The situation is still critical.
This week our COVID infection figures are around 500 infections per 100,000 with over 1000 new cases each week in Solihull. Although numbers are stabilising and we have slowed the increase, this is still extremely high and we have record numbers of very sick patients with COVID in our hospitals.
It is crystal clear that the new variant is much easier to catch and infecting more people which is why the lockdown measures are so important.
There are some extra steps we can take to slow the spread.
If you run a business, please support as many staff as you can to work from home and make sure your workplace is COVID secure. If staff have symptoms they need to stay at home, get tested and self-isolate for 10 days. Contacts of workplace cases must self-isolate for 10 days unless they are being tested daily under a nationally agreed pilot.
The latest research from the scientific advisory group for emergencies (SAGE) is that household transmission is a big factor in the spread of the virus. So, if anyone in your household gets any of the symptoms, they must self-isolate and then get a test as soon as possible.
If you or someone you live with tests positive, or has symptoms and is awaiting a test result, there are simple steps to stop it spreading to others in the household.
- isolate the person in a room apart from other people
- Open windows to keep rooms well ventilated
- Stay at least 2m away from people in your house, for example by sitting as far away from other people as you can
- Keep rooms that are shared as clean as possible by using disinfectant to spray on touch points such as door handles or light switches
- Avoiding touching things like towels or toothbrushes that other people use
It is crucial that people self-isolate to stop the spread. There is financial support for those self-isolating and our dedicated team of contact tracers can also help in other ways so you can self-isolate for the full 10 days.
It’s really important to get vaccinated if you are offered a jab and join over 4 million across the UK who have had their first dose. If you have had a jab carry on following the lockdown guidelines and continue to observe hands, face and space.
Do the right thing for you, your household, your family and friends and for Solihull. Stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.