Calderdale Council is urging the borough’s most vulnerable residents to get in touch if they still need extra support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Saturday 1 August, the national shielding programme was paused. Around 1.5 million people in the UK were previously shielding during lockdown due to serious underlying health conditions increasing their risk of severe illness if they catch COVID-19.
Despite the pause, the Council is urging those who were shielding to consider their own particular circumstances and do all they can to protect themselves. Local support is still available if they need it.
Over the last few weeks, Calderdale’s virus infection rate has been increasing. The borough is now subject to national intervention measures and has new local restrictions(external link) in place, which we hope will reduce transmission. The safety of the whole community remains the Council’s priority, and its advice to the most vulnerable people is under regular review.
Cllr Tim Swift, Calderdale Council’s Leader, said:
“We know the pandemic has been an especially difficult time for those who were shielding due to being clinically vulnerable. Many will welcome the national shielding pause, as they can now go out to more places and see more people. We urge them to do so carefully, as COVID-19 is still a major risk in Calderdale. We must all follow social distancing and hygiene guidance, plus Calderdale’s new local restrictions introduced on 31 July.
“We understand that the shielding pause might make some people feel anxious and they may not be ready to go out yet, and we’re doing everything we can to support our residents and staff.
“We must all bear in mind that when we’re out and about, there could be clinically vulnerable people around us. We all have a part to play in following the rules, being kind, looking after each other and helping to keep one another safe.”
The Council is contacting previously-shielded residents to find out if they still need help if they don’t already have a support network, as they will no longer receive a food parcel.
If you or someone you know needs extra help, please request support at www.calderdale.gov.uk/coronavirus or call 01422 392890 for COVID-19 advice and support if you don’t have internet access.
This support was set up at the start of the outbreak, via a new virtual volunteer hub, and is still available despite the national easing of lockdown rules. The hub provides assistance such as deliveries of food and medical supplies and befriending services, in addition to the support that the Council’s social care teams are providing to people with high needs.
As COVID-19 is still within our community, we should all continue to keep at least two metres away from people outside our households wherever possible, wash our hands(external link) with soap and water often, for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching our face and follow the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it(external link)’ guidance to help keep ourselves and others safe. Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should stay at home and book a test(external link) as soon as possible, within five days of the symptoms starting. Please wear a face covering when travelling on public transport or in a taxi. It is also recommended that people wear face coverings whenever they are indoors with people who are not part of their household or bubble.
For up-to-date and reliable information about COVID-19, use trusted sources such as:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus(external link)