News

The Delta variant resulted in a large upturn in cases which may now have peaked and the new normal seems to be within a range of 90-120 new cases per day.

It should be noted that while no longer legally mandated most large stores & supermarkets will still require the wearing of face-covering inside, it's their choice and it makes sense. Meanwhile vaccinations and testing continue with 75% of Oldham adults having received 1 vaccination jab and 59% having received 2.

On 12^th April we left a full National Lockdown, with non-essential shops, hairdressers and Pubs & Restaurants then open for outside dining,  with other restrictions due to be phased out over April-June. 

On May 17^th restrictions were further released allowing greater mixing, gyms to reopen  and Restaurants to serve meals indoor, with distancing. Vaccinations continue and many in vulnerable categories will have received their second jab, which is just as well with new variants of the virus appearing, in particular the Delta variant first detected in India which has replaced the UK variant as the dominant strain in this country.

By mid-June the significant rise in cases due to the delta-variant caused the final date for full reopening due on June 21^st to be delayed by 4 weeks to July19^th allowing more vaccinations to take place before restrictions are removed.

Lockdowns were imposed due to the dramatic increase in cases occuring across the country for example during Oct-Nov 2020 and this is again the case. The effect of the last lockdown can be seen in the reduction of new cases during October and the consquent slowing of rate of increase in the total number of cases from mid-november. After a bump following the xmas-new year we can see reduction in cases, both due to the lockdown and as the effect of vaccination kicks in towards the end of February.