Sharing these newsletters
To share this newsletter on social media sites such as Facebook, please visit our COVID-19 Community Champions website www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/covid-champions where you will find links to this update and previous ones at the bottom of the page. Just copy and paste the link.
The next newsletter will be on 28 May.
Read the MK COVID-19 Champions code of conduct here.
COVID-19 snapshot
Click here to see and print the full COVID-19 snapshot as of 12 May 2021 (data reported up to 9 May 2021).
Indian variant being closely watched amid UK rise
The COVID-19 variant first identified in India is “being watched really carefully” in the UK says Professor Adam Finn, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
A small number of cases of the variant have been identified in Milton Keynes, and these cases are not related to travel.
While overall cases in MK remain relatively low, the emergence of this new strain locally and the speed with which it has spread in nearby Bedford is a reminder that we must all continue to do what we can to control the spread of the virus.
Vaccine update
The CCG has announced that anyone aged over the age of 40 can walk into a number of vaccination centres across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes this week without the need for an appointment.
More than two-thirds of UK adults - 35.7 million people - have had a first dose of a Covid vaccine, while a third of adults are now fully vaccinated with two doses.
They will be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine, because of a slightly increased risk of extremely rare blood clots linked to the vaccine.
You can now get the COVID-19 vaccine if:
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you're aged 38 or over
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you'll turn 38 before 1 July 2021
COVID restrictions changes on 17 May
More COVID-19 restrictions are set to be lifted on Monday 17 May. From then:
- People can meet outdoors in groups of up to 30 people
- Indoors, groups of six or a larger group of two households can meet
- Hospitality can open indoors - but diners and drinkers must remain seated
- Indoor entertainment can open, including cinemas, museums, and children's play areas
- Theatres, concert halls, conference centres and sports stadia can reopen and sports/performance events can be held - with capacity limits, and with testing used
- Organised adult sport and exercise classes can resume indoors
- Saunas and steam rooms can open
Mobile Test Unit
The Mobile Test Unit that visits Newport Pagnell on Wednesday and Friday has moved location from Station Road Car Park to the Willen Road Recreation Ground Car Park (Newport Pagnell Town FC.)
Only part of the car park is in use – access continues to the football club side of the car park. This is to free up car parking for the town centre as the shops and pubs reopen. Thanks to Newport Pagnell Town Council for finding a new site and to local regular users for putting up with the disruption caused by the use of the Station Road car Park.
May is National Walking Month - Get outdoors with The Parks Trust
During the past year access to green space has been more important than ever. Being able to enjoy the great outdoors has been beneficial for our mental and physical health. Going out for a walk has helped us to stay active and connected.
This May is National Walking month and to celebrate, The Parks Trust is hosting a variety of walking events as well as introducing new self-led walking routes. The entire network of MK parks looked after by The Parks Trust has received a Green Flag Award for the fourth year in a row.
Reporting concerns
One of the ways you can help is by reporting serious concerns about workplaces and other facilities where social distancing and other measures aren’t being followed. Intelligence like this can help us to track and control virus transmission.
Please tell us when the breach of restrictions took place, and a full address of the site if known. Your details will not be shared with the person or place you are telling us about.
You can write to us at COVIDconcern@milton-keynes.gov.uk.
We may not reply to all messages but we will read them all, and they’ll be used to gather intelligence so we can take action where needed.
Useful links
See the latest Government guidance here gov.uk/coronavirus.
Find COVID-19 Information from the NHS: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
To print and share this, please click "view it as a web page" at the top of this bulletin. This will take you to a web page with the option to print this off at the top.
To share this newsletter on social media sites such as Facebook, please visit our COVID-19 Community Champions website www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/covid-champions where you will find links to this update and previous ones at the bottom of the page. Just copy and paste the link.
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Let us know how we can improve: COVIDChampions@Milton-Keynes.gov.uk
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