Covid: Advice for residents as concerns rise over Omicron variant

With concerns over the transmissibility the latest variant of coronavirus, Omicron, face coverings became a legal requirement in all shops and public transport yesterday (November 30).

22 cases of the variant have been confirmed in the UK, with the closest case to St Helens being recorded in Liverpool, yet Boris Johnson confirmed the measures are "temporary and precautionary" to keep on top of the virus.

In the run up to Christmas, key shopping areas in the borough are expected to become substantially busier over the next three weeks - with the risk of either passing on or contracting the virus likely to increase.

With this in mind, St Helens Borough Council are asking residents who are out shopping or visiting crowded areas to follow the new measures and think of others, including shop staff and other employees.

In order to protect both yourself and others, people are also encouraged to test themselves before setting off to visit shops and other indoor areas, and follow guidance from the start of the pandemic such as socially distancing where possible and washing hands regularly.

To assist shoppers during busy periods, teams from the council will be out as part of two 'Safer Shopping Weeks' from December 6 onwards, handing out face masks and free hand sanitiser gels to residents in both the town centre and Earlestown.

As part of the #Shopkind initiative, the Council and the Safer St Helens Partnership will also be distributing additional items such as free purse bells, card defenders, purse chains to festive shoppers.

The new measures are said to be "temporary and precautionary" in order to prevent the spread of the new variant

St Helens continues to have one of the highest rates of new infections in the Liverpool City Region, with the latest infection rates in the seven days to the November 27 at 393 cases per 100,000, and 711 new positive tests confirmed. There are currently 44 people in our local hospital with Covid-19.

With concerns over Omicron - with one recorded case in Liverpool at present - residents are also being asked to take the opportunity to get their booster vaccination as soon as it is available to them, with younger people advised to get their first or second jab.

Ruth du Plessis, Director of Public Health at St Helens Borough Council, said: “The large number of cases we have had across the borough in recent weeks demonstrates that the virus is still very much with us and why we must all now take extra care particularly during the busy run up to the Christmas period.

“If you are heading into the main shopping areas please take the time to test before you set off and follow the new regulations when you are out. Many of the recent positive cases identified have involved people with no outward symptoms of the virus at all, so even if you feel well you may easily pass the virus onto others.

“We would ask people to be particularly careful if you are waiting in queues as it is especially easy for the virus to transmit quickly when people are in close proximity to each other. Take the opportunity to put that extra metre of space between yourselves and others if you can.”