, with a new campaign being launched by the government this week to promote uptake.
You can now use the national booking service if you are aged 40 or over or will turn 40 before 1 July 2021. Do keep checking the website if there are no local appointments available when you try to book, as it is being regularly updated.
A new pharmacy-led vaccination service is now vaccinating eligible residents at Hollowood Chemists in Nantwich. The sites will help to boost the number of vaccination services in areas with lower take-up of the Covid-19 vaccine.
This complements existing pharmacy-led vaccination services at Andrew's Pharmacy in Macclesfield, Hollowood Chemists in Crewe and Alsager Pharmacy in Alsager.
By contacting the national booking service, you will gain access to flexible appointments at local vaccination services seven days per week. Alternatively, you can wait to be contacted by your GP practice. Visit the Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group website for the latest news on the local vaccination programme.
We are continuing to encourage Cheshire East residents to say ‘hi’ to the high street.
All non-essential retail, restaurants, bars and cafes for outdoor table service only and hair and nail salons, libraries, and gyms reopened in April.
While businesses start to welcome back customers, our campaign (funded by the European Regional Development Fund) called “Say ‘hi’ to the High Street”, encourages residents to support local and shop safely.
As well as informing people of the Covid-19 measures in place to protect them and the precautions they need to take to help the safe reopening of Cheshire East’s town centres, it also reminds them of the borough’s fantastic array of local businesses and the personal touch they offer.
Visit our dedicated webpage to find more information about the safe reopening of our town centres and access support.
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