As you do your festive shopping or go out to Christmas parties, please be vigilant about Covid-19 and your safety. Make part of your Christmas preparations about staying well and healthy.
The new variant of the virus and changes to the government guidance and restrictions are a concern to many residents, but we can all play our part to keep ourselves and others safe (link opens in new tab).
Please wait to be called
Vaccination centres are offering walk-in sessions to eligible for their vaccine. Plans are being put in place following the national announcement to accelerate the vaccine programme for boosters. Please wait to be called forward if you’re not already eligible.
Please remember boosters are only available at certain sites. Please use this link to find all locations and opening times available.
Walk-in clinics are very popular and you should come wrapped up warm and comfortable.
If you are feeling unwell - please take precautions
If you are feeling unwell and you are unsure if it could be covid - please take precautions, take a PCR test and self isolate until you get the result. This is generally within 24 hours now.
Ideally everyone should take a lateral flow test twice a week, if it’s positive self-isolate and get a PCR test. Isolate when asked and until you get that negative result. Everyone should please wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, ventilate rooms, use the NHS COVID-19 app. In addition please get your vaccine and boosters as soon as you can.
Be as safe as possible and follow this advice:
- Get vaccinated against Covid-19 – whether it is for your first, second or booster dose.
- Test regularly – Take regular rapid lateral flow tests, twice a week. If you test positive, please self isolate.
- Wear a mask in all crowded and enclosed places. It is now the law to wear face coverings in shops, and on all public transport.
- Maintain social distancing where possible
- Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds with warm soapy water and use hand sanitiser.
- Open a window – which helps circulate the air and reduces the spread of Covid-19.
International travel
If you or one of your loved ones are travelling into the country you are now required to take a PCR test on or before day 2 and self isolate until you have received a negative test result. These PCR tests can be purchased from private providers. Free NHS tests are not valid for this purpose.
All close contacts of anyone who has tested positive for the new variant Omicron are required to isolate for 10 days regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.
Dealing with Omicron
Although there is no definitive information yet on the new strain, government and scientists have assured us that vaccines are still our best line of defence against the virus.
Getting vaccinated means protecting yourself and will also help to protect your family, friends and patients from the virus. Find out more answers to commonly asked vaccine questions.
