Latest Covid-19 advice for the borough of Bury - 23 July, 2021

However, while cases are high and rising, everybody needs to continue to act carefully and remain cautious.

This is why the following key protections will be kept in place:

• testing when you have symptoms and targeted asymptomatic testing in education, high risk workplaces and to help people manage their personal risk

• isolating when positive or when contacted by NHS Test and Trace

• border quarantine: for all arriving from red list countries and for those people not fully vaccinated arriving from amber list countries

• cautious guidance for individuals, businesses and the vulnerable whilst prevalence is high including:

Whilst Government is no longer instructing people to work from home if they can,      Government would expect and recommend a gradual return over the summer

Government expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded areas such as public transport;

Being outside or letting fresh air in

Minimising the number, proximity and duration of social contacts.

• encouraging and supporting businesses and large events to use the NHS Covid Pass in high risk settings. The Government will work with organisations where people are likely to be in close proximity to others outside their household to encourage the use of this. If sufficient measures are not taken to limit infection, the Government will consider mandating certification in certain venues at a later date

Vaccination campaign continues Everyone in Bury who has not yet had their first dose Covid-19 vaccination is being urged to come forward to receive it. They are also being reminded they should receive their second vaccination when it is due. You usually have the second dose eight to 12 weeks after the first dose. Research has shown the vaccines help:

• reduce your risk of getting seriously ill or dying from Covid -19

• reduce your risk of catching or spreading Covid -19

• protect against Covid -19 variants The first dose should give you some protection from 3 or 4 weeks after you've had it. But you need two doses for stronger and longer-lasting protection.

Young people are a key target audience for the vaccine in Bury and the council this week released a film to encourage take-up. In it young people who had received the vaccine shared their reasons for getting it done.

Watch the film on the council’s YouTube channel