After the announcements this week splitting the country down into three categories of risk, today’s new figures for coronavirus levels across Oldham show that we must all take more care to minimise the risks, both to ourselves and others.

I would like to ask all residents to do whatever they can to manage their risk. While it may be difficult to know exactly what rules are in place, there is a simple approach: do everything you can to make sure you stay as safe as possible.

• Remember to wash your hands every time you have been out, for 20 seconds, with soap
• Wearing a mask reduces the risk of transmission. It’s not perfect, no-one claims it is, but it helps.
• If you are going into a workplace, or going out shopping, take what steps you can to keep socially distanced.

I have been asked on more than one occasion why you are allowed to do something at work that you can’t do at home. It can be frustrating, but it is about minimising risk. Every time you do something like meet people outside your bubble, you are increasing your risk levels. The less you do something where you may be exposed, the lower your risk. Behaving differently at work and at home may seem arbitrary, but it is just about trying to reduce that risk.

The rules we have in place are imperfect, and it is right that some of them should be changed. Closing pubs at 10pm is not based on any scientific evidence, and this should be challenged. If we can find ways to ensure that people can see family members in care homes, to give them support and contact, then of course we must do that.

Since the start of lockdown in March, it has been very difficult for everyone, especially with changes of rules and guidelines, both locally and nationally, and with the three-tier system that has been introduced, no clear end is in sight.

But put simply, no matter how stupidly some people behave, the more we can do to reduce the spread of this disease, the more chance our families have of getting through this. The more chance we all have of getting through this.

I have close family members who have had coronavirus, some of whole were very close to death, and even now, months later, are still suffering. Other, more distant family members have died.

The rules aren’t perfect, and neither are we. Please just stay safe, and do the best you can.

You can get all the latest information on current guidelines in place in Oldham from www.oldham.gov.uk/coronavirus. The latest information from the NHS is at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

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