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 âdelayâ phase of the governmentâs action plan to limit the spread of the virus.
Current UK Situation
- As of 9am on 23 April, 425,821 people have been tested, of whom 138,078 have tested positive. As of 5pm on 22 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 18,738 have died. Full details and latest numbers are available here.
- In Suffolk we have 814 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.
- Governmentâs daily press conference (23 April 2020) â as of 9AM, transcript not available
- New measures to protect UK high street from aggressive rent collection and closure – High street shops and other companies under strain will be protected from aggressive rent collection and asked to pay what they can during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Councils given flexibility with free childcare funding – Councils can move free entitlements funding between settings in exceptional cases to meet demand during Coronavirus outbreak
- Coronavirus testing extended to all essential workers in England who have symptoms – All essential workers in England and members of their households who are showing symptoms of coronavirus will now be able to get tested.
- Access to parks and public spaces, including burial grounds and cemeteries â Government urges local governments to continue allowing access to parks and public spaces and highlights updated guidance to make clear that burial grounds and cemeteries may remain open, and that grounds surrounding crematoria may also remain open, including gardens of remembrance.
- Scottish Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making – Sets out challenges Scotland faces and outlines the approach that will guide decisions about transitioning out of the current lockdown arrangements.
- Royal Pharmaceutical Societyâs guidance On ethical, professional decision making in the COVID-19 Pandemic aimed at pharmacists.
- Centre for Economic Performance: When to release the lockdown â This report from the Centre of Economics Performance compares the economic benefits of releasing the lockdown with the social and psychological benefits using the number of wellbeing years approach (WELLBYs) similar to the Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) approach used in health care.
Suffolk
Letâs Get Cultural and Creative: Suffolk Libraries have launched a new online directory of arts and culture experiences, curated by Suffolk County Council and other partner organisations, which will allow access to these resources during the Uk lockdown. This includes content provided by Dance East, Suffolk Archives, Red Rose Chain, and many more. The Letâs Get Cultural and Creative web directory can be found here: www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/letsgetcreative
Businesses Against Scams: Suffolk businesses are being encouraged to join Businesses Against Scams, an initiative from National Trading Standards, which supports businesses in avoiding COVID-19 related fraud and scams. As many businesses are adapting to working remotely, and away from their office locations, fraudsters are exploiting this transitional period to defraud businesses across the UK. More information available on Business Against Scams website: www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/BAS
Suffolk Voluntary Sector COVID-19 Impact Survey: Community Action Suffolk have released the results of the Suffolk Voluntary Sector COVID-19 Impact Survey to allow Suffolk organisations in the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise sector to have information accessible to help make businesses decisions in a very challenging climate. The results are available here: www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk
Spiritual and Pastoral Support: The Church of England in Suffolk are offering NHS staff and key workers in the care sector, from all faiths and none, spiritual and pastoral support on their new helpline 01473563563. The phoneline is staffed 24 hours, seven days a week. More information can be found at: www.cofesuffolk.org/bishops/nhs-support
Construction of The Hold to resume: Work on The Hold, Suffolkâs new records and heritage centre, is set to resume after social distancing procedures were agreed with the contractors RG Carter. Initially due to finish at the beginning of May, progress has been hindered by delays caused by the coronavirus. Delivery of the project is expected in summer 2020, however, this is still subject to change in the current and uncertain environment.
Collaborative Communities Covid-19 Board Update: This infographic shows the work that has been done by the Collaborative Communities Covid-19 Board so far, which includes foodbanks, donations, the Home, But Not Alone phoneline, and emergency food parcels:
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 |
bereaved families, friends or next of kin |
Information to help bereaved families, friends or next of kin make important decisions. |
|
|
NEW |
[For those overseas] Wellbeing and mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic |
UK residents currently abroad |
Advice about how to look after your wellbeing and mental health if you cannot return to the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
|
UPDATED |
What parents and carers need to know about schools and education during the coronavirus outbreak |
parents and carers |
Updated sections on closures, transport, vulnerable children, critical workers and resources. Removed information about Easter holidays. |
|
UPDATED |
Main collection of guidance for anyone in any setting |
Updated health professionals guidance for stepdown of infection control precautions within hospitals and discharging COVID-19 patients from hospital to home settings – added clarifications of testing capacity and strategy. For health professionals added âguidance for taking swab samplesâ. |
|
|
UPDATED |
Work out 80% of your employees’ wages to claim through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme |
businesses who have furloughed staff due to coronavirus |
How to claim’ section has been updated |
|
1 |
General Public â this is the only site we should be promoting to the public for information |
|
|
|
2 |
Main cover webpage for all government guidance for public & professionals alike |
|
|
|
3 |
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. |
|
|
4 |
Everyone |
|
|
|
5 |
Everyone |
|
|
|
6 |
UK households |
|
|
|
7 |
Mental health support and advice from: |
General public, staff and carers |
|
|
8 |
Chronic disease self- care during COVID-19: |
General public |
|
|
9 |
children |
Aimed at children: Information correct as of 27 March 2020 |
|
|
10 |
critical workers who are self-isolating |
|
|
|
11 |
adult social care (includes peopleâs own homes, residential care homes and nursing homes, and other community setting) |
This document sets out the governmentâs plan for: |
|
|
12 |
social care |
Homepage for all the main guidance for social care, including: |
|
|
13 |
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for children’s social care services |
local authorities and their partners |
|
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. |
|
|
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. |
||
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
Everyone |
This page contains links to a wealth of resources and support for your health and wellbeing. |
|
|
|
Everyone |
Suffolk County Council coronavirus (COVID-19) information, including health advice, service changes, business support and schools guidance. |
|
|
|
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 â 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.
- The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) has launched a GOARN COVID-19 Knowledge hub. The hub is designed as a central repository of quality public health information, guidance, tools and webinars which can be accessed freely at any point.
Situation in Numbers WHO SitRep 94, 23 April (new since last 24hrs)
|
Location |
Confirmed |
Deaths |
|
Globally |
2 544 792 confirmed (73 657) |
175 694 deaths (6689) |
|
European Region |
1 251 458 confirmed (31 972) |
113 336 deaths (3384) |
|
Regions of the Americas |
957 402 confirmed (32 111) |
47 812 deaths (3038) |
|
Eastern Mediterranean Region |
144 450 confirmed (5101) |
6469 deaths (143) |
|
Western Pacific Region |
137 902 confirmed (1632) |
5818 deaths (25) |
|
South-East Asia |
36 039 confirmed (2127) |
1498 deaths (71) |
|
African Region |
16 829 confirmed (714) |
748 deaths (28) |