A plan has been unveiled by the Public Health officials in Liverpool to help deal with increased confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Princes Park area of the city.
The ‘enhanced outbreak control action plan’ is designed to rapidly control the spread of the virus, protect vulnerable communities and the elderly in the area, and prevent the need for the city to have to go into any kind of additional local lockdown measures.
Almost half of the increase in confirmed cases across Liverpool over the last week have been in the ward.
A pop up walk-in test centre is being installed at Princes Park Health Centre on Bentley Road from Saturday 1 August, which people can drop in to from 9am-4pm if they have symptoms, without the need to book an appointment.
The other measures are:
- All people who have been shielding are being contacted by text message and a follow-up letter and asked to continue to shield until 14 August
- Cafes, bars and restaurants given additional advice around appropriate public health measures
- Care home visiting suspended except for those who are at the end of life, and closed for non-essential staff visits (the affected homes have been contacted)
- Community buildings to remain closed
- Upcoming gatherings and events suspended
Community volunteers are being deployed to call door-to-door to raise awareness of testing availability and to promote key public health messages, while work is under way with religious leaders to make sure places of worship are following COVID-19 safe procedures.
The impact will be reviewed in 14 days and extended if necessary.
People are being advised to:
- Follow the advice and guidance around social distancing
- Wear face coverings in confined spaces, supermarkets and on public transport
- Maintain social distancing with members of the same family who are from a different household
- Have no overnight visitors from a different household – even members of the same family
People with symptoms can also book a test appointment at drive-through facilities through the NHS website, or by calling 119.
Matt Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool, said:
“We have seen a rise in confirmed cases in the Princes Park area and are concerned that it could spiral unless we act to bring the virus back under control.
“These measures are designed to prevent the need for a more draconian lockdown in the area which would be more difficult for people to endure.
“It is really important that people follow the advice that we are giving around good hygiene, social distancing, wearing face coverings on public transport, in supermarkets and confined spaces and avoiding visiting other households.
“This is about us all working together to protect each other, making sure we are not complacent and getting a grip of the virus and keeping it under control.
“We don’t have a vaccine and there is no guarantee that there will be a jab or an effective treatment anytime soon so in the meantime it is up to us all to be responsible and make sure we don’t take risks that could unwittingly infect not just ourselves, but vulnerable people including close family and friends.”
More information about symptoms – which include a continuous cough, high temperature and loss of taste and smells is available at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
