 Living with Covid
This week, Central Government announced the ‘Living with Covid’ phase of the Covid-19 response. It aims to maintain the population’s wall of protection and encourage people to follow safer behaviours to manage risk whilst having the ability to scale back up a response should it be required.
Below is a summary of changes and guidance to be aware of:
Legal requirement to self-isolate ends today (24 February)
- This will be replaced by guidance for people with Covid-19 to stay at home and avoid contact with others – self-isolation support payments will also end
- There will be specific guidance for staff in particularly vulnerable services, such as adult social care and healthcare (this is expected to be released today)
- The advice for fully vaccinated contacts and those aged under 18 to undertake daily testing, and the legal requirement for contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate, will end
- This will be replaced by guidance for close contacts on what they can do to limit the risk of infection to themselves and others
- The recommendation for symptomatic people to take a PCR test remains until the end of March
Free testing for most people will end from 1 April
- There will be some limited ongoing free testing with limited symptomatic testing available for a small number of at-risk groups
- Free symptomatic testing will remain available to social care staff
Recommended behaviours
The way in which Covid-19 is transmitted has not changed. Reduce the risk of catching and passing on Covid-19 by:
- Getting vaccinated (more information below on where to go)
- Letting fresh air in if meeting indoors, and meeting outside where possible
- Wearing a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces
- Staying at home and away from workplaces or crowded indoor places if unwell
- Taking a PCR test if displaying Covid-19 symptoms and staying at home and avoiding contact with other people if testing positive
- Washing hands regularly (following the ‘catch it, bin it kill it’ guidance)
Guidance on regular asymptomatic testing for staff and students in education settings has also ended. We are working through all the guidance at a local level as it becomes available and will share further updates as and when we know more.
More information is available on the Gov.uk website. We are updating our own Covid-19 webpages too.
 Where to get your vaccine in the borough
Our new Covid-19 vaccine centre at Wokingham Library opened last weekend, and we received some great feedback from visitors:
“Just been to the new drop-in Covid vaccine centre in Wokingham Library. Plenty of wonderful staff, no queue whatsoever, in and out in 5 minutes.”
“Visited this vaccination centre today. Friendly and efficient service. They offered lots of great advice regarding vaccines too. So if you need your next jab, don’t hesitate, get down there.”
Help us spread the word. It’s open to all eligible people over 12 on Fridays (2pm to 7pm), Saturdays and Sundays (11am to 4.45pm) – no appointment necessary, just turn up and get your vaccine.
The vaccine bus is on the move
The NHS Health on the Move bus is back in the borough next week, offering first, second and booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine to people aged 16 and over. Below is a list of dates, locations and opening times:
- 28 Feb – FBC Centre (RG40 4ES) – 10am-4pm
- 1 March – FBC Centre (RG40 4ES) – 10am to 4pm
- 2 March – Lower Earley Library (RG6 5HZ) – 10am to 4pm
- 4 March – Rainbow Centre, Winnersh (RG51 5SG) – 10am to 4pm
- 6 March – Lower Earley Library (RG6 5HZ) – 10am to 4pm
Spring booster vaccines
After advice from the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), Central Government has announced additional booster jabs for those aged 75+, residents in care homes for older adults, those aged 12+ who are immunosuppressed.
Adults will be offered a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine while children aged 12-18 will receive Pfizer, both around six months after the last.
The JCVI has said that vaccinating these groups is a ‘precautionary’ move, as they were last vaccinated in September/October 2021 and their protection might be waning more quickly.
We will share more information about the rollout in Wokingham Borough when we have it.
 Worried about things changing? Help is here
For some people, the final easing of restrictions will be quite concerning, especially more vulnerable members of the community. Please look out for others and be respectful.
If you are worried, remember that help is here through the One Front Door. The service is lead by Citizens Advice Wokingham, who work with other fantastic charities to support residents.
Get in touch with the team and they will work with you to help you find a way forward – whether that’s a referral to a befriending charity if you’re feeling lonely or help with your mental health. Find out more on the One Front Door webpage.
 Extra support if you are struggling
Finally, if you are worried about your finances, particularly in light of the self-isolation support payments ending, there is support available in the borough.
We’re working with local charities to help residents access the Household Support Fund this winter. It can help with things like paying for food, household bills and other essentials.
All you need to do is contact One Front Door (link also in the article above) and a member of the team will talk through your situation with you. They are working through enquiries as quickly as possible, and will help you find a way forward.
 Useful links
Dedicated Covid-19 pages on our website
Latest stats for Wokingham Borough via the Covid-19 Dashboard
How Covid-19 is affecting our services
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