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 14 April, 302,599 people have been tested, of whom 93,873 tested positive. As of 5pm on 13 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 12,107 have died. Full details and latest numbers are available here.
- In Suffolk we have 493 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 (14 April 2020)
- The governmentâs independent fiscal watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published a report into the impact of coronavirus on the economy and public finances. While negative economic impacts are significant, the OBR also expect them to be temporary with a bounce back in growth. The government is trying to mitigate this through its various support packages to people and businesses.
- The single most important thing we can do for the health of our economy is to protect the health of our people. At a time when we are seeing hundreds of people dying every day from this terrible disease, the absolute priority must be to focus all of our resource in a collective national effort to beat this virus.
- 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.
- Commission on Human Medicines advice on ibuprofen and coronavirus (COVID-19) – Expert Working Group concludes there is currently insufficient evidence to establish a link between use of ibuprofen and susceptibility to contracting COVID-19 or the worsening of its symptoms. Patients can take paracetamol or ibuprofen when self-medicating for symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever and headache, and should follow NHS advice if they have any questions or if symptoms get worse.
- NHS England: Student docs and nurses praised for joining âNHS Armyâ to tackle historic coronavirus threat – Nearly 15,000 student nurses, midwives and medical students are poised to join frontline NHS teams as part of the nationwide coronavirus fightback.
- BBC: Care home testing – The situation in the UK’s care homes has come under the spotlight in recent days, with the government accused of “forgetting” the sector while coronavirus “runs wild”. However, Health Secretary Matt Hancock is now promising all residents and staff showing symptoms will be tested as laboratory capacity increases.
Suffolk
Suffolk Church of England: The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Martin Seeley, has set up a personalised support service for NHS staff of all faiths and none. NHS staff can call 01473 563 563 and talk to a vicar or minister with a background and training in chaplaincy, healthcare or community engagement. For further information please visit: www.cofesuffolk.org/bishops/nhs-support
Time Capsule: The Engagement Hub, part of SCCâs Children and Young Peopleâs services have launched a time capsule competition in partnership with Suffolk Archives and The Hold (www.suffolkarchives.co.uk) to capture the moment in history when a virus called Covid-19 came to Town and changed daily life as we know it. The idea behind this time capsule competition is to help children and young people to express and share their feelings during this difficult time, which could include general reflections on daily life, ways in which we are adapting and how we are managing our fears and hopes. Also, to gather advice for future generations should they face a pandemic or significant period of change again. For more information visit; https://www.thesource.me.uk/home/latest-news-and-views/timecapsule/
Connecting Communities: Connecting Communities is operating limited services for individual people needing essential travel for food, health reasons and key workers. Please visit https://communities.suffolkonboard.com/my-area/ to view booking and operating hours. Passengers will be asked a reason for travel when booking a journey.
Great East Swim 2020: Organisers of the Great East Swim have had to cancel this yearâs event due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The event was due to take place on Saturday 20 June. We understand registered participants will receive a refund from the organisers Great Run. For more information visit https://www.greatrun.org/great-swim/
Care home hoax calls: Suffolk Trading Standards received a report of a hoax/malicious call being made to a Suffolk care home. The caller identified themselves as being from Suffolk County Council’s H&S Response team, claiming they would visit today but there is no such team. If you receive a call, report it to us via 0808 223 1133.
New Anglia LEP online workshops: The New Anglia LEP are hosting a series of online workshops for businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk. To find out more visit; https://www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk/covid-19-business-toolkit/#online-workshops
Parent helpline reminder: If parents are a key worker or have a child that is classed as vulnerable and their usual early years childcare setting is not available, we ask them to please contact the Family Information Service and we will help them to find alternate provision. They can contact SCC on 0345 60 800 33 or use the following link for more information; https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/childcare-information-and-support-for-parents-and-providers/guidance-for-parents-and-carers/suffolk-family-information-service/
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.
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NEW |
Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency loans for return flights: how to apply |
UK residents currently abroad |
If youâre currently abroad and you have no other options to pay for your return travel, you may be eligible to apply for an emergency loan from the government. |
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UPDATED |
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings |
staff, parents and carers, pupils and students. |
Added a link to âAdmission appeals for school placesâ which contains guidance on the coronavirus (COVID-19) impact on school admission appeals. |
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UPDATED |
UK households |
Added easy read versions of the leaflet in English and Welsh.
This leaflet has information on what everyone must do to help stop the spread of coronavirus. There is also information on spotting the symptoms, advice for vulnerable groups, and information about government support for businesses and workers. This information is available in different languages and alternative formats and can be ordered from campaign resource centre. This leaflet was prepared for distribution to UK households from 3 April 2020, and was in line with the latest guidance at that point. |
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General Public â this is the only site we should be promoting to the public for information |
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Main cover webpage for all government guidance for public & professionals alike |
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Main collection of guidance for anyone in any setting |
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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. |
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Everyone |
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Everyone |
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Public |
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Mental health support and advice from: |
General public, staff and carers |
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Chronic disease self- care during COVID-19: |
General public |
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children |
Aimed at children: Information correct as of 27 March 2020 |
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Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for children’s social care services |
local authorities and their partners |
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everyone using transport or working in the transport sector during the coronavirus outbreak. |
Information for people using transport or working in the transport sector during the coronavirus outbreak, including: |
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Coronavirus (COVID-19): personal protective equipment (PPE) hub |
health and social care and other non-health sectors |
Collection of guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE), and infection prevention and control (IPC). We are currently experiencing sustained transmission of COVID-19 across the UK. |
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Coronavirus (COVID-19): looking after people who lack mental capacity |
health and social care |
Emergency guidance for health and social care staff who are caring for, or treating, a person who lacks the relevant mental capacity. During the outbreak, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the safeguards provided by the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) still apply. |
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 Director-General thanked the United Kingdom for its generous contribution of £200 million to the global response to COVID-19, an act which he described as a âdemonstration of global solidarityâ.
Situation in Numbers WHO SitRep 85, 14 April (new since last 24hrs)
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Location |
Confirmed |
Deaths |
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Globally |
1 844 863 confirmed (71 779) |
117 021 deaths (5369) |
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European Region |
943 272 confirmed (29 923) |
80 712 deaths (3293) |
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Regions of the Americas |
644 986 confirmed (34 244) |
25 551 deaths (1792) |
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Western Pacific Region |
122 805 confirmed (1379) |
4161 deaths (36) |
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Eastern Mediterranean Region |
103 638 confirmed (3925) |
5255 deaths (148) |
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South-East Asia |
18 663 confirmed (1780) |
829 deaths (63) |
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African Region |
10 787 confirmed (528) |
501 deaths (37) |