Latest news from Bolton Council including updates on our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Be a good egg and enjoy Easter safel
Easter weekend is coming up and we are sure everybody is ‘eggcited’ for some bank holiday fun!
In line with the government’s ‘Roadmap out of Lockdown’, we are being asked to “Stay local” and to follow basic precautions and keep journeys to a minimum.
We know popular outdoor places such as Rivington Pike and our local parks will be busy and it will be difficult to social distance.
In order to stay safe, please remember to follow the rules.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are urging people to stay safe from the risk of fires whilst out enjoying the countryside.
A reminder this Bank Holiday - when you think you need A&E, think 111 first.
Bank Holidays are often a very busy time for A&E departments and it’s important they are used for life-threatening emergencies only. If you need medical help, the NHS 111 service will help you right away. If you need urgent care, they’ll book you in at hospital to be seen quickly and safely.
Community Collect at Moor Lane open to staff
A new collection site has opened in Bolton allowing people who live and work in Bolton to pick up COVID-19 asymptomatic home test kits, helping to keep themselves and the community safe.
Moor Lane Collection site is open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday and can be found by following the signs to “COVID Home Testing Kit Collection”.
No booking is needed, and two kits can be collected via walk-up and drive-thorugh.
This is in addition to the existing PCR test sites where you can already collect LFD home test kits.
Find your nearest Community Collect site here - https://find-covid-19-rapid-test-sites.maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/
One in three people who have COVID-19 do not suffer any symptoms but can still pass the virus on to others.
Asymptomatic testing using lateral flow device (LFD) tests can help find people who are infectious but don’t have symptoms so they can protect others and prevent further spread by self-isolating.
Rapid result lateral flow device (LFD) testing is already available at three venues offering supervised testing across the borough with results usually available within half an hour by text and email.
Collection of testing kits for home testing is a new offer being make widely available across the Borough to support families and businesses to keep COVID safe.
We would advise staff to first carry out tests onsite at least once or twice to ensure they are being done correctly.
Head of vaccination programme is a Lockdown Hero
The woman at the helm of Bolton’s COVID-19 vaccination programme has been awarded a coveted Lockdown Hero award.
Dr Helen Wall, the Senior Responsible Officer for the programme, has won the awards’ Outstanding Contribution category for ‘embodying the spirit of Team Bolton, fighting Covid, keeping spirits high and showing inspirational leadership’.
Dr Wall received the accolade during an online awards ceremony held on Wednesday evening (March 31), organised by the Bolton News in association with Bolton Council.
You can view the event online here.
COVID Support Hub: Help will continue after shielding ends on Thursday April 1
Bolton’s COVID-19 Humanitarian Support Hub will continue helping residents in need, even as shielding officially comes to an end.
Bolton Market
Disposing of your lateral flow test kit at home
As part of a national programme to combat Covid-19 some people may be required to use lateral flow test kits at home. If you need to use a lateral flow test at home, please make sure that you dispose of the test and packaging correctly.
Lateral flow tests kits are single use only and can be disposed of safely at home. All parts of the test kit that are plastic and any plastic packaging is not recyclable and should be disposed of in your general waste bin. If there are disposable gloves and a face mask in the kit, these are also not recyclable and should be disposed of in your general waste bin.
Recycling centres across Greater Manchester are now open 8am – 8pm
These centres are expecting to be busy over the Easter weekend so make sure you plan your visit and sort your waste ahead of visiting your local recycling centre to reduce queue times.
Find your nearest recycling centre here.
Local elections – Thursday May 6 2021
Local elections will take place on Thursday 6 May 2021.
If you’re not registered to vote, the deadline to register is midnight on Monday April 19. You can apply online here.
If you wish to vote by post and are not registered to vote by post, you can apply for a postal vote here.
You must submit your postal vote application by 5pm on Tuesday April 20.
Find out more about the elections and voting.
Working with NHS Test and Trace to test workers at the Wingates estate
As part of Public Health England’s proactive sequencing work, PHE has identified a case in the area of Wingates Industrial Estate of someone who has tested positive for the South Africa Variant.
Final few days to have your say on Chorley New Road’s enhanced cycle lane
Residents and businesses have until this Sunday (April 4) to have their say on an enhanced cycle lane on Chorley New Road.
There have been modifications to some cycle lanes in Bolton on some key corridors which were identified through the successful #SafeStreetsSaveLives public consultation.
Bolton Council is now reopening the conversation to give residents and businesses the opportunity to comment on the scheme.
To have your say using the online tool.
The closing date for comments is Sunday 4 April 2021.