Public health leaders in Leicestershire have urged parents to be aware as Covid-19 infection rates continue to rise across the country.
A message to parents has been sent via county schools this week, urging people to take care if they have any symptoms and take steps to avoid spreading the virus as much as possible.
Leicestershire County cabinet member for health Councillor Louise Richardson, said: “Many families are rightly looking forward to their summer holiday this year.
“It will be the first break for a long time that many people will take without restrictions.
“Of course we want to see the back of Covid-19 but it’s still part of our daily lives.
“We can all take steps to avoid spreading it – which will help everyone enjoy healthy holidays.”
Mike Sandys, Director of public health for Leicestershire and Rutland, said: “For many Covid-19 is in the rear-view mirror, but we are still seeing new variants which give us cause for concern.
“My simple advice is to take sensible steps to stay safe. Try not to pack an extra case of Covid-19 for your holiday.”
The number of cases in the county are no longer measured, although the number of patients in hospital with Covid-19 is 140 this week.
Dr Caroline Trevithick, Executive Director of Nursing, Quality and Performance and Deputy Chief Executive of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB), said that is an indicator of how much of the virus is out in the community.
“Covid-19 puts pressure on all health and social care services, from GPs to care homes,” she said. “I would say don’t ignore it – be aware of it over the summer and do the right thing if you have symptoms.
“It’s not too late to have the booster dose when it is due, because the effectiveness of the vaccine reduces over time.
“Please do make sure you are up to date with your vaccines, as they do offer the best protection available.”
The latest advice on staying safe, testing, staying home, and travelling is available at: www.gov.uk/coronavirus
