Coronavirus Update

 CORRONAVIRUS UPDATE - Current Situation (18/03/20)

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.

UK

• As of 9am on 18 March 2020, 56,221 people have been tested in the UK, of which 53,595 were confirmed negative and 2,626 were confirmed positive. 103 patients in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) have died. In Suffolk we have 10 confirmed cases. However, with routine community testing discontinued, these figures will not describe the full extent of cases locally.
• PM statement on coronavirus: 18 March 2020 highlights
  • Avoid all unnecessary gatherings – pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants, theatres and so on and work from home if you can
  • Asking retired healthcare professionals to come back and help us cope
  • After schools shut their gates from Friday 20 Mar afternoon, they will remain closed for most pupils except children of ‘key workers’. This hasn’t been exactly defined yet, but is expected to include health and social care staff, police, and supermarket delivery drivers.
  • Children should not be left with older grandparents, or older relatives, who may be particularly vulnerable
• Stay at Home guidance for households: illustration – newly published illustration of current guideline
• Foreign Office statement, 18 March 2020 - all British travellers in Spain to contact their tour operator or airline as soon as possible, to arrange their return journey before 24 March as all hotels will close in Spain from Tuesday 24 March .
• Complete ban on evictions and additional protection for renters for at least a three-month period
• Proposals agreed to ensure vulnerable customers who may fall into debt remain supplied with energy while in self isolation.
• Mobile networks remove data charges for online NHS coronavirus advice
• In the news - Asian nations face second wave of imported cases
• In the news – as the virus is spreading faster in London than the rest of the UK, Transport for London announced that 40 London Underground stations to be closed, reduced bus service and no night tube  

SUFFOLK

This is the latest information/guidance/action relevant to Suffolk today. It is not just restricted to updates from Suffolk County Council. If you would like anything added to this please contact the communications.team@suffolk.gov.uk.  

• Communities: There are a number of community groups, businesses and individuals offering to support vulnerable people in their communities. 

The Collaborative Communities Covid-19 Board is working with partners to ensure that there is a co-ordinated approach to community support and consistent messages.  Some of the national guidance issued includes:

• • • Check in on any vulnerable family, friends and neighbours. Sometimes just helping them with their shopping and checking they have everything they need can make a big difference.
    • If you know someone who is self-isolating, contact them via phone and text and check that they’re ok. By its very nature, self-isolation is a solitary experience and their wellbeing will likely be improved by talking to someone.
    • Public Health England has advised people who are self-isolating to do what they can to avoid visitors to their home and any delievreies of groceries, medications or other shopping to be left at the door so please ensure that when you are providing support this advice is followed.
    • Suffolk Mind has some useful tips about to look after your wellbeing when isolated or home working: https://www.suffolkmind.org.uk/news/covid-19-virus-precautions-at-suffolk-mind-2/

The Suffolk Community Foundation has launched the Suffolk Coronavirus Community Fund. Money raised will support charity groups and community organisations throughout Suffolk, to reach the most vulnerable during this pandemic. More details here https://www.suffolkcf.org.uk/in-response-to-the-coronavirus-threat-suffolk-community-foundation-launches-local-appeal/

The Murrayside Community Centre in Ipswich is closing its doors at 5pm on Friday March 20^th in line with Government advice.

• Schools: SCC is currently awaiting guidance from Government on School closure and what roles are to be included in the list of key workers. We do however know many headteachers are already proactively texting and emailing parents to update them on their existing plans. We are supporting schools and looking at a range of contingency plans to reduce the impact of these changes as much as possible. This included the production of home learning resources and measures to ensure the mental wellbeing of children during this time. We will have a more detailed update on this tomorrow.
• Health and Children’s Centre Groups: SCC has made the decision to temporarily stop running all of our Health & Children’s Centre groups.  This will allow us to use the centres for one to one contacts for those families in greatest need. Child health clinics will become appointment only, families will need to contact their local Health & Children Centre to make an appointment.  For more information advice and guidance families can access the webpage www.suffolk.gov.uk/healthvisiting

• Suffolk County Council: Please be advised that the meeting of the county council’s Cabinet scheduled for 24^th March has now been cancelled. This decision was taken by the Chief Executive and the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council and leaders of the opposition groups, and was made in light of the continuing situation with Coronavirus.

Decisions to cancel meetings are being made on a case by case basis.  Any decisions due to be made by Cabinet during that meeting will either be delayed or dealt with in an alternative way

• Suffolk Events: A number of announcements were made yesterday to cancel events, including: The Suffolk Show, the Hadleigh Show and the Suffolk Walking Festival.

• Children and parents: With schools closing it is likely this will only add to the anxiety and worry that many children will be feeling towards the Coronavirus outbreak. Equally parents will also be concerned about the best way to help their children understand the changes they are experiencing and on a practical level how best to plan schooling at home. With this in mind The BBCs Newsround have put together a video which provides a list of top tips on keeping safe and adapting to these changes. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51887051

• Suffolk Trading Standards: Felixstowe CAB has taken the decision to cease giving face-2-face advice. This is in line with most other CAB offices across Suffolk. They will have sufficient paid staff and volunteers to run an extended telephone and e-mail service. Trading Standards: The work done by our Imports Team at the Port of Felixstowe is essential and has been prioritised. Appropriate procedures and measures are in place to enable officers to safely carry out physical exams of consignments to prevent dangerous and unsafe items entering the UK market.

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 newly published guidance in this bulletin.

Global – WHO Situation Report 58, 18 Mar  

• WHO RISK ASSESSMENT (Global Level) - Very High

Situation in Numbers WHO SitRep 58, 18 Mar  (new since last 24hrs)