WEEKLY UPDATE 26 February 2021 – 每周疫情快讯 2021年2月26日 – Chinese Community Centre

I: Covid alert level reduced to 4

The four Chief Medical Officers for the UK have announced that the number of people going to hospital has reduced so there is no longer a risk of the NHS being overwhelmed. The Covid Alert Level has been reduced to 4. Restrictions remain in place until the Roadmap out of Lockdown begins – see below.

II: ‘The roadmap out of lockdown’

The roadmap out of lockdown was published on Monday.

Restrictions will be lifted in 4 stages (stage 1 is in two parts), commencing 8^th March and finishing 21^st June.

Each stage will only be implemented if 4 tests are satisfied:

Test 1 The vaccination programme is on schedule
Test 2 Hospitalisations and deaths are reduced
Test 3 The NHS is not overwhelmed by a surge of new cases
Test 4 New variants of concern can be adequately managed

If these tests are not met, we will not move to the next stage. Therefore, it is advisable to wait before you book holidays abroad as restrictions could continue beyond 21^st June. The dates are the earliest we can expect change.

The roadmap

III: New Test Centre in Chinatown

The Utilita Arena test centre had to close down as the site was needed for sports events. However, the good news for the Chinese community is that the replacement site is inside the Hippodrome Theatre in the heart of Chinatown. This is also a walk-in centre, no booking required. The test centre is only for people who live or work in Birmingham so you must take proof.

IV: Vaccination videos

Professor KK Cheng, Director of University of Birmingham’s Institute of Applied Health Research, has produced videos in Cantonese and Mandarin for the Chinese community