​Stay at home, save lives, save our NHS – help is here

Health and council leaders have urged Bury residents to follow the new lockdown restrictions as coronavirus rates surge across the nation.

They remind people that hope has arrived with two vaccines being rolled out, and urge anyone who needs help to cope with the restrictions to get in touch.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury Council, said: “After a horrendous 2020, the last thing we wanted was to start 2021 like this.

“We’re all suffering from Covid fatigue, but we must all take action to stop the spread of the virus and keep ourselves and our loved ones safe, while protecting our NHS.

“At the council, we are committed to maintaining essential services. No one is alone, and support is available through our Community Hubs to help those struggling, along with financial support for affected businesses.

“And there is good news. We have now opened three vaccination centres locally – in Bury, Prestwich and Radcliffe – and more will open across the borough in the coming weeks. Already more than 3,000 of our vulnerable residents have received their first jab, and this number will rise rapidly to protect many more of our citizens.

“We just need to stick with it for a while longer and, if we follow the rules, a return the normal life will arrive sooner.”

Lesley Jones, Bury’s director of public health, added: “Our infection rates in Bury are high and rising, and the new variant of the virus is much more easily transmitted from one person to another. Local hospitals are under great pressure treating coronavirus patients, some of whom are on ventilators and in intensive care. And we can never forget that more than 300 Bury people have died of this illness.

“Covid is highly contagious, and people without symptoms – one in three of those who have it - can spread it unwittingly. It is vital that we keep on protecting each other by keeping our distance from other people, washing our hands, wearing face coverings and letting fresh air in.

“We’re making good progress on vaccinating our priority groups, and more targeted testing will also make an impact. But this is the biggest vaccination programme in the country’s history, and it will take time for enough people to be vaccinated to give us the protection we need to lower the restrictions.”

A full list of the lockdown rules are at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home

More information, help and advice is on the council’s website at www.bury.gov.uk/coronavirus

ENDS

Press release issued: 6 January 2021.