Director of Public Health shares next steps for keeping Covid-19 in check when restrictions end on 19th July

With the government set to end Covid-19 restrictions ahead on the 19th July in line with Step 4 of its easement roadmap, Stockport’s Director of Public Health, Jennifer Connolly, has outlined some of the decisions residents will need to make after that date to keep the virus in check in the borough.

Although the final decision of what Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted is not set to be announced until this evening (12th July), it is expected that changes are set to include:

• Limits on social contact ending with no restrictions on the numbers of people who can meet in indoor or outdoor settings
• Social distancing rules will being lifted
• Nightclubs being able to reopen and events such as concerts, theatre and sporting fixtures being able to resume without restrictions on attendance or social distancing
• Life events such as weddings and funerals having no restrictions on numbers
• Scanning a QR code when entering premises no longer being mandatory but businesses will be encouraged to continue to support the NHS Track and Trace system
• Face masks no longer being mandatory in indoor settings
• Bar service being able to resume in hospitality settings
• Working from home no longer being necessary and employers may start to plan a return to workplaces.

For further information on the summer roadmap as we transition out of lockdown click here.

In her weekly statement on the coronavirus pandemic, Jennifer Connolly said:

While we will all welcome the chance to return to ‘normality’ after so many months living with the pandemic, opening again is not without risk and we must find new ways of living with the virus.

The pandemic is far from over. The Delta variant now accounts for 99% of all Covid infections in Stockport, is believed to be around 60% more transmissible than other strains and the number of cases is still rising rapidly, with rates in Stockport currently at 366.7* cases per 100,000 and 154 new cases each day. Rates are especially high in the 10-29 year old age group and also in children aged 0-9. The latest published data can be found here.

I am often asked why we continue to report case numbers when we are seeing lower hospitalisations than we have done in previous waves. It’s really good news that we are seeing less people becoming seriously ill with this virus, but higher case rates at the current time can still mean a lot of disruption for those testing positive or those they have come into contact with, particularly for those experiencing more severe symptoms of the illness or for those required to self-isolate.

While we will no longer have to follow restrictions from 19 July, we will all have to make informed decisions over whether to keep up with the behaviour changes we have adopted during the pandemic. These include wearing a face covering to reduce your risk and the risk to others, especially in busy enclosed spaces and on public transport; covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your inner elbow; disposing of used tissues immediately; cleaning frequently touched surfaces regularly; increasing ventilation of enclosed spaces and regular hand cleaning. As well as helping to stem the spread of Covid, these are sensible everyday infection control measures and will help curb the transmission of other common viruses such as cold and flu, which may spike in the winter season as we have built up little natural immunity in the past 15 months. Further information on reducing transmission can be found here.

There is growing evidence that the vaccination significantly reduces the chance of Covid leading to hospitalisation or death and the more people are vaccinated the greater this effect will be. So, it is more important than that as many people as possible take up the vaccination offer.

The vaccination programme continues, with 82.9% of Stockport’s adult population having received their first dose and 63.6% both doses. All over 18s are now eligible for their vaccination, so if you haven’t had yours take up the offer by attending a pop up clinic (see timetable below or check our social media for details of dates, times and venues) or call 119 or book online here. If you don’t get a suitable appointment online straight away, keep trying – new slots are being added all the time. Also, get a second vaccination as this will ensure maximum protection. If you need any help with answering vaccination questions, we’ve prepared a useful FAQ with NHS Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group which will give the information you need here.

After 19 July, please continue to carry out regular lateral flow testing. Free home testing kits can be picked up from pharmacies, libraries, Fred Perry House Test Centre, and the car park on Chadwick Street in Marple. Find your nearest test centre or collection point here. As cases are high among secondary pupils, please continue to regularly test in the final few weeks of term. follow Test and Trace advice and let schools know so home learning can be arranged where needed. If anyone in the household tests positive, then everyone who lives in the house is a contact and the pupil must not go to school. Additionally, remember if anyone has symptoms, they need to isolate and take a PCR test – children with symptoms should not go to school unless they’ve had a negative PCR result. If picking young people up and dropping off, parents should please wear face coverings, socially distance and limit time spent near the school site.

If you test positive, or been informed by NHS Test and Trace you have been a contact of someone who has, it is essential that you self-isolate for 10 days – this is
law and helps break the chain of transmission. Information on support during self-isolation can be found here. You need to take a confirmatory PCR test, which can be booked by calling 119 or via here. If you need to self-isolate and are finding this difficult, please phone our Coronavirus helpline on 0161 217 6046 or for further information visit here.

Also remember to take care of your mental health and wellbeing. If you’re finding things difficult, reach out as we have lots of offers of help and support listed here. For further information on how you might look after yourself, visit our Health and Wellbeing pages or Healthy Stockport.

**This is the latest figure for Stockport validated on 9.7.21.

Vaccination pop up schedule