With the North East being named as an Enhanced Response Area by the government following a steep rise in Covid cases in the region, it’s essential we all play our part to reduce cases, say Northumberland Labour.

As an Enhanced Response Area, the region will see additional support and pop up vaccination centres in areas of Northumberland where take up has been lower. There will also be increased communication to remind people about the precautions they can take to stay safe.

Leader Scott Dickinson said: “I know we’re all weary from the restricting effects of this virus but it’s not going away and we haven’t seen the impact of the lifting of restrictions on 19 July yet. As frustrating as it is, the slower we go back to our pre-pandemic ways the less impact this wave will have and the safer we will be.”

People can help to reduce the impact of the wave by:

• getting vaccinated
• testing yourself regularly using Lateral Flow Tests (LFT) even if you don’t have symptoms and even if you have had one or two doses of the vaccine
• self-isolating if the LFT is positive (financial support may be available to help you do this)
• staying at home if you are unwell to reduce the risk of passing on other illnesses onto friends, family, colleagues, and others in your community
• meeting in well-ventilated areas where possible, such as outdoors or indoors with windows open

He added: ““No one wants to go back to lockdowns and tighter restrictions but this may happen if we don’t all make a conscious effort to slow down the return to life pre-pandemic.”