Council advising Sandwell businesses as COVID cases rise

Sandwell Council has written to all businesses in Sandwell in a bid to halt a surge in COVID-19 cases. This is to give the Public Health Team’s advice to firms on how to open and operate safely in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. The council has also created an online advice page for borough businesses.

The letter has been translated into all the main languages spoken locally, including Somali, Slovak, Punjabi (Pakistan and Indian), Polish and Urdu.

Director of Public Health, Dr Lisa McNally, said in some cases recently, by the time her team knew about an outbreak, there were already dozens of cases and a major outbreak underway – making outbreak management very difficult.

Anyone who develops symptoms – persistent cough, temperature or loss of smell or taste – needs to immediately self-isolate for 7 days.

Where possible people with symptoms should be isolated from others in the household who do not have symptoms. If you develop symptoms book a test immediately via www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or call 119.

Avoid any unnecessary interaction with people from outside your household. Crowded environments should be avoided.

If you have to go out, maintain a distance of at least 1 metre (preferably 2 metres) from other people and wear a face covering.