This Newsletter has been produced by the Petersfield COVID-19 Network. It is intended to help and inform Petersfield residents, especially those who are unable to leave their homes because of Government restrictions.
If you know someone who would like to receive the paper version of this newsletter, please ask them to contact Romsey Mill via phone or via post: Romsey Mill Centre, Hemingford Road, Cambridge CB1 3BZ (you do not need a stamp if you add “FREEPOST CB1067”) or call 07933 671101.
Romsey Mill can also offer assistance by putting you in contact with volunteers, who can help collecting shopping and medication.
If you have information which would be of benefit to other residents in Petersfield please contact Romsey Mill with details and we will consider using it in future newsletters.
For all residents experiencing other Covid related issues (e.g. needing help while they isolate, or experiencing financial hardship support) speak to a member of the customer services team at Cambridge City Council. Telephone 01223 458780 or contact Simon.Aslett@cambridge.gov.uk or complete an online help request form here https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/coronavirus
Latest infection statistics in Cambridge
Public Health England data indicate there were 122 new cases of Covid-19 in Cambridge for the week Dec 4th – Dec 11th. This is a very sharp increase (45%) from the previous week and together with the similar increases in surrounding areas indicates that infections are rising, in this area in a similar way to the rest of the region. Most of Cambridgeshire remains in Tier2 and Peterborough has been moved to Tier4.
Vaccination Roll Out
More than 137,000 people in the UK have received the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in the first week of the largest vaccination programme in British history.
The majority of the vaccines have been administered to the over-80s, care home workers and NHS staff through more than 70 sites across the UK.
GP-led centres started vaccinating patients last week in England and the roll out will expand to care homes soon. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is the first vaccine to be authorised for use by the medicines regulator, Patients require 2 doses of the vaccine – 21 days apart – for the vaccine to be fully effective. 40 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine have been secured for the whole of the UK.
Forming a Christmas Bubble 🎄 🎅
The safest way to celebrate Christmas this year is with your household or existing support bubble in your home. The more people you see, the more likely it is that you will catch or spread coronavirus (COVID-19). One in three people with coronavirus do not show symptoms – this means you can spread coronavirus to others even if you and the people you meet have no symptoms. You and the other people in your Christmas bubble need to consider these risks carefully before agreeing to meet.
Cambridge remains in Tier 2. You may see a maximum of two other households (your ‘Christmas bubble’) on Christmas Day (25 December). You cannot see anyone from a Tier 4 area and people who live in Tier 4 areas cannot form a Christmas bubble. If you are permitted to form a Christmas bubble and choose to do so:
- keep your Christmas bubble as small as possible. Two other households is a maximum, not a target
- stop all unnecessary social contact outside your immediate household as soon as possible and for at least five days before you meet other households in your bubble
- only meet your Christmas bubble in private homes or in your garden, places of worship, or public outdoor spaces
- only see your bubble on Christmas Day. Do not stay overnight and keep your visits as short as possible
- stay local where possible. Avoid travelling to a tier 1 area
- only meet people who are not in your Christmas bubble outside your home according to tier 2 rules and do not meet socially with friends and family that you do not live with in your home or garden unless they are part of your Christmas bubble
When seeing your Christmas bubble, you should keep taking steps to reduce the spread of the virus. This includes meeting outdoors where possible, ensuring indoor spaces get as much fresh air as possible, making space between members of different households wherever you can, washing your hands regularly and for 20 seconds, and following rules on self-isolation if you develop symptoms or test positive for coronavirus.
Please note that the next Newsletter will be published on Jan 4th 2021