It is because of our collective efforts over the past 16 months, that the Government’s ‘four tests’ for unlocking have been met and the Prime Minister was able to confirm that we could move to Step Four of the Roadmap from Monday 19th July 2021.
This is hugely welcome news, not least for those remaining businesses who have now been able to reopen their doors after over a year of immense hardship.
It also marks a step change in how the pandemic will be managed going forward, with a greater emphasis on personal responsibility as society learns to live with the virus longer term.
This means for example that, whilst no longer a legal requirement, residents are still encouraged to wear a face covering when travelling on public transport or shopping in supermarkets.
There are also three important things that we can all do to protect others:
GET VACCINATED
Every vaccine gives us hope, with our world-leading vaccination programme estimated to have already prevented around 8.5 million infections and 30,000 deaths in England alone.
Data from PHE suggests that one dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is 80 per cent effective against hospitalisation with the Delta variant, increasing to 96 per cent after two doses.
It is therefore vital that all adults across Erewash take up the offer of two vaccine doses, to protect yourself and others against the virus. If you have not already done so, you can book your vaccine appointment today at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination
TEST REGULARLY
Regular testing continues to play a key role in helping to reduce the rate of transmission. We should all be testing ourselves regularly at home with the free, easy to use lateral flow tests that are available to order on the NHS website at https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests or collect from your local pharmacy.
Residents who are not displaying symptoms can also access a test without an appointment at one of our local testing centres in either Ilkeston or Long Eaton, details of which are below:
Ilkeston
- Lower Bath Street car park, Bath Street, Ilkeston, DE7 8FG
- Open Wednesdays and Thursdays until 29th July from 9am to 5pm
Long Eaton
- West Park Leisure Centre, Wilsthorpe Road, Long Eaton, NG10 4AA
- Open Fridays until 30th July 2021 from 9am to 5pm
SELF-ISOLATE IF TOLD TO DO SO
In addition, it is crucial that we continue to break the chain of transmission and so there remains a legal requirement for those people identified by NHS Test and Trace as either testing positive for COVID or coming into close contact with someone who has tested positive to self-isolate.
The pandemic may not be over, but these three actions, together with common sense actions such as regular hand washing and meeting other people either outside or in a well ventilated room, gives us the best chance of keeping life moving.
If you need medical help, please use the 111 online coronavirus service.