Suffolk County Council – COVID-19 Daily bulletin – 19th May

Current UK Risk Level: HIGH

The risk to the UK remains high (as of 13/03/2020).

As of week commencing 11/05/2020, we’re moving into Phase two (Smarter controls) of the Government’s recovery strategy. The country is also moving from Level 4 to Level 3 by the new COVID Alert System and taking the first step in relaxing lockdown measures.

 

Please note the Government’s messaging is now  â€˜stay alert, control the virus, save lives’ (previously ‘stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives’)

 

 

Current UK Situation

  • As of 9am on 18 May, 1,887,051 people have been tested, of which 246,406 tested positive. As of 5pm on 17 May, of those tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, 34,796 have died. You can view the latest UK dashboard and cases by local authority here. Confirmed cases in Suffolk are broken down by Districts & Boroughs as follows:

 

Ipswich

323

234.9 per 100,000 resident

East Suffolk

551

222.0 per 100,000 resident

Mid Suffolk

162

158.1 per 100,000 resident

Babergh

135

147.7 per 100,000 resident

West Suffolk

196

109.6 per 100,000 resident

Suffolk

1,367

180.2 per 100,000 resident

  • Foreign Secretary’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 18 May 2020 – transcript here
    • Anyone now in the UK experiencing covid-19 symptoms – a new, continuous cough; high temperature; and now also a loss of or change in your normal sense of smell or taste – can book a test by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ Those unable to access the internet can call 119 in England and Wales or 0300 303 2713 in Scotland and Northern Ireland to book a test.
    • We’ve now recruited over 21,000 contact tracers and call handlers in England for the implementation of our test and trace programme. The work of these 21,000 will be supported by the NHS COVID-19 App, which we are piloting on the Isle of Wight at the moment and will then roll out across the country.
    • Press conference slides with the latest data from COBR coronavirus fact file (transport use, new cases, hospital admissions, deaths) and datasets available here.
    • a new, continuous cough
    • a high temperature, or
    • a loss of or change in their normal sense of smell or taste
    • The WHO will hold a global review of its handling of the pandemic following criticism from some nations. Chief among those critics is Donald Trump, who says he is giving the body 30 days to make “major changes” or his temporary freeze of US funding will be made permanent. 
    • In Chile’s capital Santiago, protesters and police have clashed amid tension over food shortages in lockdown. A number of Latin American countries are struggling in similar ways with large poor populations and weak social systems.
    • Brazil has overtaken the UK in terms of reported virus infections and now has the third-highest toll of cases following the US and Russia.
    • France and Germany are proposing a €500bn recovery fund for the worst affected EU countries.

Suffolk

 

  • Coronavirus cases within care home settings: SCC will be reporting weekly on the number of suspected or confirmed cases within Suffolk care home settings, that Suffolk County Council has been made aware of.  Below is a table showing the number of providers affected and the number of suspected and confirmed cases since reporting began on 21/04/2020. These figures are cumulative and are listed on area basis and will not include the details of any specific care homes. These figures include care homes, extra care housing and supported housing. As a notifiable disease, care homes are required to report any potential or confirmed cases of Coronavirus to Public Health England (PHE) in order that this can be captured as part of the national reporting processes and also for PHE to provide advice and guidance on infection control. Care providers are under no obligation to report suspected or confirmed cases to the county council.

 

21/04/2020

28/04/2020

05/05/2020

12/05/2020

19/05/2020

 

Providers affected

Suspected and confirmed Cases

Providers affected

Suspected and confirmed Cases

Providers affected

Suspected and confirmed Cases

Providers affected

Suspected and confirmed cases

Providers affected

Suspected and confirmed cases

Ipswich and East Suffolk

30

157

43

209

54

259

47

216

38

199

West Suffolk

13

61

12

78

17

113

20

115

19

82

Waveney

7

47

14

76

14

64

12

86

10

71

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

50

265

69

363

85

436

79

417

67

352

 

  • The NHS is still here to help: Councillor James Reeder, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Public Health and Prevention, discusses the roll we have all played in helping to protect the NHS and the ways in which the NHS are still able to support Suffolk’s residents as a result. The full article is available on the Suffolk County Council website.

