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 7 April, 213,181 people have been tested, of whom 55,242 tested positive. As of 5pm on 6 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 6,159 have died. Full details on latest numbers are available here.
• In Suffolk we have 263 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 (7 April 2020)
  • The review into the UK’s coronavirus restrictions planned for next Monday will now take place at a later date. The curbs on personal freedom, the economy and more were initially imposed for three weeks. The government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said the UK “could be moving in the right direction”, but it would be another “week or so” before he could be sure.
  • 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.
• Increase to Working Tax Credits  – The government has announced that Working Tax Credits payments will be increased from 6 April 2020
• Coronavirus: MOTs due from 30 March 2020 – Your car, van or motorcycle’s MOT expiry date will be extended by 6 months if it’s due on or after 30 March 2020 – but you must keep your vehicle safe to drive.
• NHS army of volunteers to start protecting vulnerable from coronavirus in England – Thousands of approved volunteers will be offered tasks from 7 April via the GoodSAM app and will start helping people safely, with more expected to get requests over the coming weeks as referrals ramp up. Health professionals, pharmacists and local authorities can upload requests for help on the NHS Volunteer Responders referrer’s portal and volunteers pick the job they want to do that day and close the task once complete.

 

Suffolk

Public Rights of Way advice for landowners: As more people are venturing outside to enjoying their daily exercise, the county council has produced an advisory notice for land owners and residents who have a public right of way running through their garden or workplace. The notice is downloadable here for placing at the entry points into a garden, farmyard or other operational part of a farm where there may be other people around. The notice asks members of the public to be sensible and consider the health and wellbeing of those living or working close by adhering to the government advice on social distancing.  

Home Learning Resources: The government has brought together an initial list of online educational resources to help children to learn at home. These websites have been identified by some of the country’s leading educational experts and offer a wide range of support and resources for pupils of all ages. The resources which include subject specific resources for English, Maths, Science, PE, Wellbeing and SEND can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-online-education-resources-for-home-education

 

GP Practices open over bank holiday weekend: GP practices in Suffolk will be open Good Friday and Easter Monday. Many will be open on Saturday and Sunday as well. It is important however that patients must not just turn up. Information for Ipswich and East Suffolk residents can be found here; http://www.ipswichandeastsuffolkccg.nhs.uk/Newsevents/News2020/EasterGPpracticeopening.aspx. Information for West Suffolk Residents can be found here; https://www.westsuffolkccg.nhs.uk/gp-practices-in-suffolk-will-be-open-over-the-easter-weekend-but-please-dont-just-turn-up/

Business Scam Alert: Trading Standards have received reports from Suffolk Businesses who’ve been contacted by a company offering to “assist them in obtaining their Government Grant, for a small one-off fixed fee of £99”. If business receive this call they are urged to hang up and report to Suffolk Trading Standards on 08082231133

 

Free School Meals Update: The government have confirmed that schools are able to continue using the national voucher scheme during the Easter holidays. If there is a local arrangement to supply food over this period schools will also be compensated for these costs up to the value of £15 per eligible pupil. For more information on Free School Means visit; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools

 

Keep Moving Suffolk Update: Last week Suffolk’s Most Active County Partnership launched the Keep Moving Suffolk Campaign to supports everyone in Suffolk to get active from the safety of their homes and gardens, or during their one session of daily exercise away from their home. Within its first week the website has been used over 2,500 times and there has been great support through social media with over 75,000 Twitter impressions. More information can be found at www.keepmovingsuffolk.com which is full of local and national information and resources that have been developed specifically to make it easy for people to become, or remain, active at home during these challenging times.

 

 

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.

	Title	Who For	Comments
NEW	Coronavirus (COVID-19) information leaflet	UK households	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.
NEW	Social distancing in the workplace during coronavirus (COVID-19): sector guidance	Employers	This is a list of tailored advice for different scenarios as an example of how social distancing and other measures might be implemented by employers in England to help protect their workforce and customers from coronavirus while still continuing to trade
NEW	Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice to local authorities on prioritising waste collections	local authorities and other waste collectors	Guidance on how collections can be prioritised to maintain overall service and prevent any build up of waste that could be harmful to local amenity and public health.
NEW	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
UPDATED	Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings	staff, parents and carers, pupils and students.	Updated ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): school closures’ on funding, holidays and practicalities. Added information about the Easter holidays. Updated information about exams, and resources and support. Added ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): initial teacher training (ITT)’. Added ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for schools’ and ‘Coronavirus (COVID 19): online education resources’.
UPDATED	Coronavirus (COVID-19): courts and tribunals planning and preparation	all court and tribunal users	Jury service section updated.
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 – for non-clinical settings – for health professionals
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	COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection	households with possible infection
6	Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do	Everyone
7	Coronavirus: How to help safely	Everyone
8	COVID-19: guidance on social distancing and for vulnerable people	Everyone
9	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
10	COVID-19: guidance for the public on mental health and wellbeing	Everyone
11	COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing	parents and carers on looking after children or young people
12	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
13	Chronic disease self- care during COVID-19: Asthma Diabetes	General public
14	COVID-19: cleaning of non-healthcare settings	non-healthcare settings
15	Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for local government	Local councils
16	COVID-19 essential travel guidance	Public
17	Further businesses and premises to close	businesses
18	COVID-19: infection prevention and control	health and care systems and providers	Table 1 – Recommended PPE for healthcare workers by secondary care clinical context Table 2 – Recommended PPE for primary, outpatient, and community care Table 3 – Recommended PPE for ambulance, paramedics, first responders and pharmacists Table 4 – Additional considerations for COVID-19
19	COVID-19: personal protective equipment use for non-aerosol generating procedures	health and care professionals	Added updated PPE video.
20	Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for children’s social care services	local authorities and their partners	Advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) for local authorities and their partners to help support and protect vulnerable children.
21	COVID-19: guidance for employees, employers and businesses	employees, employers and businesses

 

 

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.

 

Situation in Numbers WHO SitRep 78, 7 April (new since last 24hrs)

Location	Confirmed	Deaths
Globally	1 279 722 confirmed (68766)	72 614 deaths (5020)
Western Pacific Region	113 641 confirmed (1119)	3892 deaths (31)
European Region	686 338 confirmed (30999)	52 809 deaths (3330)
South-East Asia	9132 confirmed (304)	362 deaths (18)
Eastern Mediterranean Region	78 565 confirmed (4218)	4149 deaths (173)
Regions of the Americas	384 242 confirmed (31650)	11 097 deaths (1417)
African Region	7092 confirmed (476)	294 deaths (51)