Covid-19 / Coronavirus Information
Due to the current Coronavirus pandemic, it has been necessary to change or suspend a number of our services to protect the health and safety of you, your family and our staff.
We apologise for the disruption and inconvenience this causes and thank you for your patience.
We are currently experiencing a high volume of calls, emails and images and our staff are working hard to resolve your query as quickly as possible.
See links below for council and community support and information.
Cluster caution
Council were contacted on Wednesday 22 July 2020 by the Public Health Agency regarding a number of Covid-related cases in Ballymena, as posted below.
Our Councillors were made aware of this by the Chief Executive and Council has requested any further information that is available from the Public Health Agency.
We want to reassure the public that any information we receive will be passed to our Councillors.
We will continue to work with the Public Health Agency in terms of dealing with any Covid-19 related issues.
Chief Executive Anne Donaghy
PHA STATEMENT
The Public Health Agency (PHA) is aware of a number of cases in the Ballymena area that may be associated with a cluster. As with all cases of COVID-19, the PHA will monitor the situation, look for trends and linked cases and where we need to advise or inform the public of any increased risk to public health we will do so in a timely manner.
We will not comment on individual cases as this could lead to people being identified and deter others with symptoms coming forward to be tested. We would ask everyone to be mindful of this risk.
With lockdown restrictions being eased this type of occurrence is to be expected, which is why the Test, Trace and Protect programme is in place.
At present anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 in Northern Ireland will be contacted by the contact tracing team to be given advice on what to do about managing symptoms and of the need to self-isolate to prevent any wider spread of the virus. They will also be asked who they have been in contact with so that we can follow up with those individuals to give them advice to help prevent the further spread of infection. Contact tracing is an established method to help prevent the further spread of infections such as COVID-19, and we are using this approach to target potential clusters which could spark new outbreaks.
If the team identifies a potential cluster or outbreak this will be reported through the PHA’s normal outbreak management channels and the appropriate infection control advice/ actions carried out.
This virus has the potential to make its presence felt in any district. Everyone should act on the basis that it might potentially be in their neighbourhood right now. That’s why following the public health advice on regular hand washing and maintaining a social distance of two metres remains vitally important.
If anyone is concerned that they are experiencing any of the symptoms of coronavirus, they must self-isolate and arrange a test as soon as possible. For further information on the virus, its symptoms and how to book a test, visit www.pha.site/coronavirus
We must be aware that COVID-19 is still a threat and we need everyone to play their part in helping to stop the virus spreading.
If you receive a positive test result you will be contacted by the PHA’s Contact Tracing Service from 028 9536 8888.
If you do not answer the call the first time, the team will try another four times to get in contact with you – this is because it is really important that we speak to you. The reason for this call is to help us identify anyone you have been in close contact with who may be a risk of getting COVID-19, so we can offer them support and guidance on self-isolation and the need to get tested if they develop symptoms.
Close contacts will be contacted by the team using the same 028 9536 8888 number.
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