The number of positive COVID cases across the city is rising and Plymouth’s Director of Public Health is urging people to stay vigilant and continue to act sensibly, especially when further COVID-19 restrictions are lifted on 17 May.
In recent weeks the number of people testing positive for the virus in Plymouth has increased and numbers are currently above the national average, making it really important that everyone continues to follow the rules.
From the 17 May, the majority of the indoor and remaining outdoor businesses can reopen, and the numbers of people allowed to meet up will increase to six people or two households indoors and up to 30 people outdoors. Guidance for close contact between friends and family is changing, with people allowed to exercise their own personal judgement on close contact such as hugging. The Stay in the UK restriction will also be lifted and people will be able to travel to green list countries, if they permit inbound travel.
Ruth Harrell, Director of Public Health for Plymouth City Council, said: “Over the last few months, we have been able to reduce the virus down to much lower levels, rates of people in hospital have dropped and of course many people have now been vaccinated.
“The number of positive cases across Plymouth has increased in recent weeks which is a reminder that it can still spread easily. While some people have mild or even no symptoms, others can be significantly impacted by this disease and its longer term effects. We need to balance the opening up of the economy with protecting ourselves and each other from this disease.
“This is why we are asking people to follow the rules, keep social distancing, continue to wash our hands and wear face coverings where required.
“As people are out and about more, it becomes even more important that everyone remembers to take a test twice a week – there are a number of testing sites across Plymouth and people can also pick up free testing kits from libraries and local pharmacies or order them online so they can regularly test themselves at home.”
The Council is currently running a mobile testing site that visits busy parts of the city to hand out free COVID-19 testing kits. The mobile testing site can be found between 10am to 3pm at:
Monday: Torridge Way, Efford
Tuesday: Kings Tamerton Community Centre car park, St Budeaux
Thursday: Crownhill Village car park, Crownhill
Friday: Mudge Way North car park, Plympton
Sunday: on Hoe Promenade (on the path near Smeaton’s Tower)
The mobile locations are in addition to the Place de Brest site in the city centre, which is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm, offering assisted testing and handing out home testing kits. Each box contains seven individual tests and should last one person three and a half weeks, when testing twice a week.
All of the city’s libraries and pharmacies also now stock the testing kits and you can also order them online or by calling 119. For more information visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/gettested
A summary of the changes to COVID restrictions due to happen on 17 May can be found on the national Government website.