In the seven days up to 14 August the number of confirmed new Covid-19 cases in Brighton & Hove fell slightly by 4% to 1309. That's a rate per hundred thousand of the population of 471 which is higher than the England rate of 308.2 and the South East rate of 284.3 per hundred thousand.
Nicola Rosenberg, Public Health Consultant with Brighton & Hove City Council explains why the new guidance on self-isolating that came into effect on Monday 16 August underlines the importance of getting vaccinated.
She said:
“The new Covid guidance on self-isolating is a big step forward in keeping businesses operating and allowing life to start to return to a new normal.
“In essence, everyone who has had both Covid-19 vaccination doses will no longer need to self-isolate if they’ve been identified as a contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. They will need to book a PCR test to check they haven’t caught the virus. It is possible to pass the Covid-19 Delta variant onto to others even if you are fully vaccinated and therefore if the test is positive, you’ll need to self-isolate immediately.
If are fully vaccinated and you get a negative result you are not required to self-isolate but you can help protect others by:
- taking a twice weekly LFD test
- wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces and where you are unable to maintain social distancing
- considering limiting contact with people who are at a higher risk from COVID-19
- opening doors and windows to let in fresh air when meeting people inside
“If you’ve only had one jab or haven’t started to get vaccinated yet, you will need to isolate if you are a contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 and miss work and going out for ten days.
“Everyone will have different feelings about restrictions easing and some may prefer to proceed with more caution, and that’s okay. It’s down to us as individuals to be responsible and to do what feels most comfortable for us. Many indoor venues are still encouraging the use of face coverings and we fully support that.”
“Taking up the vaccine will not only protect you, your friends and family but also having two Covid-19 vaccine doses means you do not to have to self-isolate, if you are a contact of a case of Covid-19.
“If you are aged over 18 years and 6 months and haven’t had two Covid-19 doses you will need to self-isolate every time you are a close contact of someone who gets the virus. Our rates of Covid-19 in the city currently remain very high.
There is support available for people who have any worries or questions about the vaccination process on the Sussex Health and Care website, together with details of all places where you can get vaccinated in Brighton & Hove.”
