A weekly update on what's happening in Oldham and the latest Covid news and guidance

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Covid Winter Plan B guidance to be lifted

On Wednesday the Government announced that its Winter Plan B restrictions are to be lifted following the success of the Covid vaccine rollout.

This means that:
* Mandatory Covid passports for entering nightclubs and large events will end, though organisations can still choose to use the NHS Covid pass if the wished
* People will no longer be advised to work from home and should discuss their return to offices with employers
* Face masks will no longer be mandated, though people are still advised to wear coverings in enclosed or crowded spaces and when meeting strangers
* From Thursday 20 January, secondary school pupils will no longer have to wear face masks in classrooms.

The legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive for Covid will stay in place and we recommend that in line with Government guidance to continue to wear a face covering in crowded or busy areas.

As always the best way to protect yourself from the worst effects of Covid is to get a vaccine.

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Pressure on the NHS is increasing - get vaccinated

The Omicron Covid variant is spreading and pressure on the NHS is increasing which is why we all need to get vaccinated.

Covid-19 vaccinations are incredibly important in preventing severe infection and spreading the virus. Various clinics are available for walk-in appointments if you haven’t already had your first, second or booster doses, so please come forward.

Vaccination sites for the week commencing 24 January, including the following:

The Dinwoodie Centre
Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Road, Oldham, OL1 2JH
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8.30am -7.30pm
Saturday and Sunday, 8.30 – 5.30pm

The Millennium Centre
Featherstall Road North, Oldham, OL9 6QB
12 noon to 7pm, every Wednesday

The European Islamic Centre
79 Manchester Road, Oldham, OL8 4LN
12 noon to 7pm, every Sunday

Clinically vulnerable 5 to 11-year-olds and those living with someone who is immunosuppressed are to be offered 2 weaker doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and these will be 8 weeks between first and second doses. Parents and guardians are asked to contact their GP to let them know if they need the vaccine.

Second visits to schools across Oldham have also started to take place to administer second doses.

If your child, or a child you care for needs a booster or first dose, the Dinwoodie Centre at The Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Road, Oldham, OL1 2JH is open every day.

Book your vaccine now ([link removed])
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Need a PCR test?

You should now only go for a PCR test if you have one of the three main symptoms of Coronavirus.

However, if you test positive for Covid-19 at home with no symptoms and are eligible for a self-isolation payment, please come forward for a confirmatory PCR test as you will need this as part of the process to apply for a payment.

Check your eligibility here ([link removed])

PCR testing sites in Oldham for the week commencing 24 January, include:

Southgate Street car park (Next to Oldham Library)
Monday to Sunday, 8am-6pm

Honeywell Centre, Hadfield Street. Hathershaw, OL8 3BP
Monday to Sunday, 8am-6pm

Peel Street in Chadderton, OL9 9JX
Monday to Sunday, 8am-6pm

Higher Memorial Park, Failsworth, M35 9DE
Monday to Sunday, 8am-6pm

Prince Street Oldham Mumps Tram Station Car Park
Monday to Sunday, 10am-3pm

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Need a rapid Covid-19 test?

Many local pharmacies across Oldham are ready to provide you with a free onsite rapid test, if you have no symptoms.

All you have to do is turn up, have a swab taken and you’re free to go. Pharmacies will test your swab and submit the results on your behalf, meaning you only have to wait for a text message shortly afterwards. This will come via the national system and it will inform you of your test result.
Find out more here.

Find out more ([link removed])

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Oldham Covid cases

Over the last 7 days Oldham has a rate of 903 per 100,000 population, which is lower than the rate of 2,023 for the previous 7 days.

76.4% of Oldham residents have had their first vaccine, 75.1% have had their second vaccine and 73.2% (of eligible) have had their booster.

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Have your say on our budget proposals

We know that the pandemic has been particularly hard for the lowest paid workers in our town, especially with rising energy and food costs. That's why in the 2022/23 budget we announced yesterday, we’re using 1% of this year’s Council Tax rise to pay the Real Living Wage to all of our staff whether directly employed or in the supply chain.

The rise will mainly benefit carers who have been on the front line throughout the Coronavirus pandemic.

We’ll also continue to invest in “Don't Trash Oldham” which is cleaning up every ward across the borough on a rolling cycle, invest a further £80k for youth work across Oldham's districts, helping to engage more young people in positive activities, and £100k in Mahdlo to support youth work and projects for some of the borough’s most disadvantaged young people.

Have your say on this year’s budget proposals here ([link removed])

Praise for Oldham’s commitment to keeping children safe

Inspectors from Ofsted have praised Oldham’s commitment to keeping children safe.

The findings, based on a focused inspection in November last year, have been summarised in a letter that praised senior leaders and thesupport that Oldham children have been receiving throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

They found that children in Oldham are seen regularly by social workers who know them well. This has continued despite various lockdown restrictions and an increase in child protection plans.

Read the full story ([link removed])
It’s been a busy one…

With Coronavirus cases soaring across Oldham, staff from Oldham Council’s engagement team worked with the voluntary sector throughout Christmas and New Year to check in on the welfare of residents.

Since 17 December, engagement teams have knocked on more than 15,000 doors across the borough.

