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 30 Apr 2020, 6:04pm, 171,253 people have tested positive and 26,771 people have died. In Suffolk there are 1,027 confirmed cases. You can view the latest UK dashboard and cases by local authority here.
- Prime Minister’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 30 April 2020 â transcript available here
- Iâm not going to minimise the logistical problems we have faced in getting the right protective gear or the frustrations that we have experienced in expanding the numbers of tests
- We have so far succeeded in the first and most important task – at no stage has our NHS been overwhelmed, no patient went without a ventilator, no patient was deprived of intensive care
- I can confirm today for the first time that we are past the peak of this disease
- Today Oxford university has announced a partnership with Astrazeneca to develop what they believe could soon be a means of inoculating ourselves against this disease
- I will be setting out a comprehensive plan next week to explain how we can get our economy moving, one, how we can get our children back to school, back into childcare, second, and third how we can travel to work and how we can make life in the workplace safer
- Keeping the R down is going to be absolutely vital to our recovery, keeping the reproduction rate of the disease down, and we can only do it by our collective discipline and working together
- 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
- Testing available for council workers – Local Government Secretary thanks councils in England for their support during the pandemic and outlines how staff can get tested in his letter. If you need to book a test you can book online at www.self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk You will have the option of booking an appointment slot at a drive through site or receive a home testing kit if you cannot travel.
- Treasury cut taxes to reduce PPE costs – From 1 May 2020, PPE purchased by care homes, businesses, charities and individuals to protect against Covid-19 will be free from VAT for a three-month period.
- COVID-19: mitigating impacts on Gypsy and Traveller communities – Gypsy and Traveller communities are likely to be particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, and may need support in accessing basic facilities such as water, sanitation and waste disposal, to enable them to adhere to public health guidelines around self-isolation and social distancing during the outbreak.
- BBC: Coronavirus R: Is this the crucial number? â explains what is R and discusses its important.
- BBC: Coronavirus: Should the public wear face masks? – PM has said face coverings worn by the general public “will be useful” as the UK comes out of the current lockdown. The Scottish government already recommends people use face coverings when in shops and on public transport.
Suffolk
Home but not alone update: Since the Home, But Not Alone emergency Coronavirus phoneline (0800 876 6926) was launched more than 5,000 calls have been taken and the scheme has helped thousands of people with essential food and medicine deliveries. Approximately 1,300 calls each week and help the most vulnerable in the community. The Home But Not Alone teams also make proactive calls to vulnerable people to ensure that they have the support they need. Some examples of people helped by the scheme are;
- An elderly woman needed help with her medicine collection and she was put in touch with a volunteer network who were able to make arrangements for someone to collect and deliver her medicine to her home. It also became clear during phone calls that she was in need of bereavement support following the death of her husband so she was offered some numbers for bereavement support. The women became tearful when she thanked the team for their help and âkindnessâ.
- A family-of-three where both parents were self-isolating and who are usually independent needed help with essential groceries. They were connect with a community group who were able to help with a food delivery and the father was also helped to complete an online NHS form to register for Government help. This helped ease the familyâs immediate anxiety and ensure ongoing support.
Business Scam email: Suffolk Trading standards have become aware of a business scam email circulating, purporting to be from the Treasury. The email claims your business was not eligible for the small business grant and requests a refund of the money paid to you. Do not respond, pay any money or provide any company or financial details. To see the email click here
Brown Bin collections to resume in Ipswich, Babergh and Mid Suffolk: Brown bin collections of garden waste will resume in Ipswich, Babergh and Mid Suffolk the week commencing 11 May 2020, after they were suspended at the start of the lockdown. For more information if you live in Mid Suffolk and Babergh visit; www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/waste-services/covid-19-collection-changes/ and for Ipswich visit; www.ipswich.gov.uk/coronavirus/waste-and-recycling
Church of England Guidance: The Church of England have updated their coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for churches at http://cofe.io/Coronavirus. This afternoon’s update includes revised guidance on live streaming and copyright details.
