Council urges Wigan residents to stay home after rise in regional R number

Although some lockdown measures have been relaxed in recent weeks, staying at home unless for essential travel and adhering to social distancing guidelines remains the safest approach for residents and their loved ones , they have said.

Latest figures show a rise in the North West’s ‘R’ number; an indicator used to assess the spread of infection.

Leader of Wigan Council, Coun David Molyneux, said: “The council’s Stay Home, Be Kind message has been well received throughout the pandemic and I would like to thank everyone who has taken steps to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

“Although some measures have been eased, the rise in the R number is a warning that we must remain cautious.

“It remains vitally important to keep following the social distancing advice and limiting contact with others as much as possible.

“We have made significant progress but now is not the time to let our collective guard down. Please stay home, be kind and save lives.”

Prof Kate Ardern, director of public health, said: “Members of SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies), Independent SAGE and the Association of Directors of Public Health have all over recent days advised caution and concern about the too rapid easing of lockdown and the increased risk of a second pandemic wave.”

Residents are being urged to stay at home as much as possible, limit contact with others, work from home if they can, adhere to social distancing guidelines and remaining two metres apart where possible and continue to wash their hands regularly.

It is also crucial for residents who are showing symptoms, or if anyone in their household is, to self-isolate, the council said.

Although the guidelines now allow groups of up to six people from different households to meet in outdoor settings, such as gardens, strict rules on keeping two metres apart and avoiding contact remain in place.

Last week, Prof Ardern wrote to schools and childcare settings advising a delay to wider reopening plans until at least June 15.

This date will be under review in the coming days taking into account recent public health data.

Some schools in the North West are now unlikely to re-open before June 22, it emerged over the weekend.

The R number has risen above one in the North West according to figures released on Friday by Public Health England and Cambridge University.

An R figure below one indicates an epidemic is in decline, anything higher than that threshold indicates that the number of cases could increase.

For more information and Stay Home, Be Kind guidance, visit www.wigan.gov.uk/bekind