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 Government’s messaging is ‘stay alert, control the virus, save lives’ (previously ‘stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives’)

 

 

 

Current UK Situation

• As of 9am 5 July, 285,416 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the UK (pillar 1 and pillar 2 testing). As of 5pm 4 July, of those tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, 44,220 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 – please note that these case numbers and the rates per 100,000 population  cannot  be compared with the case numbers and rates given in previous bulletins. From 2 July, the number of lab-confirmed positive cases now includes those identified by testing in all settings (pillars 1 and 2). Pillar 2 refers to tests in commercial labs working in partnership with the NHS. Previously, only Pillar 1 confirmed cases were included (tests completed in NHS labs). Due to this change many cases previously not attributed to any area are now included in area totals. This is not a recent surge in cases – the cases now being reported occurred from April onwards. As this quality of this data continues to improve, these numbers may continue to fluctuate over time, but overall, case numbers and case rates in Suffolk remain low.

 

Ipswich	692	503.2 per 100,000 residents
East Suffolk	863	347.6 per 100,000 residents
Mid Suffolk	323	315.1 per 100,000 residents
Babergh	259	283.4 per 100,000 residents
West Suffolk	474	265.0 per 100,000 residents
Suffolk	2,611	344.2     per 100,000 residents

 

  

COVID-19 related news from GOV.UK

• Prime Minister’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 3 July 2020
  • SAGE assess that the R rate – the average number of people each infected person passes the virus onto – remains between 0.7 and 0.9 across the UK, and the number of new infections is shrinking by between 2 and 5% every day.
  • Of course this picture is not universal. There are areas – such as Leicester – where the virus is still more prevalent than we would like. We always said there would be local outbreaks requiring local action. This is to be expected and will, I’m afraid, be a feature of our lives for some time to come.
  • Instead of locking down the whole country, we will lock down specific premises or local areas where the virus is spreading.
  • We have developed an approach for controlling future local outbreaks which has five principle components: monitoring, engagement, testing, targeted restrictions and finally, as a last resort, lockdown.
• The R number and growth rate in the UK – As of 3 July, these are the latest R and growth rate estimates by NHS England regions:

 

• Don’t rely on temperature screening products for detection of coronavirus (COVID-19) – Warning from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) that thermal cameras and other such “temperature screening” products, some of which make direct claims to screen for COVID-19, are not a reliable way to detect if people have the virus.
• Vivaldi 1: coronavirus (COVID-19) care homes study report – Summary of antigen testing in all care homes for those over 65 years old in England and survey results of managers of those homes. Key conclusions include: regular use of ‘bank’ staff is an important infection risk factor; staff are more likely to transmit infections to residents than vice versa. Important transmission risk is now likely to focus on staff, who will now be tested weekly via the new whole home testing rollout.
• Local Government Association annual conference 2020: Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government’s speech (3 July) – Sets out where do we go next, including that it is local government that will lead on containing outbreaks and helping communities to stay alert during this time.

 

 

Other COVID-19 related news

• NHS England: NHS to launch online COVID-19 rehab service – Tens of thousands of people who are suffering long-term effects of coronavirus will benefit from an on-demand recovery service. Nurses and physiotherapists will be on hand to reply to patients’ needs either online or over the phone as part of the service.
• WHO discontinues hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir treatment arms for COVID-19 – On 4 July, WHO accepted the recommendation from the Solidarity Trial’s International Steering Committee to discontinue the trial’s hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir arms. The interim trial results show that hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir produce little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalized COVID-19 patients when compared to standard of care. Solidarity trial investigators will interrupt the trials with immediate effect.
• BBC:  Coronavirus could cause 35,000 extra UK cancer deaths, experts warn – Delays to diagnosis and treatment due to coronavirus could cause between 7,000 and 35,000 additional cancer deaths in the UK within a year. That’s the scenario suggested by research from eight hospital trusts.
• BBC: Virus crisis expected to ‘level down’ UK economy – The coronavirus crisis could “level down” the UK economy with London and the South East expected to bounce back more quickly than Hull and Bradford.
• BBC Global picture
  • Globally there have now been more than 11.4m cases and more than 533,000 people have died
  • Indian scientists say the August vaccine deadline – set by the country’s medical council – is unrealistic. India now has the third-highest caseload in the world according to its health ministry, overtaking Russia
  • New South Wales in Australia is closing its border with neighbouring Victoria to fight a surge there
  • Nearly 240 scientists want the WHO to take the airborne risk more seriously

Suffolk

 

Rubbish Disposal: Litter can spread the virus and with more of us venturing out and about in Suffolk there may be an increase in rubbish which is being disposed of in public bins. If you are out and the nearest litter bin is full please take your rubbish home with you and dispose of it there.

 

Suffolk Libraries Re-opening: Suffolk libraries will start to reopen from today (Mon 6 July) with measures in place to ensure visitors are kept safe. The mobile library service will also resume from today. For more information click here

 

 

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.

 

	Title	Who For	Comments
NEW	Local lockdown guidance for social distancing (guidance for Leicester)	Everyone	How you can see people you do not live with if there’s a local lockdown during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. For people outside the area defined in this guidance for Leicester, ”Meeting people from outside your household” guidance still applies.
NEW	Closing certain businesses and venues in Leicester		Provides the list of businesses and premises expected to close in Leicester from 4 July 2020.
NEW	COVID-19: guidance for the safe use of places of worship during the pandemic from 4 July.	Places of worship	This guidance is designed to enable the safe reopening of places of worship for a broader range of activities from 4 July 2020.
NEW	Privacy notice for maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace		This privacy notice describes how the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will process personal data from venues and establishments to support contact tracing.
NEW	Coronavirus (COVID-19): travel corridors	Everyone	Travel corridors exemption list – from 10 July, you do not have to self-isolate on arrival in England if these are the only places you have been to or stopped in during the previous 14 days.   Note this travel corridors exemption list is NOT the same list as the list of countries exempt from non-essential travel. 
NEW	Young carers and young adult carers: providing care during coronavirus	people under the age of 25 who are providing care	This guidance is for anyone under 25 who cares for a family member who cannot cope without their support. This may be because they have a lifelong condition, illness, disability, serious injury, a mental health condition or an addiction.
UPDATED	Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers	Everyone	Added information about travelling into, out of and within areas under local lockdown. You should only travel into, out of and within areas under local lockdown if your travel is essential.
UPDATED	Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)	British people travelling overseas during the coronavirus	On 4 July,  The Foreign & Commonwealth Office travel advice against non-essential international travel changed, with exemptions for travelling to certain countries and territories that no longer pose a high risk for British travellers. View the list of exempted destinations. 
UPDATED	Staying COVID-19 Secure in 2020 notice	workplaces	Notice to display to show you have made your workplace COVID-secure.
UPDATED	Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19	People who are clinically extremely vulnerable (shielding)	Guidance updated to reflect the 22 June government announcement of further relaxing shielding guidance which will come into effect on 6 July and 1 August. From 6 July this includes meeting in a group of up to 6 people outdoors, including people from different households, while maintaining strict social distancing From 1 Aug, shielding will be paused. This includes that you can go to work, if you cannot work from home, as long as the business is COVID-safe
UPDATED	Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested	Everyone	Added information on regular care home testing (retesting) in England. Care homes should contact their local Health Protection Team (HPT) if: – you suspect your care home has a new coronavirus outbreak – it has been 28 days or longer since your last case and you have new cases Your HPT will provide advice and arrange the first tests.

 

 

Useful Websites

 

	Title	Who For	Comments
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	Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance	Main collection of guidance for anyone in any setting	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
4	Heatwave Plan for England	Professionals
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
8	Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker	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.

 

 

Local Resources:

Below are any local resources that would be relevant to Suffolk County Council and our partners.  

 

	Title	Who For	Comments
	Mobile Testing Units in Suffolk	Everyone	It is important that anyone with coronavirus symptoms gets tested. Mobile testing units are mobilised by the Ministry of Defence and regularly appear across Suffolk. Please share details of the testing sites with your local community – see under Where can I get tested in Suffolk?
	Support from the Suffolk Growth Programme Board (SGPB)	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.
	Suffolk Domestic Abuse 24/7 Helpline – 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.
	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 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 167, 5 July