Cheshire & Merseyside - COVID-19 Update

Almost all areas in Cheshire and Merseyside are experiencing significant increases in the number of COVID-19 infections, and some have now passed the critical level of 100/100.000 cases, which triggered localised COVID-19 restrictions being introduced yesterday (22nd September) in Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, Wirral, Halton, St Helens and Lancashire to control the spread of the virus.

The increase in infections is now beginning to be seen in a rise in COVID hospital admissions, which will be closely monitored by the Hospital Cell. Hospitals are continuing to increase diagnostics, elective and cancer treatment in line with recovery plans, alongside responding to COVID patients.

Communications have been produced by Local Resilience Forums to explain and simplify the new local COVID-19 restrictions and can be shared by all stakeholders:

• New animations: https://bit.ly/2ZYsY9k
• GP advice video: https://bit.ly/2EndaW2
• New Rules simplified: https://bit.ly/3mHsVZk and https://bit.ly/32SgaDq
• Restrictions announced: https://bit.ly/2EodFPN

Further communications have also been produced by the C&M Testing cell to help ease demand on testing centres in the region, which are already experiencing significant issues around access to pillar 2 tests:

• Pillar 2 capacity comms and FAQs: https://bit.ly/3kEKFCJ
• Test and trace comms pack: https://bit.ly/2EndG6q
• Social media graphics: https://bit.ly/33OjyhL
• Schools toolkit: https://bit.ly/3codsbC

National COVID-19 restrictions were also introduced last night across England and some of these new restrictions will be set out in the law and guidance. To find out what you can and can't do under these new restrictions, please visit: 
https://bit.ly/3mMIcI7