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 22 April, 411,192 people have been tested, of whom 133,495 have tested positive. As of 5pm on 21 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 18,100 have died. Full details and latest numbers are available here.

• In Suffolk we have 715 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 (22 April 2020) – transcript here

• • The greatest risk for us now, if we eased up on our social distancing rules too soon, is that we would risk a second spike in the virus with all the threats to life that would bring, and then the risk of a second lockdown which would prolong the economic pain that we’re going through.
  • Tribute paid to armed forces and the whole MoD led by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace who have crucially helped build new NHS Nightingale hospitals and supported Local Resilience Forums in delivering PPE.
  • 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

• Britain’s biggest network of diagnostic labs are completed in 5 weeks – Sites in Milton Keynes, Glasgow and Alderley Park in Cheshire are now live and are already testing thousands of patient samples for coronavirus (COVID-19) each day.
• 19,000 British travellers return from cruise ships after major international effort – The FCO has worked with cruise operators and more than 20 international governments and militaries to arrange flights to get Brits home safely.
• Letter to councils about extending the statutory audit deadlines for 2019 to 2020 – the publication date for final, audited, accounts will move from 31 July for Category 1 authorities and 30 September for Category 2 authorities to 30 November 2020 for all local authority bodies.
• Transparency data on local authority payments to small and medium businesses – the data shows the total amount of money that each local authority in England has received from central government and distributed to SMEs to date.
• HM Treasury announces revision to the UK Debt Management Office’s financing remit 2020-21 – The government has announced an unprecedented package of measures to provide the critical support needed by individuals, families and businesses, through the economic disruption caused by COVID-19.
• Government begins large-scale virus infection and antibody test study – 20,000 households in England are being contacted to take part in the first wave of a major new government study to track coronavirus (COVID-19) in the general population.
• NHS England: Vulnerable people get direct line to NHS volunteer army – Millions of vulnerable people and their families will be able to directly call on the army of NHS Volunteer Responders
• BBC: Public Health England is recommending people consider taking daily vitamin D supplements throughout the spring and summer as the coronavirus lockdown continues.
• COVID mortality in Health & Care workforce – Health Service Journal has published analysis of COVID-19 deaths amongst health and care staff. NHS staff have borne the brunt of the virus onslaught and there is high risk of death among Black and Minority Ethnic staff. The following table shows the distribution of 106 deaths reported in the media as of 22 April by sector and location:

 

 

 

Suffolk

 

Letters to Home First customers regarding changes to the provision of their care: Suffolk County Council have written to Home First customers to inform them of upcoming changes to the provision of their care, namely the introduction of new staffing. Home First will see an increase in new staff beginning to visit customers including: new recruits, returning Home First workers and redeployed staff from within the county council. All new staff will be fully trained, have the correct level of PPE, have had DBS checks and will be wearing Suffolk County Council identification badges, but may not wear the usual Home First uniform. Customers are encouraged to verify the identification of the new staff and to contact the Home First team if they have any questions. The current workforce and new staff are fully supported by Home First Team Leads, Home First managers and Adult and Community Service management.

 

Personal Protective Equipment for frontline workers in Suffolk: A webpage has been set up on the Suffolk County Council website with information for health and care professionals about how to order, use and dispose of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) safely; and how businesses can donate or supply PPE. Visit https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/suffolks-response/personal-protective-equipment-for-frontline-workers for more information.

 

Mental Health resource for 19-25 year olds: More young adults in Suffolk will be able to seek help from Kooth after the free online counselling and emotional wellbeing support service has been extended in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Kooth was launched across the county on October 10 last year – World Mental Health Day – to provide support to young people aged between 11 and 18-years-old. But due to its success, and the outbreak of COVID19, it has now been extended to all young adults up to the age of 25. For more information visit; https://www.kooth.com/

 

A Space for Parents: Suffolk Family Careers have launched a new blog page on their website for parents. The space intended for those who are parent/carers of children and young people (CYP) who may have neurodevelopmental differences. This space will aim to provide some information and insights into topics they hope will be relevant and of interest to parents and parents are invited to provide their comments and queries via hello@suffolkfamilycarers.org. For more information visit; https://suffolkfamilycarers.org/category/a-space-for-parents/

 

