81,846 people in the borough have now had a second Covid-19 vaccination

Date published: 04 June 2021

More than 81,846 people in the Rochdale borough have now received their second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and over 127,000 people in the borough have also received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

In his weekly update, chief executive of Rochdale Council, Steve Rumbelow informed councillors that there has been a significant increase in the infection rate (to 91 cases per 100,000 people) and a high proportion of local cases are of the Indian variant.

 

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Progress of local vaccination programme

In his weekly update, chief executive of Rochdale Council, Steve Rumbelow informed councillors that there has been a 78% increase on the local infection rate, “which seems to mirror Bolton’s early trajectory.”

He continued: “Around 80 per cent of these cases are thought to have the ‘s’ gene associated with the Indian variant (which is also referred to as the delta variant).

“The rate is particularly high among the Asian/Asian British and Black/Black British population.

“On a more positive note, there have been no covid deaths in our borough for the third week in a row.”

The surge vaccine clinics recently held [on 22 & 23 May] were highly successful, with 7,851 vaccines administered, including first and second doses, across a range of age and priority groups. Residents who received their first vaccine will be able to attend second dose clinics which will be delivered across the borough on 17 and 18 July.
 

Read more: Huge response to extra vaccination clinics as thousands more get their first covid jabsPublished: 24 May 2021

The chief executive continued: “Although we don’t currently have enough vaccines in stock to do any additional surge clinics at this moment in time, we are pressing for increased supplies to allow us to do more in the future.

“We also have a number of individual pop up vaccine clinics which are taking place around the borough and which are being promoted across our social media channels.

“Our testing programme continues to be a big success, with 1,758 tests carried out in the last seven days, second only to Bolton.

“Overall, we have the second highest testing rate in Greater Manchester, just behind Oldham, with 106,890 tests carried out in our borough overall.

“We are encouraging parents to continue to test their children during half term, given the high infection rates in the 10-19 age group.”

Regarding the infection rate in schools, Mr Rumbelow said: “Last week the term finished with a clear rise in cases, with 51 positive children and 19 staff testing positive. Although this figure doesn’t seem particularly high, we did see this causing issues with some schools experiencing large bubble closures. We took the decision to close our biggest primary school, Bowlee Park, for half term a day early, as a result of an outbreak there.

“Through half term, we have been pushing the importance of keeping up testing for school age children and their families. It’s vital that we keep doing this, as we need to identify new cases and get affected people isolating to ensure we can keep as many children as possible in school and stop transmission.

“We have seen cases in schools due to families returning from other countries and mixing with others. We continue to push the key messages to parents/carers.

“We are looking at some targeted secondary school testing when young people return to their classrooms from Monday, particularly in wards with the highest infection rates.”

Aldi vouchers have been issued to families which receive free school meals to support them through half term week.
 

Read more: Free school meal vouchers going out to families for half termPublished: 03 June 2021

Furthermore, the council has now paid out £7.3m in restart grants to 1,044 businesses.

With the deadline for applications set by government at 30 June, the revenues and benefits team are writing to any eligible businesses which haven’t applied yet to encourage them to get in touch.

 

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Case numbers in the borough have risen in the past seven days. The rate for the Rochdale borough for the week ending 28 May is 91 cases per 100,000 people, up from 47 cases per 100,000 the week before.

 

 

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Residents aged 30 and over are now being invited for a jab by the NHS Covid vaccination programme - appointments can be booked through the NHS booking service.

Residents in the Rochdale borough in groups one to nine, which includes everyone aged 50 and over, who have not yet had their first dose of a vaccine can phone or email to book.

Residents aged 50 or over, those who have been advised to shield by the government (the clinically extremely vulnerable), people over 16 with long term conditions, carers and health and social care workers who are registered with a GP in the borough (Heywood, Littleborough, Middleton, Milnrow and Rochdale), can book an appointment at one of the four vaccination centres in the borough by calling 0300 303 0355 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm) or emailing hmrccg.hmr.enquiries@nhs.net.

 

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Lifting lockdown

The latest stage of relaxing lockdown restrictions came into effect on Monday 17 May. An announcement on whether restrictions will be lifted further is due to be made later this month.

