Current UK Risk Level: HIGH

The risk to the UK remains high (as of 13/03/2020).

As of week commencing 11/05/2020, we’re moving into Phase two (Smarter controls) of the Government’s recovery strategy. The country is also moving from Level 4 to Level 3 by the new COVID Alert System and taking the first step in relaxing lockdown measures.

 

Please note the Government’s messaging is now  â€˜stay alert, control the virus, save lives’ (previously ‘stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives’)

 

 

Current UK Situation

• As of 9am on 18 May, 1,887,051 people have been tested, of which 246,406 tested positive. As of 5pm on 17 May, of those tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, 34,796 have died. You can view the latest UK dashboard and cases by local authority here. Confirmed cases in Suffolk are broken down by Districts & Boroughs as follows:

 

Ipswich	323	234.9 per 100,000 resident
East Suffolk	551	222.0 per 100,000 resident
Mid Suffolk	162	158.1 per 100,000 resident
Babergh	135	147.7 per 100,000 resident
West Suffolk	196	109.6 per 100,000 resident
Suffolk	1,367	180.2 per 100,000 resident

• Foreign Secretary’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 18 May 2020 – transcript here

• • Anyone now in the UK experiencing covid-19 symptoms – a new, continuous cough; high temperature; and now also a loss of or change in your normal sense of smell or taste – can book a test by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ Those unable to access the internet can call 119 in England and Wales or 0300 303 2713 in Scotland and Northern Ireland to book a test.
  • We’ve now recruited over 21,000 contact tracers and call handlers in England for the implementation of our test and trace programme. The work of these 21,000 will be supported by the NHS COVID-19 App, which we are piloting on the Isle of Wight at the moment and will then roll out across the country.
  • Press conference slides with the latest data from COBR coronavirus fact file (transport use, new cases, hospital admissions, deaths) and datasets available here.

• All 4 UK Chief Medical Officers confirmed that anosmia has been added as a symptom of COVID-19. Anosmia is the loss of or a change in your normal sense of smell, and it can also affect your sense of taste. The letter from the 4 CMOs dated 18 May to all clinical staff is available here. This means people should self-isolate immediately for at least 7 days (members of your household should self-isolate for 14 days) if they have:

• • a new, continuous cough
  • a high temperature, or
  • a loss of or change in their normal sense of smell or taste

• £37 million to support children with complex needs – The multi-million-pound settlement will help low-income families with seriously ill or disabled children with the cost of equipment, goods or services.
• Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme set to launch – Employers will be able to make claims through the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme from 26 May.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): letter to social housing residents – This includes information about maintenance and repairs, gas safety checks, remediation works, home moves, support for domestic abuse victims and anti-social behaviour.
• BBC: Young adults aged between 18 and 24 are most likely to have lost work or had their incomes cut because of the coronavirus crisis
• BBC: A committee of MPs has criticised the UK’s approach to testing and warned that lessons may not have been learned
• BBC: Northern Ireland has gone further than any other part of the UK in relaxing its lockdown – read more on how the rules there now differ.
• BBC: Global picture

• • The WHO will hold a global review of its handling of the pandemic following criticism from some nations. Chief among those critics is Donald Trump, who says he is giving the body 30 days to make “major changes” or his temporary freeze of US funding will be made permanent. 
  • In Chile’s capital Santiago, protesters and police have clashed amid tension over food shortages in lockdown. A number of Latin American countries are struggling in similar ways with large poor populations and weak social systems.
  • Brazil has overtaken the UK in terms of reported virus infections and now has the third-highest toll of cases following the US and Russia.
  • France and Germany are proposing a €500bn recovery fund for the worst affected EU countries.

