Temporary suspension of Community Collect

During the Christmas period, we experienced unprecedented demand for our lateral flow test (LFT) home test kits, as local pharmacies and GPs supplies were low. We distributed some 5,500 kits in this time.

With our stocks of home use LFT kits now depleted, we’ve sadly had to suspend our Community Collect scheme at our leisure centres while we await delivery confirmation of our next order.

Our LFT Assisted Testing site at Braywick Leisure Centre does however remain open, as normal, for all our residents as we have a large supply of these tests. Find out more about this service on our website (Option 3).

We cannot hand out assisted testing LFTs for home use as they’re not designed for this. However, care home, education, and NHS professionals can use assisted LFT kits at home, so we’re working with our partners to enable this.

Supply issues for home use LFTs is being felt nationally. We're doing all we can to secure the speedy delivery of our next batch of home use LFTs which we're ready to receive weekends and evenings if needed.

We’ll let you know, on our website and social media, when we get our delivery. In the meantime, for alternative sources of home test kits visit the government's LFT web page.
Royal Borough cases

After reaching a Royal Borough high of 1,670 on 4 January, the most recent data shows a case rate of 1,433.2 per 100,000. This equates to some 2,254 new cases in the seven days up 6 January. We're now in line with the South East average, yet well below England.

Transmission of the virus is now high among all age groups, as shown in the diagram above.

The two wards of Clewer East, and Datchet Horton and Wraysbury, currently have the highest transmission rates. Boyn Hill has the lowest.

As of 4 January, there were 148 Covid patients in Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust hospitals. Covid hospitalisations locally are rising again, although nowhere near the level seen last year this time which shows vaccinations work.

For the latest Covid information in the Royal Borough - including case rates among age groups, ward breakdowns, hospital data and vaccinations - visit the Berkshire Public Health website and see the weekly report in the information centre.
Walk-in vaccine slots returning

Sixty per cent of the Royal Borough’s adult population has now had a booster dose. Among the over-50s it’s 85%.

Being triple jabbed won’t stop you from catching the Omicron variant, but it does massively lessen your chances of severe illness and long-term damage, and allow you to recover at home. 

Local vaccine centres across the Frimley Health and Care area are beginning to again offer walk-in slots, in addition to booked appointments. Don’t be nervous if you’re visiting for your first or second jab. They’ll be happy to see you.

For more details about individual centres please visit Frimley Health and Care’s vaccination web page.

We’re also working with the NHS to see the return to the borough next month of the Vaccine Bus. When we have more details, we’ll let you know.

Vaccines for ages 12 to 15 are being delivered via school immunisation teams, and the NHS is now finalising its rollout for ages 5 to 11.

To book or manage your appointment, visit the National Booking Service or call 119. If, for whatever reason, you realise you cannot make a booked appointment, please cancel it beforehand via the National Booking Service so that someone else can use it.
Covid Pass scam alert

Criminals are using the digital NHS Covid Pass to convince people to hand over money, financial details, and personal information.

They’re now sophisticated in their approach by creating believable looking NHS websites, and text message/email links and attachments.

Just remember:
  • The NHS Covid Pass is free
  • The NHS will never ask for payment or any financial details
  • The NHS will never issue fines or penalties relating to your NHS Covid Pass

To get yours visit the NHS Covid pass website. 

If you receive a telephone call and suspect it’s fraudulent, hang up. If you’re suspicious about an email, forward it to this address. If you’re suspicious about a text message, forward it to the free number 7726.

If you believe you’re the victim of a fraud, visit the Action Fraud website or call 0300 123 2040.
Local Outbreak Plan updated
 
We use a Local Outbreak Management Plan (LOMP) to ensure we’re taking the right actions to tackle Covid.

This crucial plan outlines how we, along with our partners, engage with you our residents, communities, and businesses so that everyone is aware and supportive of the crucial parts we all play.

We’ve recently reviewed the Royal Borough’s LOMP, taking on board what we’ve learned so far in managing the virus locally, as well reflecting the pandemic’s current situation.

In this review, we’ve:
  • Streamlined the number of high-risk settings to better reflect those where we’ve had outbreaks
  • Provided an executive summary at the beginning of the strategic element of the plan (Part 1)
  • Amended the operational element of the plan (Part 2) to better reflect the workflows of our environmental health team

You can read the LOMP on our website.
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