Latest Update
The Prime Minister has announced that from Monday 19th July, most COVID restriction will be lifted as England moves to Step 4 of the roadmap.
Protections
However, the Government is keeping a number of key protections in place after Monday. And with infection rates locally and nationally, Sefton Council is also recommending continued caution.
You can find details of the Step 4 changes which start from Monday 19 July here.
Recommendations
Sefton Council is recommending that people continue:
- wearing face coverings on public transport and in busy indoor spaces where social distancing isn’t possible;
- getting tested if they do or don’t have coronavirus symptoms
- getting fully vaccinated with both jabs as soon as they can.
By wearing masks, we can protect ourselves but also those around us while we are carrying COVID but not showing symptoms. And we can do this even if we have had both vaccine jabs.
Buses, trains shops, supermarkets GP surgeries and hospitals are all places where mask-wearing can make people feel safer.
Tests
If you don’t have COVID symptoms please continue taking free, rapid Lateral Flow Tests twice a week. These help confirm they are not among the people who carry COVID but don’t show the symptoms, which includes those who have been fully vaccinated, who can infect others.
Anyone who does show the coronavirus symptoms - a new persistent cough, raised temperature or loss of taste or smell - should take a rapid Lateral Flow Tests and follow up with a PCR test if the LFT test is positive. And they should stay home and self-isolate until they have the PCR test.
Find our Easy Read guide to testing below
| Asymptomatic Testing Easy Read |  (pdf 733KB) |
Self Isolating
If you or a member of your household is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or if your LFD test has a positive result, it’s crucial that you ALL self-isolate and book a confirmatory PCR test.
If the result of your PCR test is positive, you must self-isolate for 10 days.
If the result of your PCR test is negative, you no longer need to self-isolate.
More about self-isolation including tips and support.
Vaccination
Vaccination is still the safest and most effective way of avoiding COVID infection and potential serious illness. It also helps prevent you passing the virus on to someone else, although not 100%.
Anyone aged 18 or over can now book a vaccination appointment or go to one of Sefton’s walk-in sites or vaccine centres.
Find out more about vaccinations
You can find the Government's Easy Read information on vaccinations here.
You can find more Easy Read documents about what to expect at your vaccine appointment and some reassurance about fertility and the vaccine on the government website.
Businesses and Employers
In addition to individuals continuing mask-wearing, testing and getting vaccinated, organisations and employers should continue to ensure workplaces are as safe as they can be with hand washing facilities and proper ventilation with external fresh air in place.
Adult Social Care
Care Homes
Care homes will have to complete a risk assessment and develop a visiting policy which will determine if visits can go ahead and how they will be facilitated.
Care homes with outbreaks are not able to open to visitors.
The guidance can be found here
The Alzheimer's Society have some guidance on care home visits during COVID.
You can read it here