news: 11 March 2021

COVID-19 testing: with us for the long haul

As we move through the steps out of lockdown, our individual actions are going to make a big difference to our ability to stick to the dates in the government roadmap. A key tool is regular testing for everyone.

Testing for parents and carers

With the full return to school underway this week, regular coronavirus testing is available for free, for all households with nursery, primary, secondary and college age children and young people.

This includes households in associated childcare and support bubbles, and those with school staff and adults working in the wider school community, such as supply teachers, school bus drivers, and after school club leaders

Book a test at https://keeptheislandsafe.org/communitytesting/ or order tests to be delivered to your home. https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

Testing for school staff and secondary pupils

These are being arranged and distributed by individual schools.

Free rapid community testing – for people without symptoms

There are community testing sites at Ryde, Newport, Sandown, Cowes and Yarmouth. Tests are available for anyone leaving home for essential reasons. Book a test https://keeptheislandsafe.org/communitytesting.

Testing for people with COVID-19 symptoms

If you have COVID-19 symptoms you and your household should self-isolate and book a test online or call 119 immediately. Symptoms are:

• new and continuous cough;

• temperature;

• loss or change of sense of taste or smell.

The testing site for people with symptoms of COVID-19 is:

• Newclose County Cricket ground, Blackwater Road, Newport PO30 3BE.

More information is available on the government website.

Latest coronavirus data for the Island

These are the latest published vaccination and COVID-19 stats for the Isle of Wight, from NHS England and Public Health England, respectively.

You can read the full COVID-19 data report on our website.

The graphic shows the COVID-19 statistics published by Public Health England on 8 March 2021 including data up to 7 March 2021.

The vaccination statistics for the Isle of Wight, published by NHS England on 4 March 2021 including data up to 28 February 2021:

• 61,724 – The number of Island residents who have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
• 6,656 – The number of confirmed cases to date of Island residents who have received a positive COVID-19 test result since March 2020. This is based on the residential address of the person tested rather than where they are registered with a GP.
• 13 – The number of positive cases in the seven-day period.
• 9.2 – Weekly cases per 100,000. This is the number of Island residents who have received a positive COVID-19 test result in the seven-day period, divided by the total population of the Island.

It is vital we all continue to follow the government guidelines during national restrictions: hands, face, space. 

• Wash your hands often and for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser regularly.
• Wear a face-covering where appropriate.
• Keep space from other people; two metres or at least one metre apart.

No Smoking Day 2021 – Get support to quit

People are being encouraged to find out how they can give up smoking for good this No Smoking Day.

Simon Bryant, director of public health at the Isle of Wight Council, has spoken of the benefits of quitting ahead of the 37th National No Smoking Day tomorrow (Wednesday 10 March).

He said: “This last year has been very difficult and stressful for many of us, but the good news is that smokers who quit for six weeks or more are happier and experience less anxiety and depression than those who carry on smoking.

“While giving up smoking for good may sound daunting, evidence shows you are more likely to succeed with the help of a stop smoking service than if you try to quit by yourself.

“Healthy Lifestyles Isle of Wight, the council-funded stop smoking service, offers practical solutions, including switching to e-cigarettes, support online, by telephone or via an app, to help you quit in a way that suits you.”

The number of smokers on the Island is around 14 per cent, which is about 16,800 people and remains slightly higher than the national average.

As well as offering information and advice, Healthy Lifestyles Isle of Wight can help with stop smoking aids including nicotine replacement therapy such as patches, gum or inhalers, prescription only stop smoking medicines and e-cigarettes or vapes.

Combining stop-smoking aids with expert help means people are three times as likely to quit as using willpower alone.

For further information on stop smoking support for Island residents, visit Healthy Lifestyles Isle of Wight