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. As per PM’s 11 May message, the country is in the process of moving from Level 4 to Level 3 by the new COVID Alert System and taking the first step in relaxing lockdown measures – According to the PM’s statement “Thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of the British people in this lockdown, we have helped to bring the R level down and we are now in a position to begin moving to Level 3, in steps”.

 

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 28 May, 269,127 people have tested positive. As of 5pm on 27 May, of those tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, 37,837 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	348	253.0 per 100,000 resident
East Suffolk	595	239.7 per 100,000 resident
Mid Suffolk	171	166.8 per 100,000 resident
Babergh	146	159.7 per 100,000 resident
West Suffolk	221	123.5 per 100,000 resident
Suffolk	1,481	195.2 per 100,000 resident

• PM press conference statement on the five tests: 28 May 2020 – transcript here

• • NHS’s ability to cope – On 27 May, 11% of mechanical ventilator beds in the UK were occupied by patients with coronavirus, down from a peak of 41% on 10 April. This significant progress means we are meeting the first test.
  • Daily death rates – As measured by a seven-day rolling average, the UK daily death rate now stands at 256, down from a peak of 943 on 14 April. While every death is one too many, it is now the case that there has been a sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rate, and so the second test is being met.
  • Rate of infection – In the last seven days, an average of 2,312 new cases were confirmed with a positive test, that’s down from a peak of 5,066 in the first week of May. Based on the various data available, the Government is satisfied that the third test is being met.
  • Operational challenges, including testing and PPE – Yesterday we carried out 119,587 tests, compared to around 12,000 at the start of April. Testing capacity has now increased to 161,214 a day. We have now signed over 100 new deals with PPE suppliers around the world. Here in the UK we have signed contracts for over two billion items of PPE, including facemasks, visors, gowns and aprons. We are therefore satisfied that the fourth test is being met and we can start to rebuild stocks.
  • Risk of second peak – I am very grateful to the Chief Scientific Adviser and the Chief Medical Officer for their assessments of the measures I am about to set out on schools, retail and social contact. This package has been carefully designed so that we can ease the burdens of lockdown while expecting to keep that R below one.
  • It is thanks to the caution we have shown so far that all five tests are being met.
  • In addition to previously announced reopening of schools and retail, from Monday (1 June) we will allow up to six people to meet outside – provided those from different households continue strictly to observe social distancing rules by staying two metres apart.
  • At the moment, people can meet in parks but not in private gardens. This was a cautious first step – but we know that there is no difference in the health risk. So we will now allow people to meet in gardens and other private outdoor spaces.
  • At this stage, I am afraid that those who have been asked to shield themselves should continue to do so.
  • Archive of slides, datasets and transcripts to accompany coronavirus press conferences available here.

·       NHS England: Millions of patients benefiting from remote consultations as family doctors respond to COVID-19 – With GPs and their teams standing ready to assist, one of the country’s top GPs has urged people to continue to come forward for care when they need it, as part of the NHS’ ongoing Help Us Help You campaign.

·       NHS England: First Seacole Centre opens doors as NHS expands COVID rehab services – first new dedicated COVID-19 rehab hospital received its first patients.

·       BBC: Rishi Sunak urged by MPs to extend self-employed help – While the furlough scheme, which pays 80% of employed workers’ wages, has been extended to October, help for the self-employed ends this weekend.

 

Suffolk

Test and Trace: Through the Suffolk Resilience Forum, we are bringing organisations across Suffolk together to plan how we respond to situations arising out of the Test and Trace programme, including management of local outbreaks. Outbreak control plans will focus on identifying and containing potential outbreaks in places such as workplaces, housing complexes, care homes and schools, ensuring testing capacity is deployed effectively and helping the most vulnerable in self-isolation access essential services in their area. Currently colleagues across the Suffolk system from NHS to District & Borough councils have come together to plan for the Test and Trace programme implementation so that Suffolk is ready when the programme is rolled out. The Government has also announced some additional funding to local authorities (£300m nationally) which will be deployed to further strengthen our local approach.

Safer Spaces: Businesses, towns and spaces in Suffolk are getting extra help to make them safer and reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading as lockdown measures are eased. Support to make this happen comes from the ‘Safer Places’ group, part of the Suffolk Resilience Forum, which is made up of Suffolk’s NHS, Emergency and Public Services. The Government has announced a phased easing of rules around businesses and other properties opening, starting in June. The group is supporting businesses to meet this national guidance, allowing them to trade safely and keep their customers safe. As well as the retail sector, councils and public services are looking at their own areas and facilities in readiness for changes in national guidelines, such as car parks. The Safer Places group will also be engaging with local organisations, communities and councillors and organisations to look at tailored solutions for their particular areas. Measures are likely to evolve as guidance changes or improvements are made. Click here for more information.

