16 June 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 the move to step four of the government’s roadmap would be delayed by up to four weeks, until at least 19 July. The delay is due to concerns caused by the Delta variant and to allow more people to receive their second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine before further easing of restrictions takes place.
This means that social distancing restrictions still apply and you should also continue to work from home where possible.
However, the PM did confirm that more than 30 people will be allowed to attend weddings, receptions and other commemorative events, including wakes, from 21 June, subject to social distancing requirements. Therefore, the number of people attending such events will be determined by the number that can be safely accommodated in the venue.
The Government has also announced that Cheshire East has been identified as an ‘Enhanced Resource Area’ to help combat the rapid rise of the Delta variant across the borough.
This variant is more transmissible than previous variants and cases are rising in other areas of the north west, including Cheshire West, Greater Manchester and Lancashire, which have also been placed into this category, along with a growing list of areas across the country.
Designation as an Enhanced Resource Area is not a local lockdown or a return to a tiered system. It means we are able to access and implement a range of support and guidance to address rapidly rising infection rates.
This very much reflects the measures we have been putting in place locally over the last few weeks as local data showed us that infections were rising.
For example, we have worked with the Department of Health and Social Care and Sodexo to bring in additional testing capacity. We are working closely with schools around testing and other measures such as face coverings. And Cheshire council leaders, have written to the Secretary of State for Health about vaccines.
You can read more about this latest update here.
We have seen cases of the new Delta variant increase significantly over the last couple of weeks in Cheshire East. In particular, we have seen outbreaks related to hospitality and catering establishments, retail outlets and in our schools.
To help to combat this, Dr Matt Tyrer, director of public health, has confirmed that we will be asking for significant increases in the vaccine supply for our communities and much-improved access to vaccination sites and pop-up clinics across our borough, alongside greater levels of testing and self-isolation support.
Using data from 10 June, there have been 134 cases per 100,000 people in Cheshire East in the previous seven days, with 516 people getting Covid in that same period.
To check the infection rates in your area, you can enter your postcode to view the latest data on the BBC news website.
To help to control the spread of Covid-19, particularly in areas that have seen outbreaks, we are offering a number of additional testing options for anyone who does not have symptoms.
In particular, we are asking all residents in Macclesfield and Crewe to consider getting a PCR test – especially those in customer facing roles and those in the 18-39 age group (who are least likely to have received one / both doses of the vaccine).
Free PCR lab tests are available at our Crewe and Macclesfield local test sites and at a number of temporary mobile testing units.
While both local and mobile testing sites are set up to accept walk-ins, to avoid unnecessary delays or a wasted journey at busy times, you can book appointments online and extra time slots have been made available.
When booking, select ‘do not have symptoms’ and then “I was asked to take a test by the Local Authority’.
Please remember to take a mobile phone with you or a form of photo ID.
LOCAL TESTING SITES:
We are now offering asymptomatic PCR testing daily between 8am – 8pm.
Appointments can be booked through the national website or by calling 119. Walk in appointments are also available at the two sites below:
Chester Street Car Park, Crewe, CW1 2ER
Commercial Road, Macclesfield, SK10 1GA
Residents will be offered a PCR test and then given a number of lateral flow tests to take home.
MOBILE TESTING SITES:
We are also providing a range of locations for our mobile testing units. The following sites will be open daily (7 days a week) between 9am – 4pm:
Cranage Hall – Byley Lane, Cranage, Holmes Chapel, CW4 8EW
Middlewich Town Football Club - Finney's Lane, Middlewich CW10 9DR
The Centre - 107 Park Lane, Poynton, SK12 1RB
If you live in and around these areas you can simply turn up during these times, to get your FREE confirmatory PCR test. The tests at this mobile testing unit are open to anyone without symptoms of Covid-19. No appointment is necessary, but some waiting may be involved at certain times.
Mobile testing units’ locations and opening hours will change, so keep up to date on our temporary mobile testing units web page.
More than 41 million people, have now received a first dose of a vaccine, almost 30 million people in the UK have now being fully vaccinated.
You can now use the national booking service if you are aged 21 or over or will turn 21 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.
The Government have now brought forward the target date to give every adult in England a first dose of the vaccine by 19 July.
When using the national booking service, you will need to book appointments for both doses of the vaccine at the same time.
Note that locations that you can go to are being updated regularly. If the closest location offered to you doesn’t suit your circumstances, or the system is not showing any local availability, keep checking back.
If you are under 21, check back regularly for updates on further roll-out.
A vaccine bus was launched in our borough yesterday in the Asda Car Park at the Victoria Centre in Crewe – to further boost our vaccination options.
The vehicle – owned by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and operated by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – will move around the county to target and improve access in communities with lower vaccine uptake.
"Pop-up" vaccination clinics are also planned at locations across the county.
The pop-up clinic will next be available between 10am to 4pm on Thursday 17 June on Delamere Street, Crewe, CW1 2ER.
The clinic is available for anyone who is in the priority cohorts 1-9 and any adult aged 40 and above who have not yet had their first dose. There is no need to book, residents can simply walk-in but will need their NHS number, date of birth, address
and an email and phone number.
There will be more pop-up vaccination sites available in Cheshire East over the coming weeks and the locations will be shared in due course.
Visit the Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group website for the latest news on the local vaccination programme.
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