The five step checklist from Liverpool Health Protection Board is something we would strongly support. We urge businesses to read the guidance and do their bit to help Liverpool reduce the rapidly rising coronavirus cases and improve our protection against this virus. Rapidly rising case numbers, unchecked will do more harm than good. It will force businesses to close, cause greater economic uncertainty, hit our poorest and most vulnerable communities and make Liverpool’s recovery harder to secure.

There are businesses across this city that want nothing more than to get back to normal. It’s a sentiment I can empathise with. We want to be able to live our lives to the fullest and we know there will be frustration with those who feel they are not able to.

But leaping first without planning for a safe landing is reckless. Liverpool is a pioneer when it comes to public health, and we have learnt that when we do not have the interests of our neighbours and communities at the forefront of our strategy we will fall.

We have already urged the government to give additional support to businesses forced to close because of self isolation. We wish we were at the finishing line, we all do, but we just need to finish this final straight together.

Bill Addy
Chief Executive
Liverpool BID Company

→ Statement from Liverpool Health Protection Board

At a local level, due to rapidly rising cases and hospital admissions from Covid-19, coupled with a lower vaccine uptake compared to other areas, the Liverpool Health Protection Board urges caution and advises residents and visitors to:

Continue wearing face coverings in crowded indoor areas where social distancing cannot be followed, such as shops, supermarkets and on public transport, as well as health and social care settings, such as hospitals, care homes and GP surgeries, in faith settings, such as churches, synagogues and mosques, and where it would make you or others  feel more comfortable.

Keep getting tested – Everyone should undertake twice weekly rapid symptom free testing using Lateral Flow Tests (LFT). If people experience generally associated symptoms such as a headache, a stuffed or runny nose, tiredness or weakness, aches and pains, sore throat or diarrhoea, they should take an LFT and follow up with a PCR test if the LFT test is positive. If people have any of the main symptoms of Covid-19 such as a high temperature, a new continuous cough or loss or change to their sense of smell or taste they must stay at home and book a PCR test. Around 1 in 3 people with Covid-19 don’t have symptoms but can still infect others – so getting tested regularly will help slow the spread.

Get fully vaccinated – it’s shown to be safe and effective against the virus, including new variants and is the best way to keep yourself from getting seriously ill. It also reduces your risk of passing the virus on to someone else.

The board recommends that all workplaces should ensure COVID safe measures are in place, including the provision of hand washing facilities and proper ventilation with external fresh air.

The board also endorses the maintaining of existing COVID-control measures in high risk settings, such as care homes to protect vulnerable people, including the use of face coverings, which will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, with guidance updated as required.

The board will continue to promote vaccination on the basis of both personal and social responsibility with a strong focus on pockets of low uptake and disadvantaged communities.