COVID-19 update

16 July 2021 www.keeptheislandsafe.org

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What’s new

The government has confirmed that from 19 July 2021 most legal COVID restrictions will be eased in England. You can read more about their decision on their website.

The government is removing restrictions on social distancing, group sizes, working from home, face covering, attending weddings, funerals and other life events.
Read more about what the final stage of the government’s roadmap will look like for residents.

Prevention

COVID-19 has not gone away. It is still a very risky disease. We all need to think about how our actions this summer will affect ourselves, our loved ones and the rest of our Island community.

There are some things we can all do to help stop the virus spreading:

Meet outdoors where possible and let fresh air into homes or other enclosed spaces.
Limit close contact with people you don’t usually live with, and increase close contact slowly
Think about other people and consider wearing a face covering in crowded or enclosed spaces such as public transport.
Keep washing our hands regularly.
Take a gradual return to work.
Get 2 doses of the vaccine. You can make appointments or go to a walk-in clinic.
Keep taking regular rapid response LFT tests.
Self-isolate and take a PCR test when you get symptoms.
Self-isolate when asked to do so by NHS Test and Trace.
Consider checking out some of the Island’s tucked-away treasures and #findyourspace.

Testing is still vital

If you don’t have COVID-19 symptoms, please take a twice weekly rapid response Lateral Flow Test (LFT). Tests are free and can be taken in store or collected from pharmacies. Use your postcode and this map to find your nearest participating pharmacy. Please report test results whether negative or positive.

It is especially important to consider Lateral Flow Testing before travelling on or off the Island.

If you have symptoms you must self-isolate and book a PCR test.

Self-isolation

If you’re worried about money because you’ve been asked to self-isolate, or you need to look after a child who is self-isolating, financial support is available via the Isle of Wight Council website.

Self-isolation can be very difficult especially if you have financial, work, family or mental health worries. Help is available via the Isle of Wight COVID-19 helpline on 01983 823600 or by emailing contact.centre@iow.gov.uk

Self-isolation remains a legal requirement If you test positive for coronavirus or have been told to isolate by NHS Test and Trace.

More online information about self-isolation is available.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are offered to UK adults age 18 and over. You can book via the NHS UK website or by calling 119. It is not too late for older people to get their first dose. Please encourage friends, family and colleagues to get vaccinated.

Walk in appointments for first and second doses are available throughout July. Availability is updated daily on this website

It is important to have two doses for full protection. Vaccines have been shown to be effective against all variants.

Before you go to get your vaccine, please make sure that you’ve recently had a drink and something to eat.

COVID case and vaccination data

Weekly data is published on Isle of Wight Council’s Facebook page on a Tuesday.
Here is the data published on Tuesday 13 July 2021.

Travel

It is still government advice that we should not travel to amber or red list countries, even if other countries make changes to their entry requirements.

From Monday 19 July, fully vaccinated people returning to England from amber list countries will not need to quarantine. You can read about the traffic light system for international travel.