Richmond Council has joined the Keep London Safe campaign to address low awareness of coronavirus testing and contact tracing in the capital.

This week the council launched a pop-up test centre in Old Deer Park, but its leader Cllr Gareth Roberts said he is "incredibly concerned that too many people appear to be letting their guard down and no longer see Covid-19 as a threat".

Keep London Safe is a collaboration between London Councils, the 32 London boroughs and the City of London Corporation, supported by Public Health England, the NHS and the Greater London Authority.

The partnership will span borough boundaries and address the challenges of London's diversity, deprivation and density.

It has been designed to reach communities across the capital by sharing key national public health messages around Covid-19 after a poll showed 46 per cent of Londoners don't know how to get a test.

Richmond Council, along with businesses and community groups, will promote the 'Keep Richmond upon Thames' message to all residents through social media, posters and adverts.

Council leader's message

Cllr Roberts said: "I'm incredibly concerned that too many people appear to be letting their guard down and no longer see Covid19 as a threat.

"They are wrong.

"We must maintain our vigilance and stick to the rules which have ensured that, at least here in Richmond, we have been able to keep infections down.

"This London-wide campaign demonstrates how important it is that we do everything necessary to keep the number of Covid-19 cases down in Richmond upon Thames and get the number down across the rest of London."

He added: "This isn't a game, the threat is real and ever-present.

"We only have to look at other regions in the UK or to our neighbouring countries to see how delicate the balance is.

"It is everybody's responsibility to help ensure that we Keep London Safe."

Latest virus figures for Richmond

There have been 11 new cases of Covid-19 in Richmond in the past 11 days, official figures show.

It gives the borough an infection rate of 281.3 cases per 100,000 people in the population, below the London average of exactly 400 cases per 100,000 and a UK average of 470.

A poll carried by YouGov for the Greater London Authority in June found that:

• 46 per cent of Londoners don't know how to get a test and 35 per cent know little to nothing about NHS Test and Trace
• One in four Londoners wouldn't use a contact tracing app – and concern about privacy is by far the biggest reason

New cases in London are low

Public Health England's London regional director Professor Kevin Fenton said: "Alongside our local partners, our health protection experts at PHE London have been working tirelessly to keep Londoners safe and healthy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Importantly, Londoners have played a central role by following the government advice on social distancing, self-isolation, wearing face coverings and practising good hand hygiene.

"Thanks to this hard work, new cases of coronavirus in the city are low, but we must remain vigilant to keep London safe.

"We call on all Londoners to keep playing their part - if you have a new continuous cough, a high temperature, or a loss of or change to your sense of smell or taste, stay at home and arrange a test immediately and if needed, support the work of NHS Test and Trace.

"All of this will help keep your local community, your borough and London as a city, a safe and healthy place to live."

Symptoms and how to book a test

If you think you have COVID-19 symptoms, get a test immediately. Call 119 or visit the NHS website to book a test.

Symptoms include:

• A high temperature
• A new, continuous cough, or
• A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

If NHS Test and Trace gets in touch to say you have been in contact with someone with Covid-19, you must follow their instructions and stay at home for 14 days.

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