Residents are being urged to be extra vigilant and get vaccinated or receive booster jabs to protect themselves and others as cases of the Omicron variant are confirmed in Bath and North East Somerset.
The vaccination centre at Bath Racecourse | Photo © RUH
The UK Health Security Agency is working alongside Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Public Health team to identify close contacts of individuals who test positively with the new variant.
Becky Reynolds, Director of Public Health for B&NES, said: “Just as in other parts of the South West, we now have confirmed cases of the Omicron variant and we should expect to see more as the virus spreads – however I want to reassure residents that just as we have done throughout the pandemic, all local health professionals are working hard to keep people safe.
“We ask that people continue to follow guidance and play their part to help stop the spread.
“This means it is important that people get their vaccination, get their booster, continue testing, and follow the latest national measures and guidance.
“We should continue with washing hands regularly, wearing face coverings where required, taking lateral flow tests, and self-isolating immediately and getting a PCR test when displaying any COVID-19 symptoms.”
From today, 14th December, testing advice for those who are identified as a close contact of someone who tests positive for COVID-19 has changed.
Those close contacts that are fully vaccinated, exempt for clinical reasons, or aged 5-18 years, no longer need to self-isolate and instead are advised to take daily lateral flow (LFD) tests for seven days and report their results via the normal LFD reporting system.
Unvaccinated adults need to continue to self-isolate and take a PCR test. Children under 5 years do not need to self-isolate or take daily LFD tests.
The change to national testing policy aims to reduce pressures on people’s everyday lives by replacing the requirement for Omicron contacts to isolate for 10 days, while protecting the public by identifying asymptomatic cases and stopping the chains of transmission.
Daily testing will also help the Government understand how and where the virus is spreading
In response to the national commitment to offer all adults a booster appointment by the end of December, health and care leader, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire CCG is scaling up efforts to offer all eligible adults over the age of 18 with Covid-19 booster vaccines before the end of the year.
It says existing vaccination sites in the region will begin extending their opening hours, while new vaccine venues will also be looked at, to help ensure up to 18,000 jabs can be given locally each day over the coming weeks.
Booster vaccines will soon be available to all adults over the age of 18, providing three months have passed since a person’s second coronavirus jab.
People are encouraged to pre-book a booster vaccination appointment, rather than arrive at a venue without a confirmed slot.
Gill May, BSW CCG Director of Nursing and Quality, said: “We are pulling out all the stops to ensure we meet the vaccination target announced by the government.
“It is going to be an incredibly busy few weeks, and I ask for people to show their support to our already-stretched vaccine teams by pre-booking appointments wherever possible and treating our staff with kindness and respect.”
Booster appointments can be booked online at www.nhs.uk and over the phone by calling 119.
Two new B&NES Covid Engagement officers will be out and about working with businesses across the district to help them follow the government’s latest guidance and advising people visiting the city centre and shopping districts.
