COVID-19 in Lewisham - 18 December update

A critical moment

COVID-19 is spreading rapidly across London and the rate of infection is doubling every week. In Lewisham, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has increased significantly since last week. Sadly, we’re also seeing more people falling seriously ill and going to hospital.

Tier 3 restrictions will remain in place and for everyone’s sake, it is important we take individual responsibility and follow these rules. We really are at a critical moment, as more people will be admitted to hospital at a time of year when services are already in high demand.

We’re just a week away from Christmas and many of us will need to make difficult decisions about what is the right thing to do to protect our friends and families, sacrificing our usual festive activities to keep those around us safe. Please see my video for some information on how we can all stay safe over the Christmas period.

There are also 10 important points that I would encourage you all to read and consider ahead of your Christmas celebrations this year.

Ten principles for reducing household transmission during social interactions

1. Consider whether in-person interactions are essential and cannot be postponed or replaced by safer forms of interaction.
2. Consider replacing indoor events with outdoor activities, or using community spaces to host events.
3. Recognise that most transmission occurs due to prolonged, close interaction with familiar people in a home environment.
4. Take special care to protect people who are particularly vulnerable to serious consequences from infection.
5. Ensure people who are emotionally vulnerable have social support.
6. People who have to self-isolate or quarantine should not have any in-person social interactions.
7. Limit interaction to the same small group of people as much as possible.
8. Limit the duration of time spent together, especially if meeting indoors.
9. Manage the home environment and how people interact together.
10. Negotiate and communicate with family, friends, and other visitors to create a safe meeting plan where responsibilities are appropriately shared.

Around 1 in 3 have COVID-19 without symptoms, meaning many are putting their friends and families at risk without realising. The more we move around and mix with others, the greater the risk of spreading the virus. To protect ourselves, our loved ones and the most vulnerable in our community, we must take extra care.

• If you feel unwell or have symptoms, the most important thing you can do is to get a test. Go to nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119.
• Stay at home (self-isolate) if you have symptoms or you’re asked to do so – don’t be responsible for spreading the virus and risking lives.
• Keep up those everyday actions that make such a difference – wear a face covering, wash your hands and keep a safe 2m distance.
• Before you travel, ask ‘is this journey really essential?’ – essential travel includes medical appointments, to work if you can’t do so from home and to provide childcare or support for a friend or family member in your bubble.

Getting a test has never been so quick and easy in Lewisham. Alongside testing sites in Catford and Deptford, a new Local Testing Unit is now open seven days a week at Molesworth Car Park (Molesworth St, London SE13 7DS) from 8am to 8pm every day.

Hundreds of over 80s receive the vaccination in Lewisham

This week, hundreds of Lewisham residents aged over 80 received their first of two COVID-19 vaccinations. On the first day alone, one of the GP surgeries had carried out 415 vaccinations. I want to say thank you to Lewisham colleagues in NHS South East London CCG who have worked incredibly hard to make this possible so quickly.

Martin Wilkinson, Director of Integrated Care and Commissioning, Lewisham at South East London CCG with the local doctor and team delivering the first vaccinations

More people will be invited to be vaccinated in the coming days but for most of us, it will be some months before we are contacted by the NHS and asked to go and get a jab, so please be patient.

The vaccine is such an important breakthrough and it will save lives. It has met strict safety and quality standards, and each day as more people are vaccinated in Lewisham, we reduce the risk the virus poses to ourselves, our loved ones and the most vulnerable in our community.

Our COVID-19 Community Champions are working hard to share up to date information on the vaccination to encourage all those who will be invited, to come forward with confidence. Find out more about the vaccination roll out across South East London.

Community testing

In early January, Lewisham will introduce community testing, inviting everyone to get a COVID-19 test whether or not you have symptoms. There’s already plenty of tests available in Lewisham if you have symptoms, but this will increase capacity even further as infection rates continue to rise.

These rapid tests identify all those healthy people who may be infected but not yet displaying symptoms and provides much-needed local intelligence into how the virus may be spreading within our community. Our Public Health team will use this to introduce even more targeted measures to better protect everyone in the borough.

A fully trained team will deliver these rapid tests to residents in the Civic Suite, Catford. These are fast, reliable tests that will deliver same-day results. Initially it is likely priority will be given to close contacts of those who have tested positive and are contacted by the Lewisham-based NHS Test and Trace team, as well as workforces who are considered more at risk.

This follows successful pilots at a Lewisham secondary school over the last few months and special educational needs in Lewisham this week. Over 94% of those who responded to our survey indicated that they would take a rapid test. We’ve responded to some of the questions that were asked in these FAQs where you can find out the facts about testing.