We're urging all adults to get a booster as the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly.
Covid cases are increasing and pressure on the NHS is growing. Evidence has shown that vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from serious illness, having to go to hospital or dying as a result of Covid. It also reduces the chance of getting Covid and passing it on to others.
Vaccinations are now available to anyone aged 12 or above and if you’re an adult and it’s been at least three months since you had a second vaccine dose, then you are now eligible for a booster jab.
Please also be aware of the following measures in place to protect us:
You should work from home where possible.
Face coverings are compulsory on public transport, in most public venues including shops, theatres, cinemas and places of worship.
All international arrivals must take a day 2 PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status.
The NHS Covid pass is mandatory for entry into nightclubs and venues where larger crowds gather.
Pupils, staff, and visitors at all schools and childcare settings, should wear face coverings in communal areas.
Over the past 7 days, Oldham's Covid rate is 385 per 100,000 population, which is higher than the rate of 328 for the previous 7 days.
75% of Oldham residents have had their first vaccine, 73.6% have had their second vaccine and 50% (of eligible) have had their booster. For more details on where to get vaccinated in Oldham visit our website
Make sure you have your say!
There are just a few days left to give your feedback on the redevelopment of Spindles.
Thank you to everyone who’s already had their say on our Big Oldham Conversation.
We’ll be submitting planning applications soon so that we can start work to transform your new town centre, which includes creating a new home for Tommyfield Market.
We’ll be closing the Spindles-related tiles on our consultation website on Monday 20 December at 10am so that we can incorporate your feedback into the plans and the future of the building.
Other projects including the new town centre park, new theatre, getting around and the cultural quarter will stay open on the consultation for a while longer.
Struggling? We Can Help!
We know this time of year can be hard. That’s why help is available if you’re finding things difficult and need some extra support.
We’ve worked with organisations across Oldham to offer help in areas such as:
Food vouchers
Financial advice
Mental wellbeing
Heating your home
Housing costs
Essential items if you’re in a crisis such as white goods, beds and furniture
There’s also help for families with advice on activities for children that include offers of a hot and healthy meal.
The New Year means new areas will be cleaned up by our Don’t Trash Oldham team.
From January 4 – weather permitting – the team will start cleaning up St James’ and Waterhead wards.
They’ll be carrying out a deep clean of the area removing all the litter, rubbish and fly-tipping they find - because no one wants to live in a tip.
An extra 55 tons of litter, fly-tipping and waste have been removed from our streets, roads and alleys during the first three months of our £1.27m Don’t Trash Oldham campaign.
During that time, our teams have cleaned up 417 streets and more than 150 alleys – carrying out deep cleans in Alexandra, Chadderton Central, Chadderton North, Shaw and Crompton.
Medlock Vale ward is our current focus and our teams have been out in all weathers – if we’ve not been in your area yet we’ll be there soon.
Since we started the clean ups in September, we’ve also handed out 187 fines (to the end of November) to those who think they can just leave waste for our staff to pick up.
Once the clean ups have finished it’s up to you and your neighbours to keep your area clean because we can’t keep coming back to tidy up.
As part of the campaign, we’re also employing more street cleaning staff, teams dedicated to clearing up fly-tipping and enforcement officers.
As usual over the festive period, the availability and opening times of some council services will temporarily change as our teams take time off to be with their loved ones.
You can find out what services are open and when, including emergency contacts, by visiting Christmas closures
Planning a pre-Christmas clear out?
If you’re planning on having a pre-Christmas clear out and need to get rid of some rubbish, make sure you check that the person taking it for you has a waste carriers’ licence.
If they don’t and they just dump it, it could be traced back to you and you could be the one facing a fine or court.
