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Dear resident,
I’m contacting you ahead of some significant changes to Covid-19 restrictions which come into effect tomorrow and to give you an update on our progress in Kirklees.
Roadmap out of lockdown
From tomorrow (April 12, 2021) I’m really pleased to say that, because of everyone’s efforts, the whole of England will move to Step 2 of the Government’s national roadmap out of lockdown.
These venues and businesses are now able to reopen:
- All retail.
- Personal care settings like hairdressers, beauty salons and nail bars.
- Public buildings like libraries.
- Outdoor hospitality like beer gardens.
- Outdoor attractions like zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas.
- Indoor leisure like swimming pools and gyms.
- Self-contained holiday accommodation like self-catering lets and camp sites for household stays only.
Care home residents are now allowed a second regular visitor indoors and weddings and receptions of up to 15 people are permitted.
Visit Kirklees Council’s website for more information on the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown
Progress in Kirklees
I’m happy to tell you that all our numbers are currently heading in the right direction.
Over the last week, we saw our infection rate drop by 37 per cent, but it is still above the national average, so we need to bring it down further.
The reasons our rate remains higher are complex, we do know that a larger proportion of our population have to leave their house to work which introduces more circumstances where people have to mix with others. We are working with businesses across Kirklees to ensure they are Covid-safe but it’s important that everyone plays their part and ensures they follow the guidance.
Crucially, more than 190,000 people in Kirklees have now had at least their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has had theirs and of course to the remarkable health workers and volunteers who have made Kirklees start to the rollout such a success.
The vaccine rollout has already started to have an impact. Deaths and hospitalisations linked to Covid-19 have fallen significantly.
The data over the last seven days can be seen in the below graphic:
 You can stay up to date with all the data on our online dashboard, including a breakdown of each ward.
As we move along the national roadmap out of lockdown and restrictions begin to ease, we have to make sure these numbers don’t start to rise again.
And we all have a part to play.
How you can play your part
Please take the vaccine
Taking the vaccine when it’s your turn is the best way we can save lives, keep pressure off the NHS and get our lives back to normality. It significantly protects you from Covid-19. The more people that take it, the bigger chance we have of beating Covid-19 for good.
Please be assured:
- The vaccine is safe and vaccination centres are safe.
- The vaccine does not contain animal products
- The vaccine cannot give you Covid-19
- Most people don’t get side-effects but those that do are mild
Get tested twice a week
Everyone in England is now able to access free, regular, rapid Covid-19 testing.
Rapid lateral flow testing aims to identify people who don't have Covid-19 symptoms (this is called being asymptomatic), but who are infectious and could spread the infection to others unknowingly. The main aim is to help prevent and reduce transmission in the community. This is particularly important as restriction across the country start to ease.
Read more on twice-weekly rapid flow testing and how to get yours.
It also means that our Mass Community Testing Centres are open for everyone who lives or works in Kirklees to support this initiative.
Go to COVID-19 Test and Trace: Getting a test if you have symptoms if you require a test because you have symptoms.
Remember the basics
With more restrictions now lifting, it’s really important that we all remember the three basic rules: hands, face, space.
The virus is still in our communities and is still spreading and it’s really important we remember that. You can protect yourself and others when you do leave home by always following these three rules; wash your hands regularly, wear a face covering and socially distance from those outside your household or bubble. Letting plenty of fresh air indoors can also significantly reduce the chance of infection.
Thank you
It’s thanks to the efforts of you all that we’re in a position to take this really positive step forward and get some of our freedoms back.
We need to now continue to do all we can together to make sure our numbers don’t start to rise again.
Life during this pandemic has been incredibly tough for a vast number of reasons and I want to thank you for playing your part every step of the way.
 Rachel Spencer-Henshall
Director of Public Health, Kirklees Council
Kirklees Council has special permission from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to email you without consent where this is in the public interest. In this case it is to help protect the public from COVID-19.
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