Stockport Council’s Director of Public Health, Jennifer Connolly, has issued an update on behalf of the council on coronavirus transmission in the borough.
While the UK government announced on 13th August further easing of lockdown measures nationwide, Greater Manchester, along with Leicester and other areas of Northern England, remains under tighter restrictions due to rising case numbers, particularly in Oldham and Rochdale. While the rate of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Stockport has not continued to rise as sharply since some restrictions were introduced, they have also not begun to decline as might be expected.
Stockport Council’s Director of Public Health, Jennifer Connolly, outlined the measures being taken in the borough to curb case numbers and praised the ongoing community spirit seen across the borough and throughout the pandemic. Her full statement is as follows:
The council is working very closely with our partners in the borough and throughout Greater Manchester.
The seven day rate of positive tests per 100,000 people in Stockport has risen to 26.6 for the week ending 08/08/20 (up from 25.6 in the week ending 01/08/20 and 15.7 the week before that). This means that the transmission of coronavirus within the borough is still increasing and together we need to do all we can to try to stop the spread of Coronavirus.
Despite our positive test rate remaining largely similar to last week, we must all continue to remember the three S’s: no more than Six people (outdoors in public places), Socially distance and Sanitise to #StopTheSpread. We want to encourage all our residents to do this, to help us to reduce transmission in Stockport, as it’s for everyone’s benefit.
We are providing advice and support to the care sector, businesses, hospitality sector and other settings to help prevent outbreaks, and acting quickly when an outbreak is identified. We are also targeting our engagement with groups where we are seeing rises in positive tests – in particular teenagers and adults under 40 – so that we can reinforce messages about how to follow the current restrictions and stay safe.
We fully understand that many people have missed seeing friends and family over the last few months. Despite the current restrictions on meeting with other households in indoor settings such as homes, gardens, pubs and restaurants, residents can still meet up to six people outdoors – for example, in a park or the outdoor area of a pub or restaurant – providing you socially distance from one another. As well as limiting your contact with other households, socially distancing, wearing a face covering and regular hand washing are still the most effective way to stay safe. For a full list of what you can and can’t do and frequently asked questions please visit the GOV.UK website.
Stockport residents have responded really well on the whole throughout the pandemic to the advice put in place to protect us all. We are very grateful for the fantastic community spirit we have seen throughout the last few months and the continued efforts of the people of Stockport to keep one another safe. We ask that these efforts continue and that residents follow the latest guidance so that together we can stop the spread of Coronavirus.
Jennifer Connolly, Director of Public Health, Stockport Council