COVID-19 in Lewisham 24 February 2022 update

This week, the Government announced its Living with COVID-19 Plan, aimed at removing the remaining legal restrictions while protecting people most vulnerable to COVID-19 and maintaining resilience.

The most widely publicised of these changes came into force today. It is the removal of the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test. However, adults and children who test positive are still advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least 5 full days, and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received 2 negative test results on consecutive days, which I would very much encourage

You can find full details of the Government’s Living with COVID-19 Plan on the GOV.UK website.

COVID-19 remains a risk

Though a number of restrictions will be changing over the coming weeks, it is important to remember that people are still catching and spreading COVID-19. You can see on our website that case rates in the borough are still relatively high and many people are still unvaccinated.

Getting fully vaccinated remains the most effective way to protect ourselves and our loved ones from serious illness. We also need to do what we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to protect the most vulnerable people in our community, and to reduce the risk of new variants developing and spreading.

There are still a number of vaccination centres across the borough, which provide a range of settings to get your vaccine. Please strongly consider completing the course of COVID-19 vaccination that you are eligible for if you have not already. As I’ve mentioned before, it really is never too late to get your first, second or booster dose of vaccination. You can find the locations and opening times of local vaccination clinics on the NHS website.

To support you with getting your vaccination, we have a free transport offer available for Lewisham residents who would otherwise have difficulty getting to their local COVID-19 vaccination centre. If you - or anyone you know - would benefit from this service, which is being provided by Voluntary Services Lewisham, please phone, text or WhatsApp 07857 558 388.

If you have questions about the vaccine, you can book a free, impartial and confidential conversation with a local pharmacist in one of over 200 languages. Book online or by calling 07828 499044.

Rapid lateral flow tests

The number of people coming to get tested for COVID-19 – or to collect rapid test kits – at the Civic Suite in Catford has fallen to very low levels. We have therefore decided to close this facility. Its last day as a rapid test site and collection point is Monday 28 February. There will continue to be a good number of places in the borough where you can collect rapid test kits or have an assisted rapid test. You can find more information on the ‘Rapid Lateral Flow Testing for COVID-19’ page on our website.

Please be aware that the Government’s Living with COVID-19 Plan includes ending free testing for the general public on 31 March. Some free testing will be available from 1 April for social care staff and a small number of at-risk groups, but the Government is yet to publish information on which at-risk groups will be eligible. We will keep you updated on who will be included in the eligible groups when we receive clarification.

Safer behaviours

It is important to remember there is still much we can all do to keep ourselves, our friends and family, and the wider community as safe as possible.

We can still reduce the risk of catching and passing on COVID-19 by:

• Getting vaccinated;
• Letting fresh air in if meeting indoors, or meeting outside;
• Wearing a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, especially where we are likely to come into contact with people you do not usually meet;
• Trying to stay at home if we are unwell;
• Taking a test if we have COVID-19 symptoms, and staying at home and avoiding contact with other people if we test positive; and
• Washing our hands and following advice to ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’.

Thank you again for all that you have done and continue to do to keep Lewisham safe.