Coronavirus (COVID-19): Members Update
Your weekly round up of the latest coronavirus response updates in Cumbria.
In this briefing:
6 main library buildings to re-open in August
We will be opening our 6 main library buildings in Carlisle, Penrith, Whitehaven, Workington, Kendal and Barrow to the public on Monday 10th August.
The opening times and offer will be a bit different for customers when we open, in order to keep our staff and customers safe.
A new reserve and collect service will be introduced from Tuesday 4th August to give customers the opportunity to order a selection of books which they can collect from the entrance of one of the 6 main libraries. This will avoid the need for customers to come into the rest of the building.
Our home delivery service for existing housebound customers will also recommence on 4th August.
When the libraries open to the public on 10th August, Library Hosts will welcome customers on arrival and explain new arrangements.
There will be clear signage throughout buildings to help everyone find their way around, and hand sanitisers will be located at the entrance and exit points.
Not all of the usual activities will be available, but there will still be plenty of resources available for customers to enjoy.
Our wide range of online resources, including ebooks and audio books, which have seen a surge in uptake will continue to be available.
To summarise:
From the 4th August, the following services will be available to customers:
- Launch of new reserve and collect service (Select & Collect)
- Home delivery service to recommence
- Online services continue to offer members free 24/7 access to eBooks, audio books, magazines and comics
From 10th August:
- Library buildings open in Carlisle, Penrith, Whitehaven, Workington, Kendal and Barrow with Covid-secure measures in place.
- Books can be returned and any outstanding overdue book fines will be waived
- Access to a reduced number of computers through a combination of 45 minute appointments and drop in
- Limited browsing allowing customers to take out books and DVDs using the self-service machine
- Reserve and collect, home delivery and online services continue
Fines incurred whilst the libraries have been shut will be waived and this will continue until 31st December. To minimise risks, customers will not be able to use cash for transactions; and events and clubs will not be available when we open. Library opening hours will be reduced when we first open to enable our staff to work safely and offer the contactless services. The opening hours will be kept under review and updates provided to the public on the county council's website and social media.
We will continue to review the situation in relation to branch libraries and will keep you updated as things progress.
Registration Services
In response to government restrictions and changes in legislation, registration services have had to operate differently in the past few months. In line with the easing of restrictions