Six people or two households are now permitted to meet indoors. Pubs and restaurants have reopened indoors as well as cinemas, children's activity centres, hotels, theatres and sports stadiums.

Organised indoor sport and fitness classes are able to take place for all.

All holiday accommodation can open (including hotels and B&Bs). This can be used by groups of up to 6 or 2 households.

The number of people permitted at funerals is no longer be limited to 30 people, but determined by how many people the Covid-secure venue can safely accommodate with social distancing. Limits at weddings, wakes and other commemorative events are also increased to 30 people.

The number of visitors permitted to visit care home residents has increased to five per resident (two at any one time), provided visitors test negative for Covid-19.
 

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Where to be vaccinated?

The borough has four community vaccination centres in operation; in Rochdale, Heywood, Middleton and Littleborough. These local sites are run by groups of GPs with the support of the council and NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group. Vaccinations are also being administered at Rochdale Infirmary.

There are also 11 large scale vaccination centres and 38 pharmacy led sites across the North West that residents can book through the national booking service online or over the phone.

The national booking system can not be used to book in at any of the local vaccination hubs within the borough. If it is not convenient for you to travel out of the borough for a vaccination, you can opt to wait to be invited to attend one of the local vaccination centres in the Rochdale borough instead.

When it is your turn to receive the vaccine, you will be contacted by Rochdale Health Alliance or your GP surgery and invited to go for your appointment. If you’re not registered with a GP, you will need to register with one.

You must have an appointment to receive the vaccine. You cannot just turn up at one of the vaccination service centres.

Answers to key questions around the vaccination process can be found at:

• www.rochdale.gov.uk/covidvaccine

 

 

The local FAST test programme has four test sites across the borough.

Anyone who cannot work from home or comes into regular contact with the public is encouraged to take up this offer of new Find And Stop Transmission (FAST) testing to protect themselves, their loved ones, and other residents.

The FAST testing programme, which use lateral flow tests, aims to identify those who unknowingly have the virus as they have no symptoms – otherwise known as asymptomatic.

As part of the national roadmap out of restrictions, the government is asking the public to take-up twice weekly FAST testing. This is quick and easy to do and you will be playing your part in helping to stop the spread of the virus, while teams work on the vaccine rollout.

You can take part at your local FAST testing site or through community collect packs.
 

Read more: Covid-19 testing packs available across the boroughPublished: 21 April 2021

FAST tests are only for people showing no symptoms. You must not attend if you have any symptoms. Tests are
free and there is no need to book you can simply turn up at one of the sites across the borough:

Rochdale – Nye Bevan House, Maclure Road, Rochdale, OL11 1DN

• Mon to Thurs 9am - 5pm
• Fri 10am - 6pm
• Sat, Sun & bank holidays 9am - 1pm

Heywood – York House Surgery, York Street, Heywood, OL10 4NN

• Mon 10am - 6pm
• Tues to Fri 9am - 5pm
• Sat, Sun & bank holidays 9am - 1pm

Middleton – Bowlee Sports Centre, Windermere Road, Middleton, M24 4LA

• Mon to Fri 8am - 4pm
• Sat, Sun & bank holidays 9am - 1pm

Littleborough – Hare Hill Bowling Club, Townhouse Road Littleborough, OL15 9BG

• Mon to Fri 8am - 4pm
• Sat, Sun & bank holidays 9am - 1pm

Every Monday (except Easter Monday) at Alkrington Community Centre, Hardfield Rd, Middleton, M24 1TQ – Open 11am to 6pm.

If you have Covid-19 symptoms please do not attend one of the FAST test sites. You should book a test online or by phoning 101.

 

 

The borough has three local test centres:

• Rochdale - in the car park at Rochdale Leisure Centre, Entwisle Road, Rochdale OL16 2HZ
• Middleton - in the marquee on the Market Place Car Park next to Middleton Arena, Old Hall Street, Middleton M24 1AG
• Heywood - Heywood Civic Centre, LCpl Stephen Shaw MC Way, Heywood OL10 1LW

You must drive, walk or cycle to the site - do not use a taxi or public transport. If this is not possible, you'll need to order yourself a home test.

• www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test