During their conversations on doors, staff ensured people were made aware of the latest Coronavirus guidance, including information on where they could get their Covid-19 vaccinations locally.

At a time of national emergency when the new variant Omicron was spreading rapidly across the country, these conversations were vital as staff could explain why we now require a third dose of the vaccine to boost our levels of protection.

Volunteers also provided additional support to those who were struggling, including providing details of local foodbanks and other emergency support services.

This work has continued into the New Year, with more properties set to be visited over the coming weeks, including areas such as Limehurst, Abbey Hills, Hathershaw and North Chadderton.

Read the full story. ([link removed] )
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Don't Trash Oldham moves to Coldhurst

From February 1 – winter weather permitting – Oldham Council staff will start tidying up streets, roads and alleyways in Coldhurst as part of the Don’t Trash Oldham campaign.

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.

By the end of the first four months of the £1.27m campaign our teams had picked up more than 70 tons of rubbish and cleared 537 streets and more than 200 alleyways.

We’d also handed out 205 fines 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 the council can’t keep coming back to tidy up.

Find out more about the campaign and get involved ([link removed])
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Clean Air Zone Update

It’s been confirmed the first phase of Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Zone – due to launch in May 2022 – will go ahead.

However, representatives from Greater Manchester’s 10 councils have written to the Environment Secretary requesting he pause the second phase of the CAZ funding until the government can carry out a full review of vehicle supply chain issues with GM support.

The second phase will include LGVs, Taxi (Hackney carriages) and private hire vehicles.

All 10 councils have been legally directed to implement the charging CAZ to tackle illegal air quality, which contribute to around 1,200 deaths and other health conditions in the region each year.

For the latest news and to see if your vehicle will be charged or whether it might be eligible for an exemption, discount or funding support visit the Clean Air GM Website. ([link removed])

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Struggling through the cold dark days of January?

It’s normal to feel a little down this time of year, but if these feelings persist there’s a new service in Oldham that could help you. Togetherall is an online mental health community for shared experiences and mutual support which Oldham residents can now access.

The community provides anonymous and safe online support with a range of wellbeing tools and resources to help you better understand how you are feeling and why. Available 24/7 and free to residents age 16+ the service is ready to support Oldhamers in their journey towards better mental health and wellbeing.

To access Togetherall visit www.togetherall.com and register for an account. Please note that Togetherall is a tool for additional support and not a crisis service.

If you’re not over the age of 16, those who are age 11 and over, can access Kooth ([link removed]) – another mental health community support group that Oldham residents can access.

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Discretionary Omicron fund launches to support Oldham businesses

Oldham Council has opened the Omicron Additional Restrictions Grant to support more businesses impacted by the variant.

The discretionary scheme will help eligible businesses with one-off grants of up to £6,000.

Due to limited funding available, the grants will open in phases to help those sectors most impacted by the virus.

Find out more ([link removed] )

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Want to improve the pharmacy service where you live?

A survey has been put together to help understand what people want from their local pharmacy service. In collaboration between the council and the NHS, the survey will ask if you use a local pharmacy and what you want to get out of the service if you do.

The answers will be collected to help make decisions about how to best improve the overall health of your community.

The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and can be found here. ([link removed])
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Cabinet set to discuss the future of Unity Partnership

At a meeting on 24 January, Oldham’s Cabinet are set to discuss the future of Unity Partnership.

Unity Partnership currently delivers a range of services to Oldham residents on behalf of the council including the customer call centre, highways, revenues and benefits, ICT and payroll and HR. It also provides a range services to other organisations and businesses.

Cabinet are set to agree to bring Unity Partnership delivered council services back to Oldham Council with just over 400 current Unity staff set to transfer from Spring 2022.

Read the full story ([link removed])
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Looking for something to do this weekend?

Don’t miss the exciting works of Zarah Hussain at a new exhibition coming to Gallery Oldham tomorrow (Saturday 22 January).

Cutting-edge digital art comes together with traditional, hand-drawn Islamic geometry and is displayed across twelve new pieces of wall-based sculpture, together with drawings and the light installation, Invisible Threads.

Find out more ([link removed])

Gallery Oldham did a short interview with Zarah about her inspirations and hopes for the future. Read the interview here. ([link removed].)

Help us preserve Oldham's Heritage

The council is taking part in the Greater Manchester local heritage listing project, with the aim to help protect and preserve our heritage for future generations.

We want to know which buildings, monuments, public art and historic sites you think should be listed locally.

Find out how to take part here. ([link removed])
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Keeping Going - a talk delivered by Rene Barrett

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaped more than a year and a half of our lives, cancelling plans, upending livelihoods and causing feelings of grief, stress and anxiety. Many of us are fatigued and weary finding it difficult to understand the future when we cannot effectively plan for it and handling the uncertainty of our daily lives.

In this session, taking place tomorrow at 2.30pm via Zoom, Rene will help you explore the 2 components of effective self-care – comforting and protecting ourselves - how to calm negative emotions and how to learn the scientifically proven tools and techniques which will have long term benefits for your wellbeing.

The session explores strategies to help alleviate anxieties and face the unknown with more confidence.

Book your free place here ([link removed])

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Oldham Council . Civic Centre . West Street . Oldham, OL1 1UT . United Kingdom