Homes to receive postcard with advice during lockdown

Dorset Council has started sending out the postcards via Royal Mail as they aim to support residents during the pandemic.

The two-sided postcards state Covid-19 cases are ‘very high’ across the county and ask people to follow the lockdown measures and stay at home.

Each contain the reasons people can leave their homes, the symptoms of coronavirus, how to book a Covid-19 test and further information about its DorsetTogether helpline.

The postcards have been produced and paid for using some of the council's funding from central government, which was given with the aim of helping authorities reduce the spread of Covid-19.

A spokeswoman for Dorset Council confirmed the postcards are already being sent to more than 187,000 households.

She also explained the postcard is aimed to remind people of the lockdown measures as well as offer support to vulnerable residents.

She said: “Many people in the Dorset Council area are following the rules which helps keep our cases lower than many other places.

“However, the number of Covid-19 patients in hospital beds across Dorset has more than quadrupled in just two weeks, so it is important we keep getting the message out that we all need to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.

“As well as reinforcing the messages from other official sources, the postcard contains contact numbers and web addresses, should residents need help or a COVID test.

“People may wish to keep the postcard handy in case they find they need support in the coming weeks.

“The council has a responsibility to make sure residents are aware of the latest rules and guidelines.

“Sending a postcard helps us reach those people who don’t have the benefit of obtaining information in other ways, like the internet, or who may not use the internet or purchase a newspaper.

“Central government has provided funding for councils to put in place measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19. Some of this funding has been used to produce this postcard.”