What's happening in West Lancs?

• The good news continues this week. Cases are continuing to fall significantly across West Lancs although the rate is slowing down a bit.

• Overall the number of Covid cases has dropped by almost two-thirds from the height of the latest peak in early January.

• The number of cases is still very high – over double what it was this time last year during the second peak.

             >  Height of this peak: 426 cases (7 day average)

             >  Latest 7 day average: 156 cases

             >  Height of the second peak, last January: 85 cases

• However, high immunity from vaccines and prior infections is continuing to protect, so although hospitalisations in West Lancs have increased slightly this week, the number of deaths has fallen by 43%.
  

• See the situation in your postcode here.

The government announced this week that it is lifting Plan B measures that were put in place in early December. England will fully return to Plan A on Thursday 27th January.

Plan A includes building defences through vaccines & antiviral treatments and using Test and Trace to ensure isolation of positive cases.

• Government guidance asking people to work from home was dropped from Wednesday, meaning people can now talk to employers to agree return to the office arrangements.

• From 27th January: wearing a face mask will no longer be a legal requirement. However the government suggests that we continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces.

• From 27th January: venues and events will no longer be required by law to check visitors’ NHS COVID Pass. The NHS COVID Pass can still be used on a voluntary basis.

Read more information here.

Testing and isolation

• People in England who receive positive lateral flow results are still legally required to self-isolate immediately but won’t need to take a confirmatory PCR test.

• People with Covid can now stop self-isolating after five full days, if they have negative results on days five and six. People who still test positive on their lateral flow tests must stay in isolation until they have had two consecutive negative tests taken on separate days.

• The rules for contacts have not changed. Fully vaccinated individuals who are identified as contacts of someone with covid should take daily rapid lateral flow tests for 7 days but are not legally required to self-isolate.

• Unvaccinated contacts are still legally required to self-isolate for the full 10-day period.

See more information here.

Everyone over 12 can get a 1^st and 2^nd dose and everyone over 18 can also get a booster. Check all eligibility here

1. Book an appointment online

You can make an appointment by

• Booking online here
• Calling free phone 119

2. Find your nearest drop-in clinic

> Permanent clinic sites:   Anyone aged 16 and over can get vaccinated at a drop-in clinic - without a pre-booked appointment.

Find nearest vaccine drop-in clinics on the NHS website. 

> Additional drop-in clinics: See below for this weekend's clinics.

There are more being added each week, so keep checking West Lancs CCG’s social media and webpage for the most up to date information: www.westlancashireccg.nhs.uk/popupclinics/

3. Request a home visit

Under a new initiative launched this week by the NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria, anyone who is shielding or doesn’t feel comfortable using the existing vaccine services can now book to be vaccinated at home.

Find out more information and how to book online, here.

• By the end of December 2021 in Lancashire and South Cumbria, 52% of pregnant women at term had had a first dose of the Covid vaccine, and 41% had had a second dose
• The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency shows covid vaccinations are safe for pregnant women and their babies and provide strong protection against the virus.
• Since April 2021, across the UK as a whole, around 84,000 pregnant women have received one dose and over 80,000 have received two doses of the Covid vaccine.
• The vast majority of pregnant women who have been admitted to hospital with severe Covid are unvaccinated

The Royal College of Midwives recommends vaccination for pregnant women saying 

'it’s the best, most effective way to protect you and your baby, particularly during the third trimester when women who contract COVID are far more likely to have severe symptoms, which could put them and their baby at risk'.

Do read their advice here.

You can download their fact sheet here.

You can either:

• Collect FREE tests from a symptom free local collection site to use at home later. Find your nearest collection point here.  Or

• Order FREE home testing kits online to be delivered to your home, here.

If you test positive: The Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme is still available and will be in place for eligible West Lancs residents until 31 March 2022. 

If you're isolating and on a low income, unable to work from home, and facing financial hardship then you could be entitled: www.westlancs.gov.uk/more/emergencies/coronavirus/test-and-trace-support-payment.aspx

If you're worried about your child's health, do have a look at the fantastic Alder Hey children's symptom checker.

It's a fast, easy way to check common symptoms of a wide range of illnesses and how they can be treated.

Check it out here:  https://alderhey.nhs.uk/sympto...

Hit all the Five Ways to Wellbeing in one weekend!

Local community group, Friends of the Tawd, is looking for people to get involved in creating a Meeting Place in the corner of the Community Orchard and bring their long dreamed-of idea to fruition (literally!).

The plan is to create a place with picnic tables and fruit bushes where anyone can sit and enjoy the surroundings, children can play, and those enjoying the Tawd can pause and rest.

Some funding has been raised and now volunteers are needed to help turn this into reality.

Two work days are planned - Friday 4th and Saturday 5th February – and will be supported by Borough Council Rangers Chris and Ben.

Even if you can’t wield a spade or push a wheelbarrow, there’s still a need for tea makers, photo takers and general encouragement givers, so do get involved!

Meet at the Tawd Valley Allotments (bottom of Manfield, Ashurst, Skelmersdale) for 10 am (both days).

Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/306259438105248/

Learn new I.T skills

Having the skills and confidence to get online is a part of everyday life.  It’s a great way to stay connected with friends and family, shop online and manage your money through online banking in the comfort of your own home.

If you would like to learn how to get online, why not sign up for the Borough Council’s new ‘We Are Digital’ training sessions?

You get one to one sessions – either at home or remotely – which cover all the basics of being online including:

• How to video call friends & family
• Using social media such as Facebook (inc. Internet Safety)
• Arranging GP appointments by video
• Shopping online (due to travel restrictions)
• Doing online banking (safer than telephone banking)
• Creating a CV and applying for jobs
• Government forms online & on the phone (benefits such as Universal Credit)
• Help with energy or switching bills

If you're interested in the free course, text WEST LANCS and your name to 07825 844 417 or phone 01695- 585216 or email: CustomerEngagement@westlancs.gov.uk

Can you help us get the word out?

We are working with West Lancashire Borough Council to get accurate information into the heart of communities and would be grateful if you could pass this on to your networks.

Please join in these efforts by cascading these messages on to your work colleagues, friends and families using the share buttons below: