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Thank you for Staying at Home

We want to thank our residents for Staying at Home during this time. We know that the vast majority of us are doing our upmost to keep to the national lockdown rules, and by doing so are playing a massive part in protecting our community and keeping others safe.

There's been a slight reduction in cases locally, but they are still high. Please continue to only go out for essential, legally permitted reasons and give others space when you are outside of your home. We can’t afford to relax now; let’s keep it up.

Please remember that we are keen to support residents and businesses in need throughout the pandemic. For further information, please visit the following pages: 

• COVID-19 Support for Residents 
• Every mind matters - support for mental health
• COVID-19 Support for Businesses

Self-isolation information

Your workplace information is needed for NHS Test and Trace

If you are contacted by NHS Test and Trace please provide your workplace information. Otherwise it's difficult for national and local contact tracing to help curb the spread of the virus.

Tell your employer if you are instructed to self isolate

If you test positive for Covid-19 and you are contacted by NHS Test and Trace or told to self-isolate, please remember it is a legal requirement that you tell your employer.

It is also a legal requirement for an employer to ensure that if someone should be isolating, then they should not be coming into the workplace until it is safe for them to do so.

NHS Test and Trace support payment available

Don’t forget that support is available if you have been affected by the pandemic and have been told to self-isolate. See our Covid-19 financial support page, which includes the Test and Trace support payment information.

Information packs to help you self isolate

We've created self-isolation information packs on how to self-isolate. One pack is for people who have tested positive for Covid-19 and the other pack is for close contacts of those who've tested positive. These packs include tips on supporting your mental health when isolating, along with details of local support available to you. Pack for people testing positive Pack for close contacts of people testing positive

Covid-19: local cases data

As of 21 January we have had 4,899 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in West Berkshire. Our current case rate in the last seven days is 295.4 per 100,000. This is a slight decline in cases since last week, however our case rate and positive test rate remain high. 

You can find the latest information about the number of coronavirus cases in West Berkshire and beyond on the Public Health for Berkshire website.

Separately, you can also view the local Covid-19 data shown by electoral ward within West Berkshire.

In today's Coronavirus Weeknotes

Our Leader and Chief Executive provide details about the NHS rollout of the vaccination programme locally, and the latest on the vaccination centre at Newbury Racecourse. Read the Weeknotes to find out more.

Covid-19 vaccine rollout information

The roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine has started across Berkshire and is being administered by the NHS. See more information about the programme on our website.

You can also download Public Health England's Covid-19 vaccination guide for older adults. 

Community Champion Awards 2020

The winners of our Community Champion Awards 2020 have been announced following nearly 100 nominations from across West Berkshire. We are proud to recognise the outstanding individuals and local groups who went above and beyond to help their neighbours and communities last year. This includes the amazing community support in response to the pandemic, which we have acknowledged in four special categories in additional to the usual line-up.

See the winners and announcement video.