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 16 April, 327,608 people have been tested, of whom 103,093 tested positive. As of 5pm on 15 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 13,729 have died. Full details and latest numbers are available here.
• In Suffolk we have 527 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 (16 April 2020) – transcript here
  • Based on advice from SAGE, the Government has confirmed that current measures must remain in place for at least the next 3 weeks. There will be 5 specific things which the Government will need to be satisfied of before adjusting current measure: NHS’s ability to cope; sustained and consistent fall in daily death rates; reliable data from SAGE showing that the rate of infection is decreasing; operational challenges are in hand (including testing capacity and PPE); risk of second peak
  • 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.
• Councils given greater financial relief against cash flow pressures – Councils will be allowed to defer £2.6 billion in business rates payments to central government, and £850 million in social care grants will be paid up front this month.
• Chancellor expands loan scheme for large businesses – A government-backed loan scheme for large businesses affected by coronavirus has been expanded to cover all viable firms, the Chancellor announced today.
• Joint pledge to continue vital building safety work during pandemic – Essential safety work to replace unsafe cladding on high-rise buildings will continue during the Covid-19 emergency.
• With anecdotal evidence that some hospitals have less than 24hrs supply of PPE, BBC News has been looking at whether the NHS has enough PPE. You can read their report here.

 

Suffolk

 

Safeguarding: Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Now more than ever it is important that we are watchful and alert towards the signs and indicators of abuse and neglect. Some people are particularly at risk during this difficult time, and It is important that everyone is aware of safeguarding risks and what can be done to reduce or report them. If you are concerned about a child or an adult please call 0800 200 0247. All concerns will be taken seriously.

 

Home but not alone successes: The Coronavirus phone line, Home, But Not Alone (0800 876 6926) is taking approximately 1,300 calls a week. Stories of the help it has provided include:

• A single father-of-two, recovering from a kidney transplant and in urgent need of food for his young children was helped by a neighbourhood network of volunteers within an hour after he contacted the phone line.

• An 82-year-old women, who was recently discharged from hospital, feeling isolated and couldn’t get to her GP for urgent medical needs, was contacted by a neighbour who offered regular calls and was able to help with collecting medication.
• A very independent 74-year-old woman, struggling to get her own food and medication while in isolation, was matched with a befriending network in her village which arranged for regular calls, her food and medicine deliveries and also helped with walking her dog.

 

Suffolk Community Foundation Emergency Fund: As part of the ‘Home, But Not Alone’ partnership initiative, Suffolk has launched a vital emergency fundraising appeal to support our hundreds, or indeed thousands of brilliant local charities and community groups here in Suffolk. They are the glue that supports vulnerable members of our society, especially at this time of a crisis. The Suffolk Coronavirus Community Fund has been set up as a central place for Suffolk people to give. Its soul aim is to provide immediate and vital financial support to these key Suffolk organisations and the vital work they do to keep us all safe and well. For more information visit: https://www.suffolkcf.org.uk/suffolk-coronavirus-community-fund/

 

 

Border Force issue statement to importers/exporters: Border Force are asking all importers and exporters to remain vigilant as to the legitimacy of shipments as criminals are using the current Coronavirus crisis to import either fake medical supplies and PPE equipment or to use the increasing healthcare crisis as cover to import illicit goods including drugs. Border Force request the continued support and vigilance of the import/export community and that if during business you have any concerns over the legitimacy of a shipment or those behind it, please let the authorities know as soon as possible. This will allow the necessary checks to be undertaken and could prevent illicit goods making it to market and therefore saving lives. Contact information – The Multi Agency Hub for Containers – MAHContainers@homeoffice.gov.uk, 01394 303118 or out of hours on 07920 587808.

Initiative launched to help match food suppliers and buyers: Local Flavours, the team behind the region’s largest food and drink trade show have set up a support service during the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic to help match suppliers with buyers. Supported by New Anglia LEP the team have added free listings to the current website to help both trade buyers and the consumer seek out produce and most importantly, point them in the direction of how they can get hold of it. A communication drive through many media channels and social media as well as electronic mailings and telephone contact has been set up to match-make those struggling to source product; whilst helping those with surplus stock, to place produce with those still trading. For more information visit: www.localflavours.co.uk   

Letter to the retail sector: The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma has written a letter to those working in retail. To read the letter; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-letter-to-the-retail-sector?utm_source=228492b4-ef53-421b-b6ad-9d55c1ba8e26&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

 

 

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	Short-term options for health, welfare and financial decisions	anyone interested in others making decisions on their behalf	Find out about the ways people can make certain decisions for you or do certain things on your behalf.
NEW	Being a deputy or attorney during the coronavirus outbreak	deputies or attorneys	Find out how you can continue to act in the best interests of the client or donor, during the outbreak.
NEW	Privacy notice for Covid-19 response activity	Everyone	How the Cabinet Office uses your personal data, and what your rights are.
UPDATED	Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings	staff, parents and carers, pupils and students.	Updated ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): Closure of educational settings: information for parents and carers’ resources and support and added a new section for Admissions.
UPDATED	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
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	General public, staff and carers
10	Chronic disease self- care during COVID-19: Asthma Diabetes	General public
11	Coronavirus (COVID-19): social care guidance	social care	This is a new 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
12	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
13	Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for children’s social care services	local authorities and their partners
14	Coronavirus (COVID-19): transport and travel guidance	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: -Using public transport -Driving private vehicles – cars, vans, motorbikes -Bus and lorry drivers -Freight, bus and road transport businesses -Transport workers -Maritime and shipping -Aviation and flying -Overseas travel
15	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.
16	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.
17	Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested	critical workers who are self-isolating
18	Coronavirus (COVID-19): early years and childcare closures
19	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

 

 

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 has published the updated strategy for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. The document translates what we have learned so far about the virus into strategic action and will frame the next iteration of the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, due in the coming weeks. More details can be found here.
• Drinking alcohol does not protect you against COVID-19: existing rules and regulations to protect health and reduce harm caused by alcohol such as restricting access, should be upheld and even reinforced during the outbreak. More on this is available here, and a factsheet on Alcohol and COVID-19 is available here.

 

Situation in Numbers WHO SitRep 87, 16 April (new since last 24hrs)

Location	Confirmed	Deaths
Globally	1 991 562 confirmed (76647)	130 885 deaths (7875)
European Region	1 013 093 confirmed (35497)	89 317 deaths (4710)
Regions of the Americas	707 121 confirmed (33760)	30 245 deaths (2909)
Western Pacific Region	125 571 confirmed (1367)	4239 deaths (38)
Eastern Mediterranean Region	111 432 confirmed (4043)	5532 deaths (137)
South-East Asia	21 790 confirmed (1503)	990 deaths (54)
African Region	11843 confirmed (477)	550 deaths (27)