Your COVID-19 questions answered

We know that many people have questions about COVID-19, national lockdown, self-isolation and vaccinations among other things.

Yesterday (Monday), the Isle of Wight Council teamed up with the Isle of Wight County Press to host a live ‘ask the experts’ event on Facebook.

Simon Bryant, the council’s director of public health, and Stephen Parker, medical director at St Mary’s Hospital, Newport, were online to answer questions from Island residents.

You can watch the session at the Isle of Wight County Press Facebook page.

Vaccinations: NHS will be in touch

The Riverside Centre, Newport, is soon due to go live as a COVID-19 vaccination centre.

The centre will mean even more people will be able to get vaccinated from across the area. The Riverside Centre will join the network of local vaccination centres that are already in operation on the Island and wider region.

Initially, vaccinations are being offered to people in line with recommendations and advice on priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination from the independent Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations.

These NHS webpages have more information about how the vaccine is being rolled out across the Island.

Meanwhile, the St Mary’s Hospital hub opened last week and has already vaccinated more than 1,200 NHS and social care keyworker staff working on the front line.

Dr Dan Baylis, chief medical officer at Solent NHS Trust, who is running the vaccination centres, said: “Coronavirus has been the single biggest public health emergency in NHS history, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who was involved in setting up the vaccination centres across the Island and Hampshire.

“This continues to be such a challenging time for NHS colleagues, and it is testament to the hard work of everyone across the NHS that we are able to deliver this at the same time as continuing to be there for everyone who needs care.”

Latest coronavirus data for the Island

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

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

The graphic shows the COVID-19 statistics for the Isle of Wight, published by Public Health England on 18 January 2021 including data up to 17 January 2021.

The graphic shows:

• 5,325 – 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.
• 1,186 – The number of positive cases in the seven-day period.
• 836.6 – 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.

Got symptoms? Self-isolate and get a test

COVID-19 symptoms

If you have any of these symptoms, please self-isolate and book a free test straight away:

• A high temperature.
• A new, continuous cough.
• A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

Book a COVID-19 test

• You can book a test online.
• You can book a test via the NHS COVID-19 app on your mobile phone.
• You can call 119 to book a test if you can’t get online.

Please do not travel on public transport or travel to the mainland to get a test.

You can book a postal test if you need to.

The Isle of Wight COVID-19 testing centre is at:

• Newclose Cricket Ground, Blackwater Road, Newport PO30 3BE.

The testing centre is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 2.30pm. It is closed on Sunday.

The mobile testing unit is at:

• 1Leisure Medina, Fairlee Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2EW.

The mobile testing unit will be available for at least three weeks (from Friday 8 January). It is open seven days a week (including Sundays) from 9.30am until 3pm.

When must I self-isolate?

You must stay at home and not leave your home for anything other than to get a test for ten days if:

• you have symptoms of COVID-19;
• you have had a test and are awaiting your COVID-19 test results;
• you have been told by NHS Test and Trace that you’ve been in contact with a person with COVID-19;
• someone you live with or someone in your support bubble has tested positive for COVID-19;
• you are returning from a country that is not on the government’s travel corridor list.

COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)