Northwich residents warned as workplaces become Covid hotspots

It comes as new research highlights workplaces as virus hotspots across Cheshire West.

The council says a high level of positive cases being linked directly or indirectly to workplaces, with people picking up the infection and spreading it at home.

As many as 30 per cent of positive cases across the borough appear to have been caused by workplace transmission between January 7 and 20, while 45 per cent of household outbreaks appear to have been caused by a member picking up Covid at work.

Cllr Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “Overall, our infection rate in the borough has been coming down, but not as fast as we would like.

"We know that businesses and organisations are working hard to keep their sites Covid-safe but our research suggests that a high proportion of positive cases at the moment are linked to workplaces.

“What this research shows is that none of us can be complacent – we must always be on our guard against this virus."

In the latest figures, Cheshire West has an infection rate of 217.4 per 100,000 people, following 746 cases in the seven days up to February 4.

That is the borough's lowest infection rate since December 19, but Cllr Gittins hopes the numbers can come down at a faster rate soon.

Cllr Louise Gittins

She added: “I applaud all our businesses and organisations for their resilience in operating during a global pandemic – which none of us have ever experienced before.

“I urge everyone – from business owners to individual employees – to continue to do all you can to stop the spread of Covid-19.

“Put measures in place, maintain them, improve in them and always remember hands, face space, whether unavoidable car sharing, on breaks or working. Let’s turn this around.”

Measures to avoid coronavirus include working from home where possible, minimising interaction between people in offices and enforcing strong management of Covid-secure conditions when people must be on-site – including three-ply face coverings, hand and equipment hygiene and encouraging regular testing of staff.

Businesses and organisations are urged to access options like flexible furlough and financial support schemes.

They should also ensure contact tracing is undertaken in the workplace when a colleague tests positive for the virus and that self-isolation rules are followed immediately on suspicion of symptoms or any positive test.

Covid-19 testing is also available for people without symptoms who have to go out to work during the lockdown, at Winsford Lifestyle Centre.