SPCN Family Support Boxes: Suffolk Parent Carer Network (SPCN) have been hard at work getting Family Support boxes out to families The support boxes are completely free – and are designed to help families get through this time. The boxes contain items such as sensory bags, adult or children colouring books, stress balls, bubbles. In the first 4 weeks of sending them out they have reached over 1,200 children, young people and families across Suffolk. If you have any queries or know someone who might benefit from a box please email admin@spcn.org.uk. The team are also here to support you via phone 07341 126455, or message SPCN on social media

 

Suffolk Refugee Support: Suffolk Refugee support have published their spring newsletter with information about how they are adapting their services during the coronavirus crisis. Read the newsletter here; https://suffolkrefugee.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Suffolk-Refugee-Support-Spring-Newsletter.pdf

 

Who is your community hero?: We know there are many unsung community heroes in Suffolk working tirelessly to support and/or help others.  Community Action Suffolk have asked people to nominate their community heroes.  Whether it’s dressing up as a super hero to deliver food, taking part in fund raising challenges, starting a community response group, or going above and beyond to care for others with a smile to brighten someone’s day; so many people are playing their part.  There will be hundreds, nay thousands, of people across our county helping others and if we can say a big ‘THANK YOU’ to even just a few of them, it is a worthwhile endeavour. To make your nomination visit; https://www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk/community-hero/

 

Clap for Carers: It is Thursday once again so please don’t forget to #ClapforCarers tonight at 8pm and to praise the NHS. It is absolutely right that we show them our support and appreciation for all their tireless work but it is also worth remembering our other unsung heroes; care workers, social workers, family carers, foster carers, to name a few, during this show of appreciation.. These incredible people are showing great strength and dedication to others and are often doing this quietly in the background, just getting on and doing what needs to be done. Each and every one of them deserves to feel the support of the rest of the nation, so please try to think of them while we applaud our brilliant NHS this evening.

 

 

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	COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing	parents and carers on looking after children or young people
UPDATED	COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection	households with possible infection	Amended text in section on ‘Self-isolation’ to be consistent with text about ‘Household isolation’.
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 – 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	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	Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do	Everyone
6	Coronavirus: How to help safely	Everyone
7	Coronavirus (COVID-19) information leaflet	UK households
8	COVID-19 essential travel guidance	Public
9	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
10	Chronic disease self- care during COVID-19: Asthma Diabetes	General public
11	Children’s Commissioner: Children’s guide to coronavirus	children	Aimed at children: – Answer your questions about coronavirus – Tell you how to stay safe and protect other people – Help you make the best of your time at home Information correct as of 27 March 2020
12	Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested	critical workers who are self-isolating
13	Coronavirus (COVID-19): adult social care action plan	adult social care (includes people’s own homes, residential care homes and nursing homes, and other community setting)	This document sets out the government’s plan for: 1. controlling the spread of infection in care settings 2. supporting the workforce 3. supporting independence, supporting people at the end of their lives, and responding to individual needs 4. supporting local authorities and the providers of care
14	Coronavirus (COVID-19): social care guidance	social care	Homepage for all the main guidance for social care, including: – Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes – COVID-19: guidance for supported living and home care – COVID-19: ethical framework for adult social care – Coronavirus (COVID-19): changes to the Care Act 2014 – Coronavirus (COVID-19): hospital discharge service requirements – Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care
15	Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for children’s social care services	local authorities and their partners
16	Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings	staff, parents and carers, pupils and students.

 

 

Local Resources:

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

 

	Title	Who For	Comments
NEW	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.
• The number of confirmed cases reported by countries reflects national laboratory testing capacity and strategy, thus the interpretation of the number of cases reported should take this into account.
• WHO issued guidance on Safe Ramadan practices in the context of COVID-19, which is available in Arabic, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

 

Situation in Numbers WHO SitRep 93, 22 April (new since last 24hrs)

Location	Confirmed	Deaths
Globally	2 471 136 confirmed (73 920)	169 006 deaths (6058)
European Region	1 219 486 confirmed (32 302)	109 952 deaths (3618)
Regions of the Americas	925 291 confirmed (32 172)	44 775 deaths (2089)
Western Pacific Region	136 271 confirmed (1765)	5793 deaths (108)
Eastern Mediterranean Region	139 349 confirmed (4879)	6326 deaths (141)
South-East Asia	33 912 confirmed (2242)	1427 deaths (86)
African Region	16 115 confirmed (560)	720 deaths (16)