'Covid-safe behaviour is not just about following the rules, it is a mark of respect for each other'

The crocuses have come up, the snowdrops are in bloom and this week I’m pleased to say I have good reason for cautious optimism in our fight against the coronavirus.

Lockdown is still working, the vaccine is offering many of us a new sense of hope and the latest data shows fewer residents are testing positive in all districts and boroughs across Northamptonshire. I’m confident that if we all keep abiding by the rules to protect ourselves and others, then the numbers will keep falling and we will be in a position to work towards getting back to everyday life as it was before.

You will have heard in the local, regional or even national news however that whilst Northamptonshire’s COVID-19 cases continue to fall slowly, they do still remain at an extremely high level, with Corby’s positivity rate and case rate amongst the highest in the country. This isn’t where I want us to be but the good news is that we are still continuing to make progress in Corby, it is just much slower than other areas of the county. I’m afraid there are still people who are not adhering to the rules and this is something we are trying to unpick. The evidence shows that despite being against the law, there are still many cases of mixing between households and the police are issuing fixed penalty notices to these individuals. I genuinely understand that everyone is fed up at the moment, but this behaviour will just potentially prolong the misery of lockdown for us all. The Government will be publishing a route out of lockdown on February 22nd and we don’t want any district or boroughs left behind! So let’s keep positive and keep working together, sticking to the hands, face, space best practice.

To make further progress we need to use all the services we have in place. We must get tested and get vaccinated. If you’ve got COVID-19 symptoms, get tested as soon as possible to find out if you are positive. If you have a high temperature, continuous cough or loss of or change in sense of smell or taste, you should immediately self-isolate and book a test. Tests can be booked on the Test and Trace app, online at nhs.uk/coronavirus, or by calling 119. If you are not showing symptoms but must work with others, please get the rapid test to find out if you are infectious and isolate if positive.

The age group with the most positive tests in this week’s data again was 30 to 39 year olds for both men and women. This is typically the working population. If you must go out to work and will be around others, you must be certain you are not one of the 80 per cent of people who have the virus without symptoms and who are unknowingly spreading it around and potentially putting others at risk. Book a rapid test (Lateral Flow Test) here https://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/coronavirus-updates/Pages/covid-19-community-based-testing.aspx . It is vital however to understand that the test only tells you if you are infectious - it does not tell you if you are COVID-free, so you must ensure you exercise all COVID-secure measures even if you get a negative result. You must continue to follow COVID guidelines and remember to wash your hands, wear a face covering indoors and maintain 2m distance from others.

When it comes to getting vaccinated, the more people who are vaccinated, the safer we will all be. If you are aged 70 and over and haven’t had your first dose yet, please come forward now and make an appointment at nhs.uk/covidvaccination, or by phoning 119 if you can’t use the internet. The NHS will also be following up directly with the remaining people in this group by phone and letter, particularly those on the Shielded Patients List – if that is you and you haven’t been written to, you can also contact your GP.

COVID may be a new disease but it is one we will have to live with and manage for many years to come. We have done so well in getting to a position where we have vaccines but there is still a lot to learn and I will keep you posted as more research is completed on all of the strains and new vaccines hitting the headlines at the moment. Even with vaccinations being rolled out, we must all remain vigilant and abide by the rules.

I believe that COVID-safe behaviour has already become a mark of respect, not just for the NHS, but for each other. I’m sure I’m not alone in having received some very warm smiles from the eyes behind the masks of fellow residents when I have stopped to let them pass, giving them enough space to feel safe.

It’s not just about following the guidelines, it’s courteous and it’s caring. If we continue to wash and sanitise our hands, wear a face covering and give each other the safe space between us; if we get tested and get vaccinated, we can maintain this downward trend and hopefully see our recovery pick up pace. We now know that there is not going to be one big bang end to this pandemic, it is going to be incremental and gradual. By working together, we can get to where we all want to be much faster and get on with the very important business of enjoying the rest of our lives.