'Get tested before attending large group events'
York's Director of Public Health Sharon Stoltz says taking lateral flow tests can give confidence to people about avoiding the spread of Covid.
People in York are being asked to consider taking lateral flow tests before attending large group events.
It's as the Covid infection rate per 100,000 people is at over 400 in York.
Director of Public Health at City of York Council - Sharon Stoltz - told Greatest Hits Radio York:
"Our rates are quite high at the moment. For parts of York and North Yorkshire we're above the England average.
"The latest Covid figure for York is just under 446 per 100,000. To put that into context that is 931 new cases of Covid over the past week, so obviously those rates are much higher than I would like. It is a concern.
"It's really challenging because in the absence of any Government legislation we're relying on people's behaviours to keep the rates low. Those infection rate control measures - like mask wearing - haven't changed since the start of the pandemic.
"If you're in very crowded places with poor ventilation then mask wearing even outside is a good idea. Hand washing is important as well - it'll kill other winter viruses as well as Covid.
"Being mindful of who we are meeting is important. It's important to still get tested for Covid, and are encouraging twice-weekly symptom-free testing. If you're planning visits with vulnerable relatives over Christmas then we're also encouraging people to take a lateral flow test.
"Vaccination continues to be very important, and I'd encourage anyone due a booster or a flu jab to book them as soon as they become eligible".
Sharon adds that she'd back lateral flow testing for people attending large events.
"We'd encourage twice-weekly testing with lateral flow, but if you judge your own circumstances you may not be having very regular contact with people. If that's the case, please do think about having a test if you know you're going to meet friends at the pub, cinema or whatever.
"Taking a test that day will give you that confidence of knowing whether you have Covid or not. Similarly if people have symptoms associated with cold or flu - please stay at home.
"We don't want other viruses spread this winter. There can be a tendency to see adverts on the television which talk about a 'wonderful' medicine that can take the symptoms away and let you get on with your daily life, but we don't want people to do that this winter.
"If people go around assuming that Covid isn't a problem then we'll continue to see high rates. The Delta variant is so infectious and spreading easily. We still need to be careful, even if you're fully vaccinated".
Lockdowns have started to be brought in to other countries in Europe such as Austria and the Netherlands.
Sharon says she's not that confident of avoiding a winter lockdown here in the UK:
"I have to say I'm not that confident at the moment, sadly. Unlike Europe, who did see their rates drop, our rates have stayed very high.
"There is a risk of seeing a spike in cases as Europe has seen. We know the Delta variant is very infectious, and the Delta plus variant is circulating in York - which we think is even more infectious.
"This isn't like some other diseases where you get it, get antibodies and don't get it again. You can get Covid again.
"Without Government measures like mandatory mask wearing then it really is down to people's individual choices. If we don't take it seriously then we could be in a lockdown situation again, which clearly nobody wants.
"It's down to the individual choices we make about whether we go into another lockdown".