PEOPLE in Warrington are being urged to wear face coverings indoors, avoid crowds and stick to social distancing due to rise in coronavirus cases across the Cheshire and Merseyside region.

Directors of Public Health across the region have issused the appeal as Covid cases are increasing in communities.

According the latest figures issues today, Friday, there have been 13 new positive coronavirus cases in Warrington in the past seven days, compared to four in the previous 7.

A spokesman said: "There have been several outbreaks across the region and working with the NHS and Public Health England, directors have deployed additional mobile testing units to pick up positive cases.

"Contacts of positive cases can then be traced to prevent a further spread of the virus. Local authorities have been working hard with partners dealing with settings involved in outbreaks and helping them operate safely.

Thara Raj, director of public Health at Warrington Borough Council, said: “Unless they are exempt, it is so important people protect themselves and others by wearing a face covering, keeping a distance of two metres and regularly washing their hands. We have seen people incorrectly wearing face coverings - they must cover your nose and mouth and you should only handle your mask with clean hands.

"We want to prevent local lockdowns and protect frontline services who will need to deal with illness as a result of COVID. We really need people to support us by doing everything they can to help keep our families, friends and communities safe.”

If you do develop symptoms of Covid-19 (fever, new continuous cough or loss/change of taste or smell) you can obtain a test by visiting nhs.uk/coronavirus or calling 119. If your test is positive you must follow the guidance including self-isolating for 10 days and members of your household self-isolating for 14 days.

The figures, for the seven days to August 4, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government's testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

Data for the most recent three days (August 5-7) has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.

Pendle and Blackburn with Darwen have both recorded rates of 78.2 cases per 100,000 people.

In Pendle, the rate has jumped from 40.2 in the seven days to July 28 to 78.2 in the seven days to August 4. A total of 72 new cases have been recorded.

In Blackburn with Darwen, the rate has fallen from 86.8 to 78.2, with 117 new cases.
Oldham is third, where the rate has risen from 59.5 to 66.6, with 158 new cases.

The rate in Leicester continues to fall, down from 60.1 to 53.9, with 191 new cases.

Other areas recording notable week-on-week jumps include:
- Swindon (up from 33.8 to 50.0, with 111 new cases)
- Preston (up from 21.7 to 42.6, with 61 new cases)
- Tameside (up from 19.0 to 33.1, with 75 new cases)
- Bury (up from 16.2 to 27.2, with 52 new cases)