All residents living in care homes across Cheshire West and Chester have now been vaccinated against Covid-19.

The latest statistics from Cheshire West and Chester Council for the borough show that 100 per cent of residents and more than 80 per cent of staff members have been vaccinated.

These figures exceed the national safe level for protection against Covid-19 laid down by government scientific advisors with the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).

This latest positive news comes in the wake of an announcement that care settings across the borough are currently free from Covid-19 infection.

Ian Ashworth, Director of Public Health said: "This is a massive achievement and we would like to thank all our care staff across the adult care sector for making this possible and for their dedication and commitment to ensuring the residents in their care remain protected.

"We will continue to work with our health partners to ensure that all remaining care staff can get vaccinated and urge anyone who is experiencing difficulty in this regard to contact their GP."

Care home residents in Cheshire West and Chester are now able to have two named visitors, in addition to an essential caregiver.

Other family members and friends can also continue to visit their loved ones through arrangements such as outdoor visiting, rooms with substantial screens, visiting pods, or from behind windows.

In welcoming all the positive developments, Mr Ashworth stressed that protecting the public by preventing the further spread of the virus remained the borough's top priority.

He said: "Whilst this is extremely positive news it is important that we continue to protect our staff and residents and ask everyone visiting or working within a care home setting to continue to wear face coverings and PPE whilst in close contact with residents.

"We have seen in the past how persistent Covid-19 can be. We cannot afford to risk undoing all this good work.

"We must continue to do all we can to prevent the further spread of the virus."

For more information guidance on visiting care homes, click here