Suffolk

 

• Coronavirus cases within care home settings: SCC will be reporting weekly on the number of suspected or confirmed cases within Suffolk care home settings, that Suffolk County Council has been made aware of.  Below is a table showing the number of providers affected and the number of suspected and confirmed cases since reporting began on 21/04/2020. These figures are cumulative and are listed on area basis and will not include the details of any specific care homes. These figures include care homes, extra care housing and supported housing. As a notifiable disease, care homes are required to report any potential or confirmed cases of Coronavirus to Public Health England (PHE) in order that this can be captured as part of the national reporting processes and also for PHE to provide advice and guidance on infection control. Care providers are under no obligation to report suspected or confirmed cases to the county council.

	21/04/2020		28/04/2020		05/05/2020		12/05/2020		19/05/2020
	Providers affected	Suspected and confirmed Cases	Providers affected	Suspected and confirmed Cases	Providers affected	Suspected and confirmed Cases	Providers affected	Suspected and confirmed cases	Providers affected	Suspected and confirmed cases
Ipswich and East Suffolk	30	157	43	209	54	259	47	216	38	199
West Suffolk	13	61	12	78	17	113	20	115	19	82
Waveney	7	47	14	76	14	64	12	86	10	71
Total	50	265	69	363	85	436	79	417	67	352

 

• The NHS is still here to help: Councillor James Reeder, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Public Health and Prevention, discusses the roll we have all played in helping to protect the NHS and the ways in which the NHS are still able to support Suffolk’s residents as a result. The full article is available on the Suffolk County Council website.

 

• Mental Health Awareness Week – Supporting Suffolk: During Mental Health Awareness Week, it’s important to know that help is available if you are experiencing low mood, stress and anxiety. Suffolk’s Wellbeing Service (for those living in East and West Suffolk) and the Norfolk and Waveney Wellbeing Service (for those living in Waveney) offers a range of free support services. The national Every Mind Matters programme includes simple tips and advice for boosting your wellbeing, including a downloadable Mind Plan to get information tailored to you. If you are concerned about someone else’s mental health, or are simply looking for useful information, tips and advice, why not visit the dedicated COVID Information Hub at www.healthysuffolk.org.uk/COVIDHub This website brings together information and resources from local and national sources, grouped by age range or area of interest.

 

 

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
UPDATED	Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance	Main collection of guidance for anyone in any setting	Added to all key guidance a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of smell or taste (anosmia) as a symptom of coronavirus Guidance includes: – 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
UPDATED	Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings	staff, parents and carers, pupils and students.	Update “Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak” – 19.4 What is the effect of coronavirus on governing boards’ duties to consider reinstatement of excluded pupils, and the process for independent review panels (IRPs)
UPDATED	Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for people in England with animals	pet owners and livestock keepers	There is NO evidence that: – coronavirus is circulating in pets or other animals in the UK – pets, other domestic animals or livestock can transmit the disease to humans – you need to wash your pets to control the spread of coronavirus. Never use household or commercial cleaning products, disinfectants or antibacterial wipes on pets. If you do not have symptoms of coronavirus, you may: – leave your house to provide care for your horse or livestock. – ride your horse You must stay 2 metres away from others. You should wash your hands before and after contact with any animals.
1	NHS – COVID-19 go-to page	General Public
2	GOV.UK – COVID-19 homepage	Main cover webpage for all government guidance for public & professionals alike
3	Staying alert and safe (social distancing)	Everyone	This has replaced previous guidance ‘Staying at home and away from others (social distancing)’
4	Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do	Everyone
5	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
6	Chronic disease self- care during COVID-19: Asthma Diabetes	General public
7	European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) COVID-19 homepage	Professionals

 

 

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.
	Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership	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.
	NEW ANGLIA GROWTH HUB	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.
	Healthy Suffolk: COVID-19 Emotional Wellbeing, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Information Hub	Everyone	This page contains links to a wealth of resources and support for your health and wellbeing.
	Suffolk County Council: Coronavirus information	Everyone	Suffolk County Council coronavirus (COVID-19) information, including health advice, service changes, business support and schools guidance.
	Keep Moving Suffolk	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 – 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.

 

Situation in Numbers WHO SitRep 119, 18 May