Cornwall warned Omicron Covid variant is having a 'huge impact' on essential services
People are being urged to get jabbed and test regularly to protect frontline workers
Just hours after Boris Johnson announced the easing of 'Plan B' restrictions, officials warned the Omicron variant of coronavirus is having a "huge impact" on essential services in Cornwall.
The council's public health team is urging people to get jabbed and test regularly, to help protest frontline workers.
In the 24 hours to Wednesday 19th January, the Duchy recorded almost 750 new cases of Covid and two more related deaths.
Now Cornwall's Director of Public Health, Rachel Wigglesworth, has issued an appeal to help minimise the spread of Omicron: "Covid doesn’t just affect you and your health – it can also cause huge disruption to everyone's lives. You never know who you might spread it to.
"The more the virus is allowed to circulate, the more likely it is that teachers will be unable to teach, bus drivers will be unable to drive, nurses will be unable to work... the list goes on.
"The only way to ensure life carries on as smoothly as possible is for everyone to take responsibility, follow the government guidance, and get jabbed and boosted.
"It's never too late to get your first or second dose – no one will judge you and you’ll be doing your part to protect both yourself and those around you".
What are we being asked to do?
1) Get jabbed and boosted. The vaccine is the best way to ensure as many people as possible avoid serious illness if they catch Covid. It also helps prevent the spread of the virus. You can still get your first or second dose as well as your booster – it's never too late! Book your jab on the NHS website or find out where the walk-in centres are on the NHS Kernow website.
2) Test, test and test again. Make sure you test with Lateral Flow Tests (LFT) before socialising or going to busy places. Order them on the Gov.uk website or get a Pharmacy Collect Code to pick them up from your local pharmacy. If you have Covid or winter illness symptoms then book a PCR test.
3) Self-isolate when required. If you have a positive PCR test then you will need to self-isolate for 10 days. However, you can cut this to 5 full days if you have no temperature or other Covid symptoms and record negative LFT results on days 5 and 6. If you have no symptoms and record a positive LFT result, you now don’t need to book a confirmatory PCR test. Just start your isolation immediately. Everyone is asked to report the results of their LFT tests on the government website.
4) Wear a mask when required. You must wear a face covering in indoor public places such as shops and supermarkets and on public transport.
5) Maintain good hand hygiene. Keep washing your hands and using sanitiser to kill Covid and help stop it spreading.
6) Ensure good ventilation. Fresh air keeps the virus from lingering so open windows when indoors and try to meet people outside if possible.
7) Social distancing. Try to keep your distance from other people where at all possible to limit the chance of Covid spreading from person to person.
It comes after a critical incident was declared in adult social care in Cornwall earlier this week.
Cllr Dr Andy Virr, Portfolio Holder for Adults and Public Health and an Emergency Department consultant at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, said the decision was made to 'keep hospital services safe'.
Speaking about the Omicron variant, he added: “I have seen first-hand the impact Covid has had on the NHS and would urge everyone to do what they can to help protect all of our essential workers. Without them all the services we rely on could grind to a halt causing huge disruption to people's lives.
"So make sure you get your jabs and booster as the vaccine does help prevent the spread of Covid as well as providing protection.
"We'd also ask everyone to act responsibly to keep the spread to a minimum by taking a Lateral Flow Test before socialising, wearing face coverings when required, maintaining good hand hygiene, and keeping your distance from other people wherever possible".
You can find more information on the current coronavirus restrictions on Cornwall Council's website.