Residents across the borough of Rochdale have been strongly advised to take extra precautions to help prevent coronavirus lockdown measures being reintroduced.
More cases of the virus have been uncovered since testing in Rochdale was increased last month and the borough now has one of the highest rates of infection in England.
From 29 June 2020 – 12 July 2020, the borough of Rochdale had the fourth highest rate of cases per 100,000 population in England behind only Leicester, Blackburn and Bradford.
Although the numbers are still well below those seen in Leicester where a local lockdown has been introduced, the number of cases in the borough of Rochdale are not falling quickly. To help prevent a local lockdown being brought in everyone is strongly advised to adhere to the following measures:
- Wear face coverings in shops now – do not wait until 24 July 2020.
- Wear face coverings in public as much as possible.
- Limit visitors to your home to 2 people.
- Keep 2 metres apart at all times.
- Avoid physical contact with anyone outside your own household, including shaking hands or hugging.
- Get tested and isolate if you are told to do so.
The advice is effective from Friday, 17 July 2020 and will be reviewed in 2 weeks’ time.
The council’s director of public health, Andrea Fallon, said: “The fight against coronavirus is not over. Although lockdown measures are being relaxed across the country, we can see from our local data that we need to remain vigilant to the threat posed by the disease.
“We have increased testing and that has shown us that we need to take action and ask everyone to help keep our infection rate down.”
Council leader Allen Brett said: “All of us need to do whatever we can to keep the virus under control. Although we are a long way from the Leicester situation, we cannot be complacent and it is vital that everyone does what they can to keep this virus under control.”
