4th January 2021

Dear Parent / Carer,

Happy New Year and I hope that you and your family had a good Christmas.

I wanted to provide you with an update on our current COVID-19 rates and once again ask for your support in following the rules to bring our infection rates down. Unfortunately in the last few weeks, our infection rates have increased significantly. On 23 December, our rates were 186.9 per 100,000 population and they have risen to 454.1 per 100,000 as at 30 December. As a result, Knowsley (and the wider Liverpool City Region) was placed into Tier 3 restrictions from 30 December. If our rates don’t come down, we face tougher restrictions being imposed.

We are doing all that we can to ensure our schools remain open. Some schools may become operationally compromised due to not having sufficient staff to supervise and safeguard children and if your school is affected, you will be contacted directly by them. In these schools care will continue to be provided for the children of key workers and for vulnerable children and remote learning will be provided to support your child’s continued education.

In Tier 3, household mixing in any indoor setting is not permitted (unless with people in your support bubble). You can meet up outdoors (in public parks for example) with no more than six people in total. If you can work from home, you should, and travel should be avoided unless it is for essential purposes such as for work or school.

Other preventative steps should be part of your daily routine. This includes regular hand washing (for at least 20 seconds), wearing a face covering where advised (including when dropping off and picking up from school as well as when using public transport), maintaining social distancing (that’s a 2m distance between you and other people), limiting interactions with others and carrying a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes. Please also remember to follow the staggered drop off / pick up times at school.

Importantly, if you display any symptoms (high temperature, new or persistent cough or loss of taste or smell), stay at home and book a test through www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or ring 119.

Testing is available across the borough for people who are not displaying symptoms. COVID-19 is easily transmitted from person to person so identifying people who have the virus but don’t have symptoms is vital. People who test positive can then self- isolate and stop them (unknowingly) spreading the virus to others.

Test centres at the Volair Leisure Centres in Halewood, Huyton and Kirkby are open from 9am until 6pm Monday to Friday and 10am until 4pm at weekends. No appointment is needed and your result is normally turned around in 30 minutes.