Health chief makes coronavirus plea to people of Hemel ahead of 'Super Saturday'

The local director of public health Jim McManus has sent an urgent and direct plea to the people of Hemel and wider Dacorum to ensure they remain highly vigilant and get tested for coronavirus if they experience symptoms.

From this weekend people will able to meet with a wider circle of friends and family and visit shops, parks, pubs and hairdressers.

Saturday July 4th is being dubbed Independence Day and Super Saturday and many thousands of people across Dacorum are understandably looking forward to the easing of lockdown.

But the situation in Leicester, where the town will go back into lockdown due to a local spike, is a clear sign of what could happen.

Now health chief Mr McManus has fired a stark reminder 'we can only do all of these things if we successfully control the spread of coronavirus'.

"We really need everyone to play their part in stamping out the virus," Mr McManus said in a plea sent to The Gazette.

"We must all maintain social distancing, wash our hands regularly and thoroughly and follow the rules and guidance on face coverings. If you have any symptoms that could indicate you have coronavirus, it’s vitally important that you get a test. It’s quicker and easier now than ever before.

“Remember too that if you’re contacted by the national NHS Test and Trace team, you must follow their advice and self-isolate, to prevent the virus from taking hold in Hertfordshire again and threatening more lives.”

Booking a test is quick and easy. The booking site www.gov.uk/coronavirus will show the testing centres available for the next day and you should have your test done as soon as possible after your symptoms first develop. Coronavirus symptoms are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to someone’s sense of smell or taste.

Drive through testing sites are now open to everyone living or working in Hertfordshire – with plenty of capacity and testing available every day of the week. People who don’t have access to a car or are too ill to drive can order a test kit to be posted to their home.

Anyone who needs additional help to book a test, or who doesn’t have access to the internet, can contact the telephone call centre – phone 119 between 7am and 11pm or 18001 0300 303 2713 if you have hearing or speech difficulties. The call centre can also answer enquiries about the testing process and what to do once you have your result.

Please bring your mobile phone with you when you attend a test centre. If you have booked a test at Watford, please note that you may need to pay for parking as you wait.