With freedom comes responsibility

Most legal restrictions to control the coronavirus in England have now been lifted.

However, COVID-19 rates are still high and the virus is still spreading. That means we need to continue to be careful and cautious, even if we have been vaccinated.

It’s important to remember that masks must still be worn in healthcare premises, such as GP practices and hospitals.

And we strongly encourage you to still wear face coverings in crowded areas such as shops and super markets.

Anyone using the Metrolink network, bus stations or transport interchanges in Greater Manchester must still wear a face covering unless exempt.

We also recommend that if you are meeting up with people try and do so outdoors, or if indoors to let fresh air in by opening doors and windows.

Everyone should still take free, regular lateral flow coronavirus tests twice a week.

And please continue to wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds. It remains vital too that we all make sure we’re vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect ourselves, our loved ones and the NHS. More than 3 million COVID-19 vaccinations have been given across Greater Manchester. This equates to 1,863,091 first doses and 1,413,782 second doses. If you’re yet to have either the first or second dose of a coronavirus vaccine it will never be too late to grab a jab. You can book a vaccination on the NHS website or by calling 1119. Alternatively walk in clinics are being held across Greater Manchester

As we start to tentatively look toward the future, we need to think about how we build back a fairer Greater Manchester after the pandemic.

A recent review commissioned by the Partnership has laid bare the link between economic and health inequality, showing how coronavirus has hit poorer people hardest.

Though this has been a problem across the entire country, we now know Greater Manchester had a 25% higher COVID-19 death rate than England as a whole in the 13 months to March 2021.

This high death rate contributed to a decline in life expectancy in the North West region, which was larger than the average in England. Life expectancy fell in 2020 by 1.6 years for men and 1.2 years for women in the North West, compared to 1.3 years and 0.9 years, respectively, across England.

The recently published Build back fairer in Greater Manchester report, from the UCL Institute of Health Equity (IHE) includes a framework setting out bold and ambitious recommendations on how to reduce health inequities.

In the review the director of the IHE, Professor Sir Michael Marmot, has proposed a “moral and practical” plan for government investment in jobs, housing, local services and education to tackle longstanding health and social inequalities in Greater Manchester and similar areas.

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