Over the last week, five more CEMEX UK employees have tested positive for Coronavirus, with 15 active cases in total. In line with the cases being reported nationally, this number may increase as we get closer to the winter months. The UK is currently seeing an average of around 35,000 new cases and over 700 hospitalisations each day, with the number of new cases showing a clear upward trend. 

The high percentage of fully vaccinated people in the UK (currently at 78.7%, including children aged 12 and above) is helping to keep the number of hospitalisations down, but healthcare experts and the Government predict a ‘bumpy winter’ is ahead.

There are fears that, with fewer restrictions in place this year, other infections such as norovirus, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and flu will make an unwelcome return this winter to increase pressures on the NHS.

We are seeing more and more employees becoming ill with either colds or the flu but testing negative for Coronavirus. We would therefore like to encourage everyone to take precautions where they can to prevent the transmission of infections.

Please get a flu vaccine this year if you can and remember that CEMEX will reimburse employees for the cost of this jab (up to £15). This will truly help to protect yourself, your families and your colleagues, but also ensure we are all playing our part to support the NHS and prevent it becoming overwhelmed during the winter months.

Additionally, while the majority of adults are fully vaccinated against Coronavirus, latest figures for the UK show that 1 in 10 people are likely to not be vaccinated at all, while 2 in 10 people have not received both doses of the jab. Please, if you have not done so already and are able to, make the time and effort to get your COVID jab. The vaccine has been proven to reduce the risk of catching the virus, and those who catch it following the jab may have less severe symptoms – which in turn helps to keep the number of hospitalisations down.

If we are to prevent the NHS coming under pressure over the winter then we must all do what we can to support it, and those who work for it, by getting our vaccines. Continuing to follow the Behaviours that Save Lives and our COVID protocols will also help to reduce the risk of infection.