What's happening in West Lancs?

• The recent fall in covid cases in West Lancs is slowing now and showing signs of plateauing.

• A total of 310 people tested positive over the last 7 days in West Lancs - a drop of only 1% from the previous week.

• However, the West Lancs case rate of 245 per 100,000 still remains well below the national average (357 per 100,000).

• The number of people admitted to hospital in West Lancs due to Covid decreased significantly this week - by 40%.

See the situation in your postcode here.

Compulsory jabs for health and care workers scrapped

Mandatory Covid jabs for health and social care workers in England will be scrapped on 15th March, with staff no longer required by law to get vaccinated.

The rules came into force for care home staff in November, and had been due to be introduced for frontline NHS and wider social care staff from 1st April.  However the health secretary has now said it is “no longer proportionate” to require vaccination as a condition of deployment under law.

Covid and pregnancy

• New research by experts at the University of Oxford shows that severe covid infection in pregnant women, particularly in the third trimester, significantly increases the risk of harmful outcomes for mother and baby. 
• Pregnant women over the age of 30 years, those of Black, Asian or other minority ethnicity and those who are obese or have health conditions were identified as being at greater risk of severe infection.

See more information here.

Almost three quarters of a million young people have been double jabbed so far – two months after the vaccination programme started to roll out second doses to 12 to 15s

Getting vaccinated is still important - and will continue to offer essential protection from Covid going forward.

Who is eligible?

• Everyone aged 12 and over, and some children aged 5 to 11 can get a jab.
• You don't need an NHS Number or to be registered with a GP.
• Check all eligibility here

Boosters

• Everyone aged 16+ (or 12-15 in an ‘at risk’ category) is eligible for a booster 3 months after their second dose.
• People aged 75+, residents in care homes and those 12+ who are immunosuppressed can get a spring booster 6 months after their third dose/booster.

1. Book an appointment online

You can make an appointment by

• Booking online here
• Calling freephone 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:  This weekend's local drop-in clinics are listed below and any additions will be listed on West Lancs CCG’s webpage each week:  www.westlancashireccg.nhs.uk/popupclinics/

3. Request a home visit

Under a new initiative 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.

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.

Please note:  Due to government changes this week to self-isolation rules, the Test & Trace Support Payment has now finished.

See full information here:  

www.westlancs.gov.uk/more/emergencies/coronavirus/test-and-trace-support-payment.aspx

If you test positive

You are no longer legally required to self isolate if you test positive for Covid but it is strongly advised you do. 

You may choose to take an Lateral Flow Test from 5 days after your symptoms started followed by another test the next day. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, the risk that you are still infectious is much lower and you can safely return to your normal routine. 

Staying at home if you test positive is the best way to avoid spreading the virus and help protect others.

If you’re pregnant and you test positive for Covid, contact your GP about getting a free pulse oximeter to help monitor your oxygen levels and put your mind at ease.

Learn more about pulse oximeters here.

Household Support Fund

If you need a bit of extra financial support, West Lancashire Borough Council is now accepting applications from residents who don't have enough resources to meet their immediate needs and need help with essential items.

This Household Support Fund grant can be used to help towards the cost of:

• food
• energy / water needs
• essentials linked to energy / water needs
• wider essentials such as household bills, clothing, and white goods.

Find out more about how to apply here.

Local mental wellbeing organisation, Hope Street, is holding weekly LGBTQIAPLUS sessions at Ormskirk Civic Hall.

Everyone is welcome every Monday from 6:30 - 7:30pm.

Hope St says: 'Don’t feel like you have to face these challenges alone. We are a lovely group of likeminded people'.

Find more information here.

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: