Cornwall has seen an increase in COVID rates, largely among schoolchildren, with almost half of cases in the last two weeks being in those aged under 20. This has increased transmission rates in homes and into workplaces.

Cornwall’s COVID case rate is higher now than it was this time last year when Tier One restrictions were in place. So all of us must work together to get those numbers down.

We are doing well when it comes to booster vaccines uptake and are slightly above the South West and England average as 73% of residents have already received their jab.

Advice on using Lateral Flow Tests has also changed recently. Instead of testing twice a week, people should test whenever they are attending a social event in an enclosed crowded space with limited access to fresh air – or when they are going to spend time with someone who is vulnerable.

People can get a collect code to pick up Lateral Flow Tests from their local pharmacy or order them by going to: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests