Current UK Alert Level: 3
On 19/06/2020 update from the UK Chief Medical Officers on the UK alert level confirmed that the UK COVID-19 alert level has been lowered from risk level 4 to risk level 3. It does not mean that the pandemic is over. The virus is still in general circulation, and localised outbreaks are likely to occur.
Please note the Governmentâs messaging is âstay alert, control the virus, save livesâ (previously âstay at home, protect the NHS, save livesâ)
Current UK Situation
- As of 5:03 pm on 25 June, 307,980 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, of those, 43,230 have died across all settings. 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:
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Ipswich |
350 |
254.5 per 100,000 residents |
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East Suffolk |
625 |
251.8 per 100,000 residents |
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Mid Suffolk |
184 |
179.5 per 100,000 residents |
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Babergh |
154 |
168.5 per 100,000 residents |
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West Suffolk |
235 |
131.4 per 100,000 residents |
|
Suffolk |
1,548 |
204.1 per 100,000 residents |
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*Please note numbers may go up or down as the reported data are continually checked and cleaned.
COVID19 related news from GOV.UK
- Extra funding for service charities as veteransâ support is stepped up: 100 Armed Forces charities will benefit from nearly £6million of extra funding to support serving personnel, veterans and their families during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Thousands to be offered repeat testing in care homes: 10,000 residents and staff across over 100 care homes will be given coronavirus tests (PCR swab and blood antibody tests) as part of a new surveillance study.
- Government outlines support for pubs, cafes and restaurants: Support outlined includes simplified and reduced cost licensing processes, planning freedoms and licensing of alcohol for consumption off-premises.
- Response to article published in the FT on Wednesday 24 June on ventilators: The government responds to an article published 24th June in the Financial Times on ventilators.
- Major milestone hit as 2 billion items of PPE delivered: Two billion items of personal protective equipment (PPE) have now been delivered to the frontline since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Health Secretary calls on country to get tested as access is expanded even further: Six new âwalk throughâ local testing sites are now offering appointments to people in England, with the capacity to test hundreds of people each day.
Other COVID19 related news
BBC Health:
- Most children ‘experience only mild disease’: A study of European children with Covid-19 suggests deaths are extremely rare.
- Tracers ask over 100,000 to self-isolate: More than 100,000 people in England have been asked to self-isolate by contact tracers in the past three weeks to contain coronavirus, data shows.
- 70% of BAME pharmacists have had no risk assessment – survey: More than two thirds of black, Asian and minority ethnic pharmacists have not had workplace risk assessments for coronavirus, a survey of 380 pharmacists suggests.
- Volunteers wanted for antibody home test trials: Volunteers are being sought from NHS staff and other public service workers for a study into the effectiveness of Covid-19 antibody home testing kits.
BBC Global Picture:
- US cases âmay have topped 20 millionâ: At least 20 million people in the US may already have been infected with Covid-19, according to the latest estimate by health officials.
- ‘Very significant’ resurgences in Europe alarm WHO: Europe has seen an increase in weekly cases of Covid-19 for the first time in months as restrictions are eased, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.
- Live world updates:
- The number of new US infections has in recent days reached levels not seen since April.
- Mexico has now recorded 25,000 deaths and 200,000 cases of the new coronavirus since reporting its first infection almost four months ago.
- Cases have hit a record daily high in South Africa, the worst-hit country on the continent.
- The number of cases worldwide stands at 9.6m with more than 490,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
- Panic buying ramping up in Australia again as it continues along reopening plans, despite spike in cases in recent weeks.
Suffolk
PPE Update: As Suffolkâs response to the Covid-19 pandemic enters its fourth month, the team set up in March to source and distribute Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to support service providers across the county continues to operate from Suffolk County Councilâs offices in Ipswich. To date, this PPE âcellâ of the Suffolk Resilience Forum (SRF) has distributed over 2.3 million items of PPE across Suffolk. Over 1.9 million of these items have been distributed for use in the care sector to support some of Suffolkâs most vulnerable residents. Click here g for more information.
Shielding in Suffolk: Abi who is shielding in Suffolk has made a video for the Suffolk Resilience Forum about her experiences. Abi and the others shielding in Suffolk like her, are why we ask you every day to Stick With It Suffolk. Keep washing your hands, keep social distancing and keep looking out for each other. Click here to watch the video.
Support for the fishing industry: An initiative providing practical support to the fishing industry across the country has launched a scheme specifically to help those in the East of England. Local authorities in Norfolk and Suffolk and the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership are working in partnership with Call4Fish and have launched Call4Fish (East) to support the local fishing industry from Kings Lynn to Felixstowe. Click here for more information.
Key National Guidance updates
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 |
Professionals |
Guidance for schools and local authorities on providing vouchers to support pupils eligible for free school meals over the summer holiday period during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. |
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UPDATED |
Professionals |
Added links to:
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UPDATED |
Professionals |
Added new 2 new sections on testing, and new sections on ‘Number of people providing details of one or more recent close contacts’ and ‘Notes on interpreting against other statistics’. |
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UPDATED |
Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak |
Professionals |
Added further information on the Covid Summer Food Fund, free meals in further education, the final ordering timescales for the national voucher scheme, ordering vouchers in multiples of £5, and an update on school food contracts to include further guidance from the Cabinet Office on Procurement Policy Note 04/20. |
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UPDATED |
Everyone |
The R number range for the UK is 0.7-0.9 and the growth rate range is -4% to -2% as of 25 June 2020. |
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UPDATED |
Actions for FE colleges and providers during the coronavirus outbreak |
Professionals |
We have updated the wording to reflect the changes following publication of PPN 04/20 effective from 1 July to 31 October 2020. PPN 04/20 updates and builds on provision in PPN 02/20 that expires on 30 June 2020. The changes are minor and include transition planning. |
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UPDATED |
Procurement Policy Note 02/20: Supplier relief due to COVID-19 |
Public bodies |
We have updated the wording to reflect the changes following publication of PPN 04/20 effective from 1 July to 31 October 2020. PPN 04/20 updates and builds on provision in PPN 02/20 that expires on 30 June 2020. The changes are minor and include transition planning. |
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UPDATED |
General public |
Updated to ‘travelling to form a support bubble’ section to state that if you live in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, you must follow the specific rules in those parts of the UK. |
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UPDATED |
COVID-19: guidance for the public on mental health and wellbeing |
General public |
Updated guidance to reflect the latest social distancing measures.
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UPDATED |
Everyone |
Replaced the following attachments with updated registration link: ‘guidance on Randox testing’ and ‘how to use Randox test kits’. |
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UPDATED |
COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young peopleâs mental health and wellbeing |
Parents & carers |
Updated guidance to reflect the latest social distancing measures.
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Useful Websites
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Title |
Who For |
Comments |
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1 |
General Public |
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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 |
Guidance includes: |
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4 |
Professionals |
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5 |
Mental health support and advice from: |
General public, staff and carers |
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6 |
Chronic disease self- care during COVID-19: |
General public |
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7 |
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) COVID-19 homepage |
Professionals |
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8 |
Professionals |
The tracker compares worldwide government responses to the coronavirus rigorously and consistently. The Oxford team collects information on common policy responses, scores the stringency of such measures, and aggregates these into a Stringency Index.
As of 18 June, UKâs stringency level is 73.15 (many restrictions). For comparison, New Zealandâs stringency level is 19.44 (few restrictions) and Cubaâs is 100 (many restrictions, including total stay at home confinement and all but essential workplace closing). |
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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Everyone |
SGPB is a partnership of all Suffolk local authorities, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, University of Suffolk and New Anglia LEP. In Suffolk our Economy & business recovery work for COVID-19 is being led by SGPB and the website includes links to funding / surveys / economic impact work. Please do pass this information on to your contacts. |
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Suffolk Domestic Abuse 24/7 Helpline â Freephone 0800 977 5690 |
Everyone |
The freephone number is live from 9am on Friday 22nd May 2020 for anyone with concerns including professionals who may be supporting clients as well as friends and family members who are concerned for loved ones. |
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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 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 157, 25 June