Schools update: Schools across Suffolk will begin to open from Monday 1 June 2020 to some pupils. SCC has worked closely with schools throughout the pandemic and we continue to support school leaders as they open their doors to more pupils over the coming weeks. The priority for each and every schools is to ensure the safety of all pupils and staff and the decision to open to more pupils is made by each individual school who will base the decision on detailed risk assessments and the resources they have available. For more information on which schools are open and to which pupils please visit; https://schoolclosures.suffolk.gov.uk/. Parents can also access more information on our website click here.

 

SPCN Survey: SPCN are running a survey to find out what practical support families of children/young people aged 0-25 with additional needs and/or disabilities need at the current time and over the coming months. For more information and/or to complete the survey click here.

 

 

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
NEW	COVID-19: advice for smokers and vapers	people who smoke or vape	People who smoke generally have an increased risk of contracting respiratory infection and of more severe symptoms once infected. Coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms may therefore be more severe for smokers. This guidance advises how to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 for those who smoke or vape, and how to access support to stop smoking and remain smokefree.
NEW	Coronavirus and the social impacts on Great Britain: 29 May 2020	Professionals	Indicators from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey covering the period 21 May to 24 May 2020 to understand the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on people, households and communities in Great Britain. Main Points include: – More people have left their home this week, with 90% of adults saying they had left for any reason compared with 86% last week. – The most common reasons for leaving home continue to be: essential shopping, exercise, work and medical need; however, leaving to meet with others in a public place has seen the largest increase this week. – Over 4 in 10 adults who had left their home (42%) had visited a park or public green space this week – with 36% of these saying they had met with family or friends from outside of their household. – Over 1 in 3 adults in employment (36%) said they had left their home to travel to and from work in the past seven days, a similar level to last week. – Almost 3 in 10 adults (29%) said they felt unsafe or very unsafe when outside of their home this week, compared with over 4 in 10 (41%) last week. – Almost 3 in 10 adults (29%) reported that they had used face coverings outside of their home in the past week, most commonly whilst shopping.
NEW	Apply for the coronavirus Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund	small and micro businesses	The Discretionary Grant Fund supports small and micro businesses that are not eligible for other grant schemes.
UPDATED	COVID-19: number of outbreaks in care homes – management information	Care home management	Added latest weekly data*. Up to the 24th May 2020: – England had 6,102 outbreaks in care homes (39.3%) – East of England had 722 outbreaks in care homes (41.9%) – Suffolk had 103 outbreaks in care homes (54.8%). – Babergh: 39.3% of care homes have had an outbreak (number =11) – East Suffolk: 53.8% of care homes have had an outbreak (number =43) – Ipswich: 70.8% of care homes have had an outbreak (number =17) – Mid Suffolk: 70.0% of care homes have had an outbreak (number =14) – West Suffolk: 50.0% of care homes have had an outbreak (number =18)   *Any individual care home will only be included in the dataset once. If a care home has reported more than one outbreak, only the first is included in this dataset.
UPDATED	Answers to the most common topics asked about by the public for the coronavirus press conference	Everyone	Added a fourth topic area: COVID alert level, blood donors and immunity. This includes 3 new questions about testing blood donors, how the COVID alert level is calculated, and if people who have had the virus are immune from catching it again.
UPDATED	Help children aged 2 to 4 to learn at home during coronavirus (COVID-19)	parents and carers of early years children who have not yet started school	Updated guidance to include information on mental health and wellbeing.
UPDATED	How tests and testing kits for coronavirus (COVID-19) work	public, patients, professionals and industry	Updated ‘For patients, the public and professional users’ and ‘For industry and manufacturers’ with new information on temporarily stopping the sale of COVID-19 antibody tests for members of the public until the regulatory and safety concerns are resolved.
UPDATED	Heatwave Plan for England	Professionals	Leaflet, flyer, posters and hyperlinks in Heatwave Plan updated. Additional hot weather and COVID-19 specific resources added.
UPDATED	Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)	General public travelling and living overseas	Added link for how to get a test in the ‘when you return to the UK’ section
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	Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance	Main collection of guidance for anyone in any setting	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
4	Mental health support and advice from: WHO mentalhealth.org.uk Ipswich & East CCG Living Life To The Full NHS Practitioner Wellbeing Samaritans	General public, staff and carers
5	Chronic disease self- care during COVID-19: Asthma Diabetes	General public
6	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
	Support from the Suffolk Growth Programme Board (SGPB)	Everyone	SGPB is a partnership of all Suffolk local authorities, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, University of Suffolk and New Anglia LEP. In Suffolk our Economy & business recovery work for COVID- 19 is being led by SGPB and the website includes links to funding / surveys / economic impact work. Please do pass this information on to your contacts.
	Suffolk Domestic Abuse 24/7 Helpline – Freephone 0800 977 5690	Everyone	The freephone number is live from 9am on Friday 22nd May 2020 for anyone with concerns including professionals who may be supporting clients as well as friends and family members who are concerned for loved ones.
	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 129, 28 May