If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolate immediately and get a PCR test, even if your symptoms are mild. You should self-isolate at home while you book the test and wait for the results. You must self-isolate if you test positive. Your isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you do not have symptoms), and the next 10 full days. This is the law.
COVID-19 Local Testing Sites are available to anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19, including a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss or change in your sense of smell or taste.
A range of other options are available for other groups of people without symptoms. Everyone is eligible for free – at home lateral home tests which are vital for discovering Covid positive cases in people who do not know they have the disease. It is estimated that 1 in 3 people do not show coronavirus symptoms so being tested twice weekly will help stop the spread of the virus.
All adults in England have now been offered at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccines are safe and effective. Getting fully vaccinated is the best way of protecting you and others against COVID-19.
If you have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine, you should get vaccinated. Evidence indicates that two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine provide very effective protection against hospitalisation. It usually takes around two to three weeks for your body to develop its protective response.
However, even if you have been fully vaccinated, you could still get COVID-19 and pass it on to others. Whilst the vaccines provide a high level of protection against severe disease, hospitalisation and death, a recent PHE report shows that around one in five people who have had both doses are still vulnerable to getting infected with the Delta variant and showing symptoms. You can also still spread COVID-19 to others. We all need to do what we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to protect others and to reduce the risk of new variants developing and spreading.
Following the advice in this guidance will help you to protect your friends, family, and communities, including those who have been vaccinated.
A coronavirus (COVID-19) booster vaccine dose helps improve the protection you have from your first two doses of the vaccine. It helps give you longer-term protection against getting seriously ill from COVID-19. Find out more including who is eligible on the NHS website.
Local GPs across the Humber, Coast and Vale areas have filmed an important message in multiple languages to encourage vaccine confidence and dispel vaccine myths and misinformation. The videos are available in several languages on YouTube and more languages will be added shortly.
There are a number of walk-in events taking place in North Lincolnshire where you can go to get your vaccinations. This can be your first dose, second dose or booster vaccination. Read more about eligibility for booster vaccinations on the NHS website. At these events you will also be able to get help and advice about self-testing and also pick up free self-test kits. There is also a range of other options available for you to get free self-test kits, find out more in the Coronavirus testing in North Lincolnshire section above.
It is estimated that 1 in 3 people do not show coronavirus symptoms so being tested twice weekly will help stop the spread of the virus.
You can find the dates of these sessions below:
2.30pm to 7pm – The Ironstone Centre, West Street, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 6HX
2pm to 7pm – The Ironstone Centre, West Street, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 6HX
3pm to 7pm – The Ironstone Centre, West Street, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 6HX
2pm to 7pm – The Ironstone Centre, West Street, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 6HX
8.30am to 7pm – The Ironstone Centre, West Street, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 6HX
To view Covid-19 data for North Lincolnshire visit the Local Covid-19 data page.
From 30 November people must wear a face covering in shops and on public transport unless exempt. For a list of where this applies see below:
Shops and supermarkets (places which offer goods or services for retail sale or hire, this includes shops in larger premises such as a gift shop within a museum) – shopping centres (malls and indoor markets) – auction houses – post offices, banks, building societies, high-street solicitors and accountants, credit unions, short-term loan providers, savings clubs, etc – estate and lettings agents – premises providing personal care and beauty treatments (such as hair salons, barbers, nail salons, massage centres, tattoo and piercing studios) – premises providing veterinary services – retail galleries – retail travel agents – takeaways (without space for consumption of food or drink on premises as shops), aside from when eating and drinking; – pharmacies; – public transport (aeroplanes, trains, trams and buses) – taxis and private hire vehicles – transport hubs (airports, rail and tram stations and terminals, maritime ports and terminals, bus and coach stations and terminals.
All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status. These people will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and told to isolate.
Anyone, other than those listed in the criteria groups below, who have been identified as a close contact of a positive case that is not suspected of being Omicron, do not have to self-isolate, providing they have been fully vaccinated and are not displaying any COVID-19 symptoms.
All close contacts, regardless of vaccination status, are advised to take a PCR test as soon as possible to confirm their condition.
Those who are fully vaccinated will only be required to self-isolate if they test positive for COVID-19 following a PCR test.
Anyone under the age of 18 who has been identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case will also no longer be required to self-isolate. Instead, they will be given advice about whether to get tested and depending on their age will need to self-isolate only if they have tested positive.
It is still possible to catch and spread COVID-19, even if you are fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 will be a feature of our lives for the foreseeable future, so we need to learn to live with it and manage the risk to ourselves and others.
It is important that we all use personal judgement to manage our own risk. All of us can play our part by exercising common sense and considering the risks.
If you are visiting vulnerable people, or planning on mixing with people indoors, then consider taking a free lateral flow test to ensure you are not spreading the virus.
To find out what this means see the Coronavirus guidance on Gov.UK
The council is working with communities, voluntary groups and volunteers across the area to enable essential support for people who are self-isolating or who live alone and do not have family, friends or neighbours for assistance.
If you are struggling financially, it is sometimes hard to know where to turn. We are here to help.
Support and guidance for businesses and employers. Includes support for businesses that can demonstrate the impact of Covid is still critically affecting the viability of their business.
There are lots of ways you can get involved to help people in your own community.