 

  • Mental Health Awareness Week – Supporting Suffolk: During Mental Health Awareness Week, it’s important to know that help is available if you are experiencing low mood, stress and anxiety. Suffolk’s Wellbeing Service (for those living in East and West Suffolk) and the Norfolk and Waveney Wellbeing Service (for those living in Waveney) offers a range of free support services. The national Every Mind Matters programme includes simple tips and advice for boosting your wellbeing, including a downloadable Mind Plan to get information tailored to you. If you are concerned about someone else’s mental health, or are simply looking for useful information, tips and advice, why not visit the dedicated COVID Information Hub at www.healthysuffolk.org.uk/COVIDHub This website brings together information and resources from local and national sources, grouped by age range or area of interest.

 

 

Useful Websites (any new guidance is in RED)

The existing guidance is being updated extremely regularly so please check any guidance relevant to your area to ensure that you are accessing the most up to date version. We are not including in this table all the published material but some of the key guidance that would be relevant to Suffolk County Council and our partners

 

 

Title

Who For

Comments

UPDATED

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance

Main collection of guidance for anyone in any setting

Added to all key guidance a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of smell or taste (anosmia) as a symptom of coronavirus

Guidance includes:
– Guidance for the public (incl. social distancing and shielding)
– Guidance for non-clinical settings (incl. cleaning, educational settings, employees, employers, businesses, residential care, supported living and home care)
– Guidance for health professionals
– Infection prevention and control (incl. PPE)
– Sampling and diagnostics

UPDATED

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings

staff, parents and carers, pupils and students.

Update “Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak” – 19.4 What is the effect of coronavirus on governing boards’ duties to consider reinstatement of excluded pupils, and the process for independent review panels (IRPs)

UPDATED

Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for people in England with animals

pet owners and livestock keepers

There is NO evidence that:
– coronavirus is circulating in pets or other animals in the UK
– pets, other domestic animals or livestock can transmit the disease to humans
– you need to wash your pets to control the spread of coronavirus. Never use household or commercial cleaning products, disinfectants or antibacterial wipes on pets.

If you do not have symptoms of coronavirus, you may:
– leave your house to provide care for your horse or livestock.
– ride your horse

You must stay 2 metres away from others. You should wash your hands before and after contact with any animals.

1

NHS – COVID-19 go-to page

General Public

 

2

GOV.UK – COVID-19 homepage

Main cover webpage for all government guidance for public & professionals alike

 

3

Staying alert and safe (social distancing)

Everyone

This has replaced previous guidance ‘Staying at home and away from others (social distancing)’

4

Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do

Everyone

 

5

Mental health support and advice from:

General public, staff and carers

 

6

Chronic disease self- care during COVID-19:

General public

 

7

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) COVID-19 homepage

Professionals

 

 

 

Local Resources:

Below are any local resources that would be relevant to Suffolk County Council and our partners.  

 

 

Title

Who For

Comments

 

New Anglia: Employment Opportunities in Key Sectors in Norfolk and Suffolk  

Individuals and Businesses wanting to know what employment opportunities are available in some of our key sectors

The New Anglia LEP – alongside other partners including local authorities – have pulled together lists and links to key employment roles needed now as part of the response to the current crisis.

 

Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership

Everyone

The website aims to help everyone understand the signs of neglect or abuse and what to do if they are worried about a child or an adult.

 

NEW ANGLIA GROWTH HUB

Businesses needing support

­

A one stop shop source of information for government support and guidance available to  businesses including 121 business advice sources of business grants and loans.

 

Healthy Suffolk: COVID-19 Emotional Wellbeing, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Information Hub

Everyone

This page contains links to a wealth of resources and support for your health and wellbeing.

 

Suffolk County Council: Coronavirus information

Everyone

Suffolk County Council coronavirus (COVID-19) information, including health advice, service changes, business support and schools guidance.

 

Keep Moving Suffolk

Everyone

The website contains free resources, ideas, tips, useful links and positive stories to encourage people to stay active during these unprecedented times.  The website and our social channels will be constantly updated.

 

 

Global: WHO Situation Report – reports available here

  • WHO RISK ASSESSMENT (Global Level) – Very High
  • WHO Covid-19 Dashboard for professionals using near real time data.
  • GOARN COVID-19 Knowledge hub – central repository of quality public health information, guidance, tools and webinars which can be accessed freely at any point.

 

Situation in Numbers WHO SitRep 119, 18 May