Borough's Covid advice to be reviewed on 31 July

Local guidance on avoiding local lockdown mobile advertising van

Local advice to prevent a lockdown will be reviewed on Friday (31 July).

Since 17 July, residents across the borough of Rochdale have been advised to take extra precautions to help prevent a local lockdown.

The number of cases in Rochdale has been falling since the local guidance was brought in, but the borough still has one of the highest rate of cases in England with over 30 cases per 100,000 population (for the week ending 27 July), after having one of the highest rates of infection in England.

Neighbouring Oldham has the third highest rate in England with 53 cases per 100,000 population (for the week ending 27 July) and local restrictions similar to those in the Rochdale borough were brought in there earlier this week. Blackburn with Darwen has the highest rate of cases in England with 85 cases per 100,000 population (for the week ending 27 July).

Andrea Fallon, director of public health at Rochdale Council, has warned it is no time for complacency.

She said: “Whilst we have been pleased to see the longest continuous fall in cases since May the borough remains in a serious position with still one of the highest rates of cases in England.  

“Whilst our work continues to try and reduce the number of cases we have to remind residents not to be complacent when there is a fall in cases, keep following the guidance and remember this deadly virus is still very much with us.”

The following advice has been in place in the borough of Rochdale (Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale, including Littleborough and Milnrow) from 17 July, which will be reviewed tomorrow:

• Wear face coverings in shops
• Wear face coverings in public as much as possible
• Limit visitors to your home to two people
• Keep two metres apart at all times
• Avoid physical contact with anyone outside your own household, including shaking hands or hugging
• Get tested and isolate if you are told to do so

There are two walk-through testing centres at Rochdale Town Hall, Heywood Civic Centre and Market Place car park in Middleton.

Residents can book a coronavirus test by calling the free phone number 0808 1964 100 to book an appointment or by visiting the NHS website.

Local information about coronavirus can be found at: 

• rochdale.gov.uk/coronavirus