Play areas and outdoor gym equipment in city parks will re-open next week, says City of Wolverhampton Council.

Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Following Public Health advice, we are now in a position to re-open our play areas and outdoor gym equipment so residents - young and old

– can enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of the outdoors from Monday 17 August.

“We can’t do this alone and will be relying on the support of families to take responsibility for their children at all times. It’s crucial that we stay alert.

“I would ask that people keep to the advice on signage, respect social distancing, and clean their hands regularly. The health, wellbeing and safety of our residents remains our priority.

“We’ll be closely monitoring things, and if transmission rates increase or visitors do not respect the guidance, then, regrettably, we will be left with no alternative but to close them again.”

Play areas and outdoor gym equipment will be inspected and maintained regularly. Safety rules for these areas will only work if fully supported by residents.

Guidance includes:

• Staying away and at home if suffering with any coronavirus symptoms.
• Bringing hand sanitiser to use before, during, and after using play areas and outdoor gym equipment.
• Keeping to social distancing guidance and following the latest Government and Public Health advice.
• Parents, guardians, carers, taking full responsibility for their children when youngsters are using the equipment.

Everyone is reminded they should book a test if they show symptoms of Covid-19, such as a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. For more information, and

to apply for a test, please go to www.gov.uk/coronavirus

or call 119. All appointments must be booked in advance.

Walk-in test sites are available at locations across the city. People with Covid-19 symptoms can visit Showell Road, off Stafford Road and Whitmore Reans Health Centre in Lowe Street without need to book in advance.

People can also use the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust's Ask A&E tool at

http://rwt.nhs.uk/askaande/

to input and monitor their symptoms and speak to a healthcare professional via video chat if required.

Anyone in Wolverhampton who tests positive for Covid-19 will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will need to isolate and share information about people that have been close contacts recently.

The latest information and guidance around coronavirus is available at

www.gov.uk/coronavirus

and on the council’s own coronavirus pages at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus.

There’s lots of advice on how people can protect themselves and their families from coronavirus from the NHS at

www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.

The council’s Stay Safe, Be Kind campaign offers clear and simple advice about how people can help themselves, and how they can support others who may be particularly vulnerable at this time. For more information,

please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/stay-safe-be-kind.