A HEALTH leader in Oxfordshire has placed emphasis on individual responsibility, encouraging people to make use of the good habits they have built during the pandemic like wearing masks in public spaces and social distancing.

The message from Ansaf Azhar, Oxfordshire County Council's director of public health, comes only hours after Oxford recorded a 21 per cent spike in Covid-19 infections amongst the 30-59 age group.

The city will continue to rely on pop-in PCR facilities, where all adults can now get tested, and walk-in vaccine centres that do not require making an appointment in advance.

Mr Azhar set out plans for 'living with Covid', which are in line with central Government, as he ruled out localised restrictions in the county in the near future, even though Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed last week that local authorities will continue to hold emergency powers if local outbreaks occur even after July 19 – the so-called 'Freedom Day'.

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The public health director said: ""What we have to recognise is that in Oxford City , we saw cases rates rising to unprecedented levels quite dramatically.

"And they were rising to higher rate than for the rest of the country, so we had to do something.

"Most importantly, we have secured the right testing and vaccination provision, and that is why being an enhanced response area was helpful.

"But we are moving away from interventions and specific restrictions, and instead towards personal responsibility.

"What we saw in Oxford City are rates higher than in the rest of the county and country, so that is why we have to act very quickly."

Since PCR facilities opened in the city, at least 3,000 people in this age group have undergone testing.

As part of the Government's enhanced response for the area aiming to 'nip this spread in the bud', the facilities will be available for at least another week.

The venues offering these are South Park (St Clement’s end), The Blavatnik School of Government, Walton Street, and Manzil Way Gardens, Cowley Road.

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As Oxfordshire County Council is beginning to get the rates in Oxford, particularly amongst younger people, 'under control', the key message to people is to exercise personal judgement and rely less on restrictions.

Mr Azhar added: "I certainly do not think that is a way to go – we are going to have to live with the virus for a long time, so what we have to do is follow to sensible measures we always have.

"Keep your distance, wear a face covering when you are travelling and think about who you are going to meet and whether you can do a test before that.

"By large, residents in the city have done an excellent job."

In addition to having to plans to introduce any local restrictions, Oxfordshire County Council is not considering making masks mandatory on public transport too unlike other cities like London, where wearing a face covering will remain compulsory.

Mr Azhar added that at this stage it is not 'particularly useful' to consider such restrictions.

This is also the direction for travel nationally.

Following some confusion about travel in and out of Oxford following an announcement from the county council asking people to exercise caution when travelling, he reiterated that this is not a travel ban.

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He explained: "If people have made firm plans, then we do not expect them to change them.

"Instead, it is about minimising it and getting a test done before it, and thinking about who you will be meeting and where.

"We have to continue with out good habits."

Current case rates in the county stand as Oxford – 447.3 cases per 100,000, Cherwell – 212 cases per 100,000, South Oxfordshire – 234.4 cases per 100,000, Vale of White Horse 202.9 cases per 100,000, and West Oxfordshire 302.8 cases per 100,000.

In addition to further testing facilities in Oxford, more walk-in Covid-19 vaccine clinics are also being made available to people in the city and in Banbury.

Currently, these are Iffley Road Sports Centre, Iffley Road, Cowley , Ewert House, Summertown, and Banbury Cross Health Centre, South Bar House.