COVID-19 vaccination update
Anyone aged 12 and over can get the 1st and 2nd dose. A booster dose is available for everyone aged 16 and over, and some children aged 12 to 15, who have had 2 doses of the vaccine at least 3 months ago.
Appointments can be booked online by calling 119. They take place at the Riverside Centre or St Mary’s Hospital Hub. Walk-ins are available 7 days a week at the Riverside Centre from 8 am to 8 pm and there are pop-up walk-ins taking place around the Island.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight CCG website is the best source of information about the vaccination programme including walk-in locations.
Plan B restrictions ending
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement this week, Plan B restrictions are ending:
- From Wednesday 19 January, the work from home rule is relaxed
- From Thursday 20 January, staff and pupils in secondary schools are not required to wear face covering in classrooms
- From Thursday 27 January
- You will not be required to wear a face covering in public places like shops and on public transport.
- You will no longer need to show your NHS COVID Pass at venues and events by law.
Self-isolation
- You should self-isolate at home if you test positive or you develop symptoms and are waiting for a PCR test result.
- You can end self-isolation on the sixth day, following 5 full days isolating and 2 negative rapid lateral flow test tests taken on consecutive days.
- The first LFT should not be taken before the fifth day. Self-isolation must continue for 10 full days if you don’t get negative results from 2 LFTs taken a day apart. This is the law, regardless of whether you have been vaccinated.
- If you are identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case and you are double-vaccinated or under the age of 18 and 6 months, you are not required to self-isolate. You should instead, take daily LFTs for 7 days.
- 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 maybe available via the Isle of Wight Council website.
COVID-19 testing
Please encourage friends, family and colleagues to keep taking LFTs when they don’t have symptoms.
Getting hold of LFTs should be much easier now, particularly via the online ordering portal. Supplies to pharmacies are better, but there may still be some issues. Smaller local pharmacies may have a supply even if the bigger town centre pharmacies don’t.
Currently, if you test positive on an LFT, you don’t need to take a confirmatory PCR, but you must still isolate. If you get any of the 3 main symptoms of COVID-19, self-isolate and book a PCR test by calling 119 or online.
Prevention
Keep up the trusted basics to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and other illness this winter.
Please remember:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water.
- Wear a face mask to help protect other people who may be at risk of serious illness.
- Meet outdoors where possible and let fresh air into homes or other enclosed spaces.
- Maintain social distancing when you can.
The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant
The Isle of Wight has been given £5.4million to help the hospitality and leisure industry recover from the rise and impact of the Omicron variant.
One-off grants of up to £6000 will be given to businesses that were operating from business-rated premises in the hospitality and leisure sector on 30 December 2021.
More information and the application form are available on the Council website. All applications must be applied for by midnight on the 18 February 2022.
Easy to share social media
Please share these social media messages on your own Facebook pages:
Keep taking tests:
https://www.facebook.com/isleofwightcouncil/posts/4791393727582820
Vaccination update:
https://www.facebook.com/isleofwightcouncil/posts/4768779043177622
COVID case and vaccination data:
https://www.facebook.com/isleofwightcouncil/posts/4786476918074501
Thank you for all you do to #KeepTheIslandSafe
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