News MBC Leader cautiously welcomes relaxed restrictions
As cases of Covid-19 remain high, Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is cautiously welcoming the relaxation of restrictions in the town centre and across the borough.
Leader of Maidstone Borough Council, Cllr David Burton said:
“Whilst we all want our lives to return to normal as quickly as possible unfortunately the number of cases is still high so we are appealing to residents and businesses to remain cautious.“We are simply asking everyone to be respectful of others and if there are crowds, to consider wearing a face covering and continue to wash their hands regularly.
“If a retail outlet, restaurant, pub or café does require you to keep your face covered please respect this. Our businesses need all the help they can get especially after everything they have been through over the last 18 months. Please continue to support all our local businesses every way we can.”
MBC is also encouraging as many people as possible to book a Covid vaccine as soon as they are invited to do so and is running its own campaign with the message “Get the vaccine – it is as essential as you are.”
Working with the NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group, Maidstone Borough Council is supporting the Covid-19 vaccination campaign and is reminding everyone to get the jab, to protect yourself and protect others.
Cllr Burton added:
“Take advantage of the vaccination programme to protect yourself and others as this still appears to be the best defence against the virus. It will give us all more freedom when the relaxing of self-isolation timings are altered in August.“In our public buildings MBC is still encouraging the use of face coverings and all our staff will wear them, so if you plan on visiting Maidstone Museum, Vinters Park Crematorium or the Town Hall we ask that you consider this.”
There are several places in Maidstone offering a vaccination service including local GPs. People who qualify for a jab will be invited via a text from ‘NHSvaccine,’ which includes a web link to the health service’s NHS Covid Vaccine.
Find out more details and FAQs via the NHS Kent & Medway website: https://www.kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk/your-health/coronavirus/covid19vaccine/covid-19-vaccination-programme-frequently-asked-questions
Cllr Burton concluded:
“With the amount of people having to self-isolate increasing daily it’s important to do everything we can to help keep Maidstone in business. So please get a test if you have symptoms.”
Home testing lateral flow kits are widely available in pharmacies and can be ordered through the online portal: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests
For anyone who currently has any of these three Covid-19 symptoms, please get a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test as soon as possible, do NOT visit a symptom free testing site and continue to self-isolate
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- you’ve lost your sense of smell or taste or it’s changed
You can book a test by visiting the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.
Testing is available in the Kent County Council head office at Sessions House,
County Hall, Maidstone ME14 1XQ during the following times:
- Monday – 9am-2pm
- Tuesday – 9am-2pm
- Wednesday – 2pm-7pm
- Thursday – 9am-2pm
- Friday – 9am – 7pm
- Saturday – 9am – 2pm
- Sunday – 9am – 7pm