RESIDENTS are urged to keep sticking to the coronavirus guidelines after the latest announcement from nearby town Slough being a 'designated area of concern'.

Bracknell Forest Council is reinforcing the message that all residents need to stick to advice on handwashing, face coverings and social distancing to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission in the community.

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The town has a low infection rate but the killer virus is still prevalent with Slough being an area of 'concern' for Covid-19 cases.

BFC is asking people who travel to Slough to ensure regular hand washing, social distancing and wearing face masks and to avoid large crowds.

Cllr Marc Brunel-Walker, chair of the local outbreak engagement board, said: “We know that Slough has been designated an ‘area of concern’ today by Public Health England and the Department for Health and Social Care and this may be causing some concern in the Bracknell Forest community.

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“However, I’d like reassure residents that there is no need to panic, Bracknell Forest has a low infection rate. If you have to travel to Slough you can continue to do so, please make sure you follow good health and hygiene measures. This includes regular hand washing, social distancing, wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces and on public transport and avoiding large crowds and gatherings.

“What this does reinforce is that the virus has not gone away. To keep yourself and your loved ones safe and our borough open I’d urge you to make sure you take all relevant health and hygiene steps and self-isolate immediately and get tested if you have any of the COVID-19 symptoms.”

As restrictions ease, it is everyone’s responsibility to keep their distance, wash their hands regularly and wear a face covering where instructed. These simple steps can keep the borough safe, secure and open.

The simple, everyday steps that you can take to keep your loved ones and our borough safe from the virus, include:

•try to stay at least 2 metres away from anyone you do not live with (or anyone not in your support bubble)

•wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds

•use hand sanitiser if soap and water are not available

•wash your hands as soon as you get home

•cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze (not your hands)

•put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

•do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

•be extra vigilant around those medically vulnerable or who have been shielding

It’s also vitally important that anyone with symptoms self-isolates and gets tested. This offers one of the best lines of defence against the virus spreading and closing down the borough, specific venues or sections in the borough.

Symptoms include:

•a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)

•a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

•a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Testing is always free via the NHS. You can book a test on the NHS website or call 119. Anyone with symptoms should isolate immediately, alongside their household, and apply for a test.

If positive, you will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace to identify any close contacts who will also need to self-isolate.

You may be asked to self-isolate if you're told by NHS Test and Trace that you've been in contact with a person with coronavirus