Suffolk County Council – COVID-19 Daily Bulletin – 3 April

Current UK Risk Level : HIGH

The risk to the UK has been raised to high (as of 13/03/2020).

As of 13 Mar, UK is in the ‘delay’ phase of the government’s action plan to limit the spread of the virus.

 

Current UK Situation

  • As of 9am on 2 April 2020, 163,194 people have been tested, of which 33,718 were confirmed positive. As of 5pm on 1 April 2020, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 2,921 have died (this only includes deaths in hospital). The figures for test results and for deaths are compiled from different sources, which is why the figures for deaths are reported from an earlier point in time than the figures for test results. Latest numbers can be viewed here.
  • In Suffolk we have 157 confirmed cases. However, with routine community testing discontinued, these figures will not describe the full extent of cases locally. You can view the latest UK dashboard of cases by local authority here.
  • Government’s daily press conference: 2 April 2020
    • The construction of the NHS Nightingale hospital in London has been completed in 9 days, giving 4,000 bed capacity (equivalent to 10 district general hospitals). At the same time, the military are helping to construct additional capacity in Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.
    • Our best scientific analysis currently suggests that the rate of infection has been doubling every 3-4 days.
    • Today PHE have announced new PPE standards  that people should use and expect (see also highlighted in the table below). The WHO have confirmed these are in line with the WHO recommendations. Any health or care organisation that needs PPE should call the hotline.
    • £300 million announced for community pharmacies to support them during coronavirus outbreak – The advanced funding injection will support pharmacies to provide critical services to protect community health, including supplying medicines and providing medical advice to patients, during a period of unprecedented demand.
    • The Health Secretary is writing off £13.4 billion of historic NHS debt to support the NHS.
    • Health Secretary pledges a new 5-pillar nation plan to increase testing to 100,000 a day in England by the end of April, bringing together government, industry, academia, the NHS and many others, to dramatically increase the number of tests being carried out each day.
    • Currently 5.7% of doctors are absent due to COVID-19.
    • Press conference slides with the latest data from COBR coronavirus fact file (transport use, new cases, hospital admissions, deaths) and datasets available here.
    • View past press conferences on YouTube.
  • Almost £400 million to keep England’s buses running

 

SUFFOLK

 

  • PPE appeal: As announced yesterday, SCC has launched an appeal for businesses in the county to donate any unused Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure our critical front-line staff working in care homes, children’s homes and people’s own homes can continue to give care and support to Suffolk’s most vulnerable residents. We need; fluid repellent face masks, nitrile non powdered disposable gloves, disposable aprons, disposable eye protection/splash goggles and sanitiser gel. Donations of any PPE would significantly support the high levels of demand we have at this time across our care system and will help us to support Suffolk’s most vulnerable children and adults. We are willing to purchase stocks if donating PPE is something businesses could not support and would be happy to discuss this with them. If businesses think they could help we ask that they contact PPE@suffolk.gov.uk with; their current PPE stock information (type and quantity), where they are located in Suffolk and a contact number so we can get in touch.

 

  • Update from Ipswich Borough Council: More can be found here www.ipswich.gov.uk
    • The Council has secured additional accommodation to support it in providing accommodation for homeless households and individuals including rough sleepers. Nearly £150,000 has been allocated to secure this hotel accommodation for the next 12 weeks. The Council will continue to monitor demand and capacity in this area.
    • Ipswich Borough Council has introduced a free parking scheme in our car parks for crucial key NHS and social care staff. People who believe they qualify under this strict criteria can apply to mipermit@ipswich.gov.uk. This is in addition to the free use of some of our car parks for resident permit-holders who find their streets more congested as more people are at home all day. Enforcement will be carried out to ensure emergency vehicles and refuse collection crews can get through.
    • Ipswich town centre has seen a reduction in footfall of 70% compared with before the start of the Government’s main Coronavirus measures on 16th March 2020. On Tuesday 31st March just under 4,000 people were recorded on town centre sensors, rather than 14,000 people on Tuesday 10th March or 18,000 people on our busiest Tuesday in December 2019. The comparable figures for Saturdays are 3,750 on 28th March – 18,900 on 7th March and 23,400 on our busiest Saturday in December 2019. Ipswich Market have decided to discontinue trading until further notice (only food stalls had been permitted to operate).

 

  • OneLife Suffolk Stop Smoking support: We are pleased to let you know that the OneLife smoking cessation service continues to operate and is fully resourced to help smokers to quit. This is important as there is emerging evidence that smokers are at greater risk of coronavirus, not least because it is a respiratory illness and some smokers may already have heart or lung conditions which would increase the risk of serious illness. We wanted to take this opportunity to remind you that the countywide OneLife Suffolk cessation service continues to be available on a one-to-one, telephone basis. The dedicated team provides a 12-week behaviour change programme which has demonstrated that smokers are four times more likely to quit with this intensive support.

 

 

  • GCSEs, AS & A levels will be awarded in summer 2020: New guidance from Government here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/how-gcses-as-a-levels-will-be-awarded-in-summer-2020?utm_source=68820985-2466-4b6a-806f-1666ceaad64d&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

 

  • Suffolk Chamber of Commerce: Local authority portals in Suffolk are now live. To apply for the Coronavirus/COVID-19 £10k small business grant, or the £25k hospitality, leisure and retails grants. Please visit the relevant local authority portals which are now up and running:
    East Suffolk – 
    https://lnkd.in/dgbiC2f
    Ipswich – https://lnkd.in/d-mEdFA
    Babergh & Mid Suffolk – https://lnkd.in/dnhJrb9
    West Suffolk – No form but further information https://lnkd.in/dE-zjgh

 

 

Useful Websites (any new guidance is in RED)

The existing guidance is being updated extremely regularly (and in some cases daily) so please check any guidance relevant to your area to ensure that you are accessing the most up to date version. I will only be able to highlight new published and some other key published guidance in this bulletin.

#

Title

Who For

Comments

UPDATED

COVID-19: infection prevention and control

health and care systems and providers

updated guidance from Public Health England on PPE, including:
Table 1 – Recommended PPE for healthcare workers by secondary care clinical context
Table 2 – Recommended PPE for primary, outpatient, and community care
Table 3 – Recommended PPE for ambulance, paramedics, first responders and pharmacists

Table 4 – Additional considerations for COVID-19

UPDATED

COVID-19: personal protective equipment use for non-aerosol generating procedures

health and care professionals

Added updated PPE video.

NEW

Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes

care homes, local health protection teams, local authorities, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and registered providers

How to protect care home residents and staff during the coronavirus outbreak.

NEW

Personal protective equipment (PPE): export control process

exporters

Information for economic operators who will temporarily need a licence to export PPE outside the EU, EFTA member states and certain other territories.

UPDATED

Coronavirus (COVID-19): business support grant funding – guidance for local authorities

local authorities

added the grant funding allocations by local authority.

UPDATED

Business rates: expanded retail discount – guidance

businesses

Guidance updated to confirm that the government’s assessment that the expanded retail discount is not a state aid, and that local authorities should therefore award relief to all eligible properties.

UPDATED

MHRA guidance on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

industry

Published new advice on the use of testing kits and applications to place them on the market.

1

NHS – COVID-19 go-to page

General Public – this is the only site we should be promoting to the public for information

 

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
– for non-clinical settings
– for health professionals

 

4

Full guidance on staying at home and away from others

Everyone

The single most important action we can all take, in fighting coronavirus, is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.

5

COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection

households with possible infection

 

6

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

Everyone

 

7

Coronavirus: How to help safely

Everyone

 

8

COVID-19: guidance on social distancing and for vulnerable people

Everyone

 

9

COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable

All adults and children who should be shielded and their family, friends, and carers

 

10

PHE Health Matters

Post on General FAQs that include a section to submit questions at the bottom of the page.

 

11

PHE Campaign Resource Centre

Range of comms resources that can be used

 

12

COVID-19: guidance for the public on mental health and wellbeing

Everyone

 

13

COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing

parents and carers on looking after children or young people

 

14

Mental health support and advice from:

General public, staff and carers

 

15

Chronic disease self- care during COVID-19:

General public

 

16

COVID-19: cleaning of non-healthcare settings

non-healthcare settings

 

17

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for local government

Local councils

 

18

COVID-19 essential travel guidance

Public

 

19

COVID-19: guidance for care of the deceased

people required to manage bodies of deceased persons

 

20

Further businesses and premises to close

businesses

 

21

COVID-19: guidance for employees, employers and businesses

employees, employers and businesses

 

22

Coronavirus (COVID-19): changes to the Care Act 2014

local authorities

The guidance sets out how local authorities can use the new Care Act provisions, created under the Coronavirus Act 2020, to prioritise care and support for those who need it most.

The provisions are temporary and should only be used when it is not possible for local authorities to comply with their duties under the Care Act 2014.

This guidance must be read alongside the ethical framework for adult social care.

23

Coronavirus (COVID-19): business support grant funding – guidance for businesses

businesses

 

24

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

staff, parents and carers, pupils and students.

 

 

 

 

Global – WHO Situation Report

  • WHO RISK ASSESSMENT (Global Level) – Very High
  • WHO Covid-19 Dashboard for professionals using near real time data.

 

Situation in Numbers WHO SitRep 73, 2 April (new since last 24hrs)

Location

Confirmed

Deaths

Globally

896 450 confirmed (72 839)

45 525 deaths (4923)

Western Pacific Region

107 626 confirmed (1204)

3723 deaths (22)

European Region

503 006 confirmed (38 809)

33 604 deaths (3515)

South-East Asia

5324 confirmed (149)

216 deaths (21)

Eastern Mediterranean Region

58 168 confirmed (3887)

3279 deaths (164)

Regions of the Americas

216 912 confirmed (28161)

4565 deaths (1165)

African Region

4702 confirmed (629)

127 deaths (36)