Earlier this week, we progressed to the second stage of the Government’s roadmap for the further easing of lockdown restrictions, including the reopening of non-essential retail and personal care services such as hairdressers and nail salons.
Here’s a reminder of what you can and cannot do.
As of today (16 April), Swindon’s case rate has reduced to 24.8 per 100,000 – lower than the England average at 28.0 per 100,000. This is clearly positive news but the progress is easily lost if we lose our discipline in following the restrictions that remain in place across Swindon and the country:
- Up to six people or two households can meet outside
- Only socialise indoors with people you live with or who are in your support bubble
- Work from home if you can and minimise travel
- If you have symptoms, self-isolate and get a free test
About one in three people with coronavirus do not have symptoms but can still infect others. Getting tested regularly is the only way to know if you have the virus. If you test positive and self-isolate, it helps stop the virus spreading.
The Government confirmed this week that everybody in cohorts 1 to 9 - those aged 50 and over, the clinically vulnerable and health and social care workers – has been offered a vaccine. This group accounts for 99% of all COVID-19 deaths during the pandemic. In England, around 95% of people aged 50 and over have received a first dose, while 92% of people who are clinically extremely vulnerable have also received a vaccine.
The NHS will continue to offer vaccines to people in cohorts 1 to 9 who have not yet come forward and will be offering people their second doses within 12 weeks in line with the guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The start of phase 2 of the vaccination programme means people aged 45 to 49 in England are now invited to book vaccine appointments through the NHS booking service.
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