COVID Update

COVID community update – 4 November 2021

Dear volunteer coordinators and Parish Councillors

You have hopefully seen the news this week that Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been granted Enhanced Response Area status by the Government for five weeks from 1 November. This is welcomed by local Public Health colleagues and should mean that additional resources are available to support work to accelerate vaccination and testing programmes; to establish some bespoke measures in settings such as schools (face coverings, reduced visits etc.); or to encourage mask-wearing in public places. Although mask-wearing is encouraged, it will not be required by law.

 

This status was requested by local Public Health colleagues, with support from local political leaders, in recognition of the above-average COVID-19 case rates across the region, and the pressures currently facing the NHS locally (with local hospitals all at or very nearly at maximum capacity).

 

The Government is urging local residents to remain cautious and follow the national guidance, including to get vaccinated, wear face coverings in crowded areas such as public transport, meet outdoors where possible and let fresh air into homes or other enclosed spaces. We have received a few requests for any guidance on events due to this news (see item lower in this briefing).