Covid pandemic is not over yet warn Warrington health chiefs

Public health leaders say the pandemic is not yet over, despite a relaxation of Covid measures as part of the Government’s ‘Living with Covid’ strategy.

Warrington, which still has more than 340 cases of coronavirus among every 100,000 residents, has seen a steady decrease in people infected with the virus, though health leaders say case rates remain high.

This steady decline has seen the legal need to self-isolate if you test positive for coronavirus scrapped.

However the advice until April 1 is that people who test positive should stay at home and self-isolate wherever possible, avoiding contact with other people for at least five full days until they receive two negative lateral flow test results on consecutive days.

From April 1, the government will end free symptom-free and symptomatic testing, apart from for a small number of at-risk groups and those working in social care.

The symptom-free coronavirus testing centre in Warrington town centre

Thara Raj, Warrington Borough Council’s director of public health, said: “Warrington still has high rates of coronavirus, and it is really important that if you have coronavirus or any of the common symptoms, you self-isolate wherever possible.

“Doing this will help Warrington’s rates continue to fall.

“I know the restrictions that have ended might cause anxiety and apprehension for some residents and their families.

“If you are able to continue to self-isolate if you have symptoms and follow the basics of washing your hands and being in well-ventilated spaces, it will help us to reduce the risk of the virus spreading.

“After all, we could see coronavirus cases surge if we immediately revert back to how we lived our lives before the pandemic.”

Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, the council’s cabinet member for public health, added: “I understand the concerns from some residents that the complete relaxation of the coronavirus restrictions has happened quickly.

Thara Raj, Warrington Borough Council’s director of public health

“We need to acknowledge that the pandemic is not over, and continuing with the behaviours that our residents have so selflessly demonstrated over the last couple of years will really help us to drive case numbers down further and avoid a sudden spike in cases.

“While the legal restrictions have ended, we still need to follow simple steps if we are to live safely with the virus.

“That means isolating if you have Covid-like symptoms, just as you would with any other highly infectious disease – you would not go out and about if you had flu for example, so it should be no different with coronavirus.

“Of course, the best thing you can do is to get vaccinated if you have not yet taken up the offer.

“There is a jab waiting for you and it is never too late, whether it is your first, second or booster dose.”