Coronavirus (COVID-19): Members Update
Our previous daily Members' Briefing has now moved to a weekly format which rounds up the latest updates relevant to the coronavirus response in Cumbria.
In this briefing:
Updated guidance for those shielding was published on Monday 6 July. The changes are:
- Those shielding no longer need to socially distance from people they live with.
- If they want to, they can meet in a group of up to 6 people outdoors, including people from other households.
- They may also form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household if they want to, but one of the households in the ‘support bubble’ should be a single adult household (either an adult living alone or with children under 18 only).
- The government support offer has been extended: those shielding can still get a food box, care and/or medicine delivery until 31 July if they want them, and have registered online by 17 July.
- The latest evidence indicates that the risk of serious illness for most children and young people is low. All children and young people should continue to shield until 31 July. A clinical discussion with a paediatric specialist or GP will be needed before any child or young person is removed from the shielded patient list.
Full guidance is available at > https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19.
Majority of children no longer need to shield
The Department of Health and Social Care released a statement on Monday 6 July setting out that the majority of children no longer need to shield.
The latest guidance for families is as follows:
- a small group of children who receive specialist care in hospitals may need to carry on shielding following a consultation with their doctor. This includes those receiving cancer care or those at risk of severe infection due to an immunodeficiency
- most other children who were initially identified as being clinically extremely vulnerable will no longer be considered at highest risk. In particular, children and young people who are cared for just by their GP are very unlikely to need to continue to shield in the long term. This includes children with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and kidney disease
|
The guidance on shielding has been further updated to include information on the clinical risk to children and young people.
Read the announcement > https://www.gov.uk/government/news/majority-of-children-no-longer-need-to-shield.
For the first time since April there are no Cumbrian care homes experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak. The good news comes as homes prepare to welcome back visitors, meaning residents can once again meet with family and friends.
But care home leaders are cautioning that future outbreaks are possible and strict rules will be kept in place to keep residents safe.
At the peak of the pandemic 27 care homes in Cumbria were dealing with outbreaks with over 300 residents infected with COVID-19, now outbreaks have been controlled in all homes and there are currently only two confirmed individual Coronavirus infections in Cumbria’s care homes.
Cllr Patricia Bell, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said:
“This has been an incredibly challenging period for the care sector in Cumbria and very sadly despite people’s best efforts we have lost 225 people to COVID-19 in care homes. But the whole care sector, public and private, has worked together very closely to get a grip and bring the situation under control.
“It has been a phenomenal effort from the staff working day in day out and I applaud every one of them for the dedication, skill and care that they have shown throughout. I have heard so many stories of staff going above and beyond and I want to pass on my sincere thanks. We must remain on our guard, further outbreaks are possible, but we now have tried and tested ways of responding that put us in a strong position. We now need the help of the whole community to keep our care homes safe.”
Care homes across the county have agreed a common approach to allowing visitors to return. The new rules took effect from the 6th July. Under the new approach:
- Visiting slots will be booked in advance, with visiting ‘windows’ in the morning and afternoon.
- Visitors will be required to confirm on the day of the visit that they do not have COVID symptoms and are not living in a household with anyone who has COVID symptoms.
- Visits will take place outside and will be subject to cancellation dependent on the weather, visits inside homes will be allowed in specific circumstances only.
- Only two people will be allowed to visit at a time.
- Appropriate PPE will be provided and visitors will be asked to follow clear infection control rules.
- All visits will keep to the 2 metre social distancing rule.
- No food or gifts can be given and there will be no access to toilets for visitors.
- Visitors will be given a full briefing prior to their visit.
Pam Duke, Assistant Director for Cumbria Care at Cumbria County Council, said:
“Being able to welcome back visitors is fantastic news and is a huge boost for residents. Social contact has a massive role in keeping people happy and healthy and we cannot wait to see people laughing and smiling with their families and friends.
“It’s really positive that all care homes in the county are following a common set of policies and procedures around visiting based on the best public health advice. It is critical that we and our visitors follow the rules to the letter. COVID-19 has had a terrible impact on people living in care homes and we all have to work together to keep them safe as we move into this next phase.”
Melanie Williamson, Home Manager at Cartmel Grange Care Home, said:
"It has been an absolute pleasure to welcome the friends and families of our residents back into the gardens. Social contact with loved ones is vital for good health and well being. There have been many smiles, laughs and a few happy tears over the last few days.
"However, it is so important that we all continue to follow the clear policies on socially distanced visiting to keep our residents and their visitors safe we return to a 'new normal'. I would like to thank the families and local residents so much for their help and understanding over the last few months. We have all come together and it's so wonderful that Cartmel Grange is recognised as a pillar in the community."
Barbara Johnson, Director of Nursing for Risedale at Abbey Meadow in Barrow In Furness, said:
"We are delighted to welcome our families and friends back to visit their loved ones, we would like to thank all families for their patience and support throughout these challenging times. The letters and messages of love and care many of them have sent to our staff really helped us through. The first test visits we have undertaken, to ensure we have the recommended safe and effective protocols in place, have been very emotional for all concerned as we see loved ones reunited."
For full details of visiting procedures family and friends should contact their loved one’s care home directly.
Cumbria has published its draft COVID-19 Outbreak Control Plan and is inviting feedback from the public and organisations in the county.
As the number of COVID-19 infections in the country reduces, it is expected that we will move into a new phase of response, one that relies more on responding to local outbreaks rather than on a national approach. On 22 May 2020, the Government announced increased responsibility for upper tier local authorities to lead on this work, including a requirement to publish a Local Outbreak Control Plan by the end of June 2020. It is the responsibility of upper-tier local authorities to prepare these plans, though many agencies are involved in implementing them. The Local Outbreak Control Plan sets out how Cumbria will respond to outbreaks of COVID-19. It describes how the local Test and Trace system works and how this connects to the national system; gives further details of the approach being taken to support schools and care homes; and outlines how the community will be engaged in this work.
The plan can be found on the county council website at cumbria.gov.uk/publichealth/covid19outbreakcontrol.asp. People have until 31 July to provide their feedback. In the interim the plan is live.
|
13 July 2020
|
Deadline for self-employed: The self-employment Income Support Scheme currently allows you to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of your average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months’ worth of profits, and capped at £7,500 in total. If you’re eligible and your business has been adversely affected you must make your claim for the first grant on or before 13 July 2020.
|
See here.
|
|
1 August 2020
|
Shielding: Clinically extremely vulnerable people will no longer be advised to shield, but support will remain available from NHS volunteers and local councils. People will retain their priority for supermarket delivery slots, and still be able to access help with shopping, medication, phone calls and transport to medical appointments.
They will be able to participate in more activities such as visiting shops and places of worship.
Those who need to work and cannot do so from home will be able to return to work as long as their workplace is COVID secure, adhering to the guidance available.
|
Updated guidance will be published on the 1st August. In the meantime, see here.
|
|
1 August 2020
|
Furlough: From August to October, while employees on furlough will continue to get 80% of their salary, who pays for that will change slightly. The amount the Government pays will be reduced each month, with employers expected to contribute towards furloughed employees' employment costs.
From September 1, the government grant towards the employee wages will be reduced to 70%. From October 1, the government grant will be reduced again to 60%
The scheme is currently due to come to an end on 31 October 2020, as previously announced.
|
More information of furlough arrangements here.
|
Members of the public can subscribe to locality specific email updates to receive news and information about how public services and local communities are responding to the coronavirus outbreak, at cumbria.gov.uk/coronavirus/communities.asp.
@Cumbria Twitter
@CumbriaCC Facebook
|
