What's happening in West Lancs?

• In West Lancs, Covid rates have continued to rise in this week, with 921 new cases reported in the last 7 days.  However there are welcome signs that the rate of increase has slowed down.  
• This time last week, cases were up 49% on the previous week.  Today cases are up 8% compared to last Friday.

See the situation in your postcode here.

• Across England, hospital admissions with Covid have continued to increase this week. The rate of increase appears to be slowing, but admissions are still up by 22% in the last week.

•  Mechanical Ventilation bed occupancy in England is also up by 10%.  However this needs to be seen context, with overall numbers in intensive care still well below previous waves.

• Remarkably, data from the ONS this week shows that the number of deaths recorded so far this year is 2% below the average of pre-pandemic years 2015-2019.

Spring booster programme starts

Older and vulnerable people are now being offered an extra booster jab against Covid, and there's been a tremendous response to the spring booster programme in West Lancs so far.

This second booster is being offered to:

• adults aged 75 and over
• residents in care homes for older adults
• those aged 12 and over with weakened immune systems

The dose will be given six months after the previous booster.

The NHS is contacting those who are eligible, so people should wait until they hear from the NHS - please don't phone your local surgery.

The NHS is prioritising those whose clinical need is greatest, as it has throughout, starting with those who have the longest time since their last dose, then working through the cohort from there.

An autumn booster programme, aimed at a wider group of people, is also planned

Free Covid testing will end next week

Free Covid testing in England will end on Thursday March 31st, with most people unable to get free PCR or lateral flow tests (LFTs) after this date.

• Free LFTs will only be available after 1 April for the over-75s and over-12s with weakened immune systems.
• Everyone else will have to buy tests from pharmacies and other private test providers.
• Free PCR tests won't be available to people with Covid symptoms from April either, except for a small number of at-risk groups, with details to be announced.
• Free testing will remain for social care workers with Covid symptoms and NHS staff.

Who is eligible?

• It's never too late to get your first, second, or booster dose!
• 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 here or freephone 119

2.  Find your nearest vaccine drop-in clinic on the NHS website. 

Additional drop-in clinics:  This weekend's local drop-in clinics are below and any new additions will be listed on West Lancs CCG’s webpage each week.

3. Request a home visit

Anyone who is shielding or doesn’t feel comfortable using the existing vaccine services can now book to be vaccinated at home.

This service is for anyone aged 12 and over and provides all doses of the vaccine.

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

• Collecting FREE tests from a local collection site. Find your nearest collection point here.  Or

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

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. 

If you test positive, you should:

• Stay at home, avoid contact with others
• Not attend work during that time
• Avoid inviting anyone into your home and cancel routine medical or dental appointments
• Tell people you’ve met with recently about your positive test result

> Reminder:  if you test positive, please report your positive Lateral Flow Tests here.   This helps track Covid trends accurately but must be done within 48 hours to be accepted on the system. 

Household Support Fund finishes next week

The Household Support Fund is due to close on 31st March 2022.

If you live in West Lancs and don't have enough resources to meet your immediate short-term needs, the Fund can help towards the cost of food, energy and other household essentials.

Please note:  no applications will be accepted after 31 March 2022.  Find out how to apply 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: