Ahead of the removal of most remaining Coronavirus restrictions on Monday (July 19), people in Hull have been urged to continue to take care of each other and be aware of the risk posed by the virus.
While masks, social distancing and limits on numbers of people who can meet will no longer be mandatory, Julia Weldon, Director of Public Health, and Cllr Hester Bridges, Deputy Leader and Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, have said continued caution is ‘as important as ever’.
Rates in Hull, as in the rest of the country are rising, going from 15 cases per 100,000 of the population a month ago, to 351 today. While numbers of people in hospital are nowhere near the peak seen early in the year, they have increased over the past few weeks, from four or five to nine.
The things everyone must still do are:
- Until August 16, everyone must continue to self-isolate as advised, following close contact with someone who has Coronavirus. After this date, people who is fully vaccinated or are under 18 will no longer need to isolate if identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive
- Anyone with one or more Coronavirus symptoms (a new cough, temperature, food or drink tasting of nothing) must isolate at home and book a PCR test. This includes people who are fully vaccinated
- Anyone who tests positive must self isolate for 10 days, this includes people who are fully vaccinated
- Isolating continues to mean that people must not leave home for any reason, including essential food shopping or medicine collection.
Hull’s public health specialists strongly recommend everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated, also takes these steps:
- Continue to wear masks in enclosed spaces, including public transport and shops
- Take twice-weekly no-symptom tests (LFTs). These are available to collect from Endeavour Learning and Skills Centre, Pharmacies, community pop-up clinics (see the council website) and online
- Minimise the amount of socialising we do, and close contact with others, particularly indoors
- Meet outdoors where possible
- Indoors, keep doors and/or windows open where possible
- Keep a distance from people we don’t know, particularly indoors
- Wash or sanitise hands regularly
- While working from home is no longer a government recommendation, returning to offices or other work spaces should be done gradually, over the course of the summer
- If you are not vaccinated or have only had a first dose, get protected as soon as possible. Everyone aged 18+ can have the vaccine. Book online or visit one of Hull’s pop-up clinics.
Julia Weldon said: “While the decision has been made to press ahead with removing the remaining Coronavirus restrictions, we must remember the virus does not disappear with them. People in Hull have taken care of each other, put each other first and done all they could to keep each other safe throughout this pandemic. Now is not the time to stop doing that.
“Of course we are all excited about being able to get back to the things we’ve missed for so long, whether that’s theatre, live music, dancing, big events, or simply getting together. We’re absolutely not telling people that they shouldn’t do this.
“What we are advising is that rates are rising in Hull and around the country. The vaccine is extremely effective, and when you’ve had both, you’re 85 per cent less likely to become very ill. But you can still get the virus and still spread it.
“We must also remember there are people who are more vulnerable, including those who can’t have the vaccine for medical reasons. It’s vital everyone feels safe and is not excluded.
“Taking the very simple precautions we are all used to helps keep everyone safe and minimise spread of the virus, including any further new variants that could emerge”.
Cllr Hester Bridges said: “The significant increase in our daily cases of coronavirus in Hull is of concern, and we are advising people to continue to take care, and protect others. We all want to enjoy the summer, and we can do this safely if we follow the simple advice offered by public health professionals.
“Take care, have fun, and stay safe is the best advice for a healthy and happy summer”.
Get information on walk-in pop-up vaccination and testing clinics in Hull: https://www.hull.gov.uk/coronavirus/coronavirus-community-advice-and-support/covid-19-vaccine-programme Book a test if you have symptoms: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test Book a vaccine or change an appointment: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/
