A message from Cllr Steve Curran on surge testing and increased vaccinations in Hounslow
Hounslow has been selected by the Government as one of five areas in the country for COVID-19 surge testing and increased vaccination to limit the rise of the new variant of concern. This means we will expand our surge testing and vaccination roll-out programme to increase take-up, beginning on Sunday.
This is a big challenge and we need your help to make it happen.
I have no doubt we will deliver again in every part of the borough. The last 12 months have demonstrated our One Hounslow spirit as we all pulled together to deliver for our communities. This is a moment when we need to come together again and step up for Hounslow.
The details will become clearer over the next few days but there will be an enormous effort from the Council, our partners and our communities. We also need your support, your help and your commitment.
If you live in the borough, or have friends or family who do, anything you can do to promote vaccination and testing would be appreciated, even if it’s simply talking to your loved ones.
This is literally a call to ‘arms’; we need you to get vaccinated, and we will work to make that easier than ever, making sure you get the information and access you need.
We need you to get tested as soon as you can, and even if you have already been vaccinated, and we will be making that more accessible than ever.
And we need you to keep following the rules. We’re so nearly there, and this is an opportunity to finish the job.
Despite the need for this significant effort to increase testing and vaccine uptake, there is no reason for serious concern and we expect the vast majority of services to run as normal. Our Council and NHS colleagues who have been working tirelessly in our borough’s vaccination effort have been doing a fantastic job, with 130,000 residents already having received their vaccination. These new measures are simply a response to an identified localised risk associated with a specific variant.
I know we have had a tough 14 months, and I am continually inspired and forever grateful for the amazing efforts I have seen from all parts of the borough. We all hope we are nearing the end with this pandemic and will hopefully be able to stick to the Government’s road map. However, for now, we need another push for our communities.
I have every faith we will all step up for Hounslow.
You can direct people to the dedicated section on our website, which will develop with new information over time - www.hounslow.gov.uk/surge
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