People in one area of the Liverpool City Region are being urged to keep getting tested for coronavirus after their second vaccination.
Residents across St Helens are being encouraged to keep testing regularly even if they have had both of their Covid-19 vaccinations in order to help combat high infection rates across the borough.
St Helens Council said that although having both vaccinations can potentially reduce the risk of serious illness from Covid-19 by between 60% and 88% - it does not completely prevent the transmission of the virus of others.
Read more: Woman's message for binman who went into her back garden
Latest figures for the borough show that coronavirus infection rates in the St Helens area for the seven days up to the July 5 are at 400 per 100,000 people, with positive cases also continuing to increase.
The ECHO understands that in early May there were five cases a day, but now it is reaching 100 new cases a day.
Councillor David Baines, Leader of St Helens Borough Council, said: "It is tempting to assume that once you have had your second vaccination you are effectively out of the woods in terms of the risk of infection, either to yourselves or others.
"However while the risk of serious infection from Covid-19 is significantly reduced when you have had your second jab you can still pass the virus onto friends or other family members.
"Because of this we would urge anyone who has had either one or both doses of the vaccination to continue regular lateral flow testing twice weekly and to register the results. This protects you and others you come into contact with."
Ruth Du Plessis, director of Public Health at St Helens Borough Council, said: "Testing regularly and then registering your results are both very important in terms of helping us to take monitor what is happening so we can action quickly and to contain the spread of localised outbreaks in the borough.
"Do make every effort to test each week and then register your results online. If people are not able to record their results online you can also register them by ringing 119.
"If you do test positive, then make sure you and your household isolate at home for 10 days and arrange a PCR test to confirm the result."
Join our St Helens news, community and Facebook group here.
Regular home testing is vital, particularly for those without symptoms (asymptomatic) to help protect those who close to you and prevent outbreaks. Registering the results is vital so we know who has been tested and where rates are at the highest and lowest. You can register your results here.
Testing kits are available to use for free. You can order a pack of lateral flow tests here. For more information click here.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