Foodbanks: SCC are continuing to work closely with the 42 foodbanks across Suffolk to ensure they have the help and support they need. This week FareShare continues to ramp up its deliveries, with another 13 100kg loads of food distributed. We also received a donation of Cadbury Easter Eggs from Suffolk Police which will be sent to foodbanks via Fareshare.
Thank you to Parish and Town Councils: Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Local Government and Communities, has written an open letter to town and parish councils thanking them for their work supporting communities during this pandemic. To read the letter click here. (This item was include in yesterdayâs briefing but included an incorrect link)
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
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Title |
Who For |
Comments |
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NEW |
CHIEF CORONERâS GUIDANCE No. 37: COVID-19 DEATHS AND POSSIBLE EXPOSURE IN THE WORKPLACE |
Coroners |
The Guidance is designed to assist coroners to continue to exercise their judicial decisions independently and in accordance with the law. |
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NEW |
WHO: Strengthening Preparedness |
Local Authorities |
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NEW |
Healthcare support for when you are unable to return to the UK during coronavirus (COVID-19) |
British people who are unable to return home |
Guidance on the medical and health support available for British people who are unable to return home due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. |
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NEW |
Financial support for when you are unable to return to the UK during coronavirus (COVID-19) |
British people who are unable to return home |
Guidance on the financial support available for British people who are unable to return home due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. |
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UPDATED |
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings |
staff, parents and carers, pupils and students. |
Added Aldi and McCollâs to the list of supermarkets taking part in the national voucher scheme. |
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UPDATED |
schools, students and parents |
Private candidate policy update added. |
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PHE data series on deaths in people with COVID-19: technical summary |
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Summary of the PHE data series on deaths in people with COVID-19, outlining what the changes mean and how the data compare to other COVID-19 death data series. |
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1 |
General Public â this is the only site we should be promoting to the public for information |
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2 |
Main cover webpage for all government guidance for public & professionals alike |
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3 |
Main collection of guidance for anyone in any setting |
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4 |
Everyone |
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5 |
Everyone |
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6 |
Everyone |
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7 |
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Accessing food and essential supplies |
Everyone |
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8 |
Mental health support and advice from: |
General public, staff and carers |
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9 |
Chronic disease self- care during COVID-19: |
General public |
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10 |
critical workers who are self-isolating |
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11 |
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for children’s social care services |
local authorities and their partners |
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12 |
social care |
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13 |
bereaved families, friends or next of kin |
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14 |
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) COVID-19 homepage |
Professionals |
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15 |
Everyone |
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Local Resources:
Below are any local resources that would be relevant to Suffolk County Council and our partners.
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Title |
Who For |
Comments |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Everyone |
This page contains links to a wealth of resources and support for your health and wellbeing. |
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Everyone |
Suffolk County Council coronavirus (COVID-19) information, including health advice, service changes, business support and schools guidance. |
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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.
- GOARN COVID-19 Knowledge hub – central repository of quality public health information, guidance, tools and webinars which can be accessed freely at any point.
- WHO AMRO/PAHO Director, Dr Carissa F. Etienne, has urged for vaccination programs to continue during the COVID-19 pandemic: âIf we fall behind on routine immunizations, particularly for children, we risk outbreaks, thus overwhelming hospitals and clinics with preventable diseases in addition to COVID-19â
Situation in Numbers WHO SitRep 101, 30 April (new since last 24hrs)
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Location |
Confirmed |
Deaths |
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Globally |
3 090 445 confirmed (71839) |
217 769 deaths (9797) |
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European Region |
1 434 649 confirmed (27824) |
135 961 deaths (6650) |
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Regions of the Americas |
1 246 190 confirmed (33102) |
65 228 deaths (2824) |
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Eastern Mediterranean Region |
182 417 confirmed (5489) |
7447 deaths (143) |
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Western Pacific Region |
147 743 confirmed (1294) |
6094 deaths (57) |
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South-East Asia |
54 021 confirmed (2670) |
2088 deaths (87) |
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African Region |
24 713 confirmed (1460) |
938 deaths (36) |