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.
Latest infection statistics in Cambridge
After a recent, very sharp decline in infection rates in Cambridge, the decrease in the number of cases is beginning to level off. Public Health England data indicates there were 86 new cases of Covid-19 in Cambridge, for the week Feb 18th to 24th. This is a 3% reduction from the previous week in Cambridge. However, there is more positive news as there have been no deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test in Cambridge in the same period. There were 4 new cases in Petersfield in the week up to Feb 19th.
Roadmap out of lockdown
From 8 March, people in England will see restrictions start to lift and the government’s four-step roadmap offer a route back to a more normal life.
In Step 1, the priority is to ensure that all children and students return safely to face-to-face education in schools and colleges.. Twice-weekly rapid testing for secondary and college pupils – in addition to regular testing for all teachers – will be introduced.
Students at English universities on practical courses can also return from 8 March.
People will be allowed to leave home for recreation and exercise outdoors with their household or support bubble or with one person from outside their household. Care home residents will also be allowed one regular visitor.
From 29 March, outdoor gatherings (including in private gardens) of either 6 people (the Rule of 6) or 2 households will also be allowed, making it easier for friends and families to meet outside.
Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and open-air swimming pools, will also be allowed to reopen, and people will be able to take part in formally organised outdoor sports.The ‘stay at home’ rule will end on 29 March but many restrictions will remain in place. People should continue to work from home where they can and minimise the number of journeys they make where possible, avoiding travel at the busiest times and routes. Travel abroad will continue to be prohibited, other than for a small number of permitted reasons. Holidays abroad will not be allowed.
COVID-19 national vaccination programme
This is the biggest vaccination programme the NHS has ever undertaken.
The NHS is well-used to delivering millions of vaccines a year, and is moving quickly to roll out this vaccine to those who need it.
The large increase in cases seen in hospitals, and the emergence of a new variant of the virus shows that we cannot let our guard down now.
NHS staff are doing an incredible job to deliver the vaccination programme, at the same time as continuing to be there for everyone who needs care.
You have an important part to play to help them do this:
- unless you are aged 64 or over, eligible for Carer’s Allowance, or Clinically Extremely Vulnerable, please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, we will contact you when it is the right time;
- when we do contact you, please attend your booked appointments at exactly the time you’re asked to, so that we can avoid queues in the cold weather;
- and whether you have had your vaccine or not, please continue to follow all the guidance in place to control the virus and save lives.