Our collective responsibility to keep city safe - health expert
Public health consultant Dr Julia Duke-MacRae reminded the public of their collective responsibility to ensure that Birmingham remains a safe city during an event hosted by the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, writes Claudia Congrave.
Following the decision to delay the final stage of the Government 's roadmap to Monday 19 July, the 'Unlocking Safely ' event was held in partnership with Birmingham City Council and provided businesses with the latest best practice and guidance to ensure that our regional economy is on track to safely return to prosperity.
Dr Duke-MacRae - a public health consultant for Birmingham City Council - explained that the country had seen a 44.6 per cent increase in Covid-19 cases within the last week, translating to 186 cases per 100,000 of the population.
Across Birmingham she said that case rates currently vary from ward to ward, with the west of the city marking lowest for vaccine uptake and testing.
These wards include Alum Rock, Bordesley Green, Small Heath and Balsall Heath.
Birmingham has now been designated as an area of enhanced support and the council is continuing to focus on three key themes - testing, isolation and vaccination.
Dr Duke-MacRae explained that the support will enable the council to increase access to testing, which will see door to door testing and free testing kits available around the city.
It will also mean more public awareness and information available about the benefits of getting tested and supporting the Government 's vaccination drive.
She said: “We all have a responsibility to ensure that Birmingham remains a safe city.
“Testing allows you to identify if you 're a risk to others and that is a responsibility everyone has. ”
Translating this to the workplace, Dr Duke-MacRae made a final reminder of the eight steps businesses can continue taking in order to keep their employees and customers safe:
1. Complete a Covid-19 risk assessment
2. Clean surfaces and wash hands often
3. Remind customers and staff to wear face coverings indoors and where necessary
4. Maintain social distancing
5. Provide adequate ventilation
6. Take part in NHS test and trace, both staff and visitors
7. Turn people with Covid-19 symptoms away
8. Test twice a week and isolate upon a positive test
Dr Duke-MacRae was also joined by Abbie Vlahakis, CEO of Chamber Patron Millennium Point as she discussed the challenges the organisation faced in complying with Covid-19 guidance and how Millennium Point adapted its business model as it continued to operate throughout the pandemic.
For those who missed the event, Dr Julia Duke-MacRae will be speaking again at another Chamber event later this week and will be joined by Dr Jason Woura OBE (Asian Business Chamber of Commerce and Lioncroft Wholesale Limited) to share practical tips on how businesses can implement the latest Covid-19 workplace guidance.
Click here for more information.
For more information on Covid-19 support available at the Chamber, click here
Walk-in (no appointment) Covid vaccinations are now available at Millennium Point and Aston Villa Football Club between 10am and 4pm, Wednesdays to Sundays for under 40s.
Edgbaston Cricket Ground is open on Sunday between the same hours for over 40s.
Holte Secondary School is also open for vaccines from 9:30am to 3:30pm for over 18s.
To find out other venues for walk-in vaccinations, including mobile vaccination units click here.