In the past few weeks, Cumbria has unfortunately seen a sharp rise in Covid-19 infections in younger age groups.
In response to this, the Cumbria County Council and NHS Test and Trace are asking everyone living or working in Cumbria aged between 12 – 30 to take a PCR test at one of the designated Covid-19 testing centres, even if they do not have symptoms.
If you test positive or get contacted by Test and Trace, you should immediately self-isolate.
Why is this happening?
At the end of May, only 35 Covid cases were being reported per week, this has now risen to 250 per week after the new variant has spread across our county.
This rise has caused concern as 150,000 Cumbrians still remain unvaccinated and 85,000 have only received the first dose. Those who have only received one dose have significantly less protection against the new Delta variant.
We know it feels inconvenient to have to get tested, even if you do not have any symptoms, but this is one of the best ways to slow down the spread of the new variant. Cumbria’s Director of Public Health has seconded this,
“I know it’s an inconvenience to do this, but it’s a simple process and as we’ve seen this week with the Prime Minister’s announcement, if we don’t get the virus back under control, we can expect restrictions to remain in place which is something none of us want.”
Overall, we must work together to make sure that we get back to normal life as soon as possible.
Vaccine Updates
If you are aged 18 or over, or you turn 19 before the 1st of July 2021, you can now book an appointment to receive their COVID-19 vaccine.
The Vaccine is also being offered to:
· People at high risk from COVID-19 (clinically extremely vulnerable)
· People who live or work in care homes
· Health and social care workers
· People with a condition that puts them at higher risk (clinically vulnerable)
· People with a learning disability
· People who are a main carer for someone at high risk from COVID-19.
You can book your vaccine appointment online here or by calling 111 free of charge. You do not have to wait for the NHS to contact you directly.
Guidance for young people getting tested is as follows:
For anyone not at school, testing sites can be attended between 8 am and 8 pm from 19 June 2021. The testing centres are operating on a walk-in basis and booking is not required.
Parents/carers will be informed of testing arrangements for school-age children by their child’s school.
If you cannot attend a test site you can get a test kit delivered to your home via https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. Choose the “I have been advised to get a test by local Public Health officials” option.
Test site locations:
Carlisle RTS, Carlisle Lake District Airport, Irvington, Carlisle, CA6 4NW
Carlisle Cecil Street LTS, Cecil Street Car Park, Carlisle, CA1 1NX
Penrith Sandgate Car Park LTS, Penrith Sandgate Car Park, 32 Albert Street, Penrith, CA11 7XA
West Cumbria Allerdale House LTS, Allerdale House Overflow Car Park, Workington, CA14 9SA
Barrow-in-Furness Town Hall LTS, Barrow Town Hall Courtyard, Cornwallis Street, Barrow, LA14 2LG
Copeland Castle Meadows LTS, Castle Meadows Car Park, Whitehaven, CA28 7RG
Kendal County Hall LTS, Kendal County Hall Car Park, Busher Walk, Kendal, LA9 4RQ
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