A message from Trish Mannes, Regional Lead for UKHSA South East

Where are we now?

Rates are high and we know that a growing proportion of these are the more transmissible Omicron variant. Cases are doubling around every two days and we may see a million cases in the UK by the new year.

We are working to understand the severity of this variant, however, it is likely to hugely impact communities, businesses, and the already over-burdened NHS due to the shear number of new cases and the proportion of people needing to isolate.

How can we all help?

There’s a lot of ongoing debate around the latest COVID-19 measures and the current situation. We are all now familiar with what we can do to help reduce the risk for ourselves, our friends and family, and so once again it is necessary to be mindful of how and where we are meeting people. We should meet outside or in well-ventilated spaces and if not, take a lateral flow test before going to busy places or events or when seeing those who may be more vulnerable.

Demand for ordering tests online has been high this week but are still widely available at pharmacies to collect in person. Please do be patient and keep trying. Have a look at home too, in case you have any left over from the past few months.

We know that facemasks, handwashing, and social distancing are effective. A gargantuan effort is being made by colleagues in the NHS to offer all adults a COVID-19 booster, and I would urge you to book or visit a drop in centre as soon as you can, for maximum protection in the coming weeks.

What about Christmas?

With the festive season in full swing, it’s understandable that people want to enjoy themselves, however, sadly COVID-19 doesn’t take a holiday. We can lead by example with our families and communities by taking steps to reduce the risk of transmission, advocate for the booster programme and enjoy the festive break safely.

For the latest guidance and information: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus