NHS test and trace programme
The Office for National Statistics estimates that, on average, one in every 1,111 people in England was infected with coronavirus between 8 and 21 June 2020. This is an increase from one in 1,700 over the previous fortnight. This shows that just in a couple weeks, since lockdown measures started to be lifted, more people became infected with coronavirus.
What does this mean?
Well, the level of coronavirus in circulation is still very low and your individual risk of encountering someone who is infected while you’re out and about is low. But you must continue to take precautions, because you have no way of knowing whether someone is infected or not.
So, while you can meet with friends or family, or go to the shops, remember the three Ws:
- Wash your hands often for 20 seconds (or use hand sanitiser)
- Wear a mask on public transport (and indoors in crowded places - including shops)
- Watch your distance and keep 2m apart, if you can, and if there’s not room for 2m, stay at least 1m apart plus extra measures, such as sitting side by side, instead of face to face.
Also, remember that coronavirus can infect anyone, and some people don’t have any symptoms. So, to protect vulnerable members of your family and community, you need to keep yourself safe from the virus by following these steps:
- If you have any symptoms of coronavirus – cough, fever or loss of taste or smell – isolate yourself for seven days at home and book a test by calling 119 or going to nhs.uk/coronavirus.
- If you have tested positive for coronavirus you will be asked by the NHS to let your recent contacts know they may be at risk. This includes your family or other people you live with, as well as people you have been in direct contact with, or within 2 metres of, for more than 15 minutes.
- Testing and tracing is key to combating the spread of coronavirus. If you’re told you’ve been in contact with a person who has coronavirus you will need to self-isolate (stay at home) for 14 days from the day you were last in contact with the person.
It’s important to follow this advice, to break the chain of infection.
