COVID-19

Coronavirus is an illness that affects people’s breathing and lungs. It can be spread from person to person by coughing or by touching surfaces or areas of skin that have been contaminated by the virus.

Covid-19 is also a virus that first started in Wuhan, China during the latter stages of 2019. This became progressively worse as the impact of this highly infectious disease spread around the world killing thousands of people and destabilising the world’s economies. To date it has  claimed over 900,000 deaths globally including 40,000+ in the U.K. What is coronavirus, how did it start and how big could it get? COVID-19 pandemic.

In Knowsley, despite some fluctuation of lockdown rules, residents are advised to continue to stay and work from home wherever possible, particularly those who are most vulnerable. You can continue to go to school, youth clubs, sports clubs as normal, as you will be protected in bubbles. You can also form a support bubble with another household. A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household on an exclusive basis. You can visit each other, stay overnight and visit public places together.

Find out more about this here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/north-west-england-local-restrictions

During the local lockdown, there are also curfews (restricted opening times) on hospitality businesses like pubs, restaurants and cinemas. These businesses must close from 10pm to 5am. You can still visit these places but you should follow the social distance measures (see what should we do?)

• Maintain 2 metres apart or 1 metre when wearing a mask and taking extra precautions.
• Follow good hand washing practice - check out this video from the World Health Organisation for tips on effective handwashing. WHO: How to handwash? Withsoap and water
• Wear your mask when outside of your home. You will need this on all public transport and all shops, restaurants and cinemas.
• Get tested - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/

This is because our infection and death rates are higher than in other parts of the
country, this is measured by the R rate - and across Merseyside, collectively ours is
above 1. You can find out more about the infection rate in your area by downloading the
NHS Covid-19 app here: NHS COVID-19.

There are lots of things you can do to protect yourself and your friends and family.

• Staying at home will help to stop the spread of the virus
• If you are self-isolating and need support, all local authority areas have volunteer helpline, in Knowsley this is; https://www.knowsley.gov.uk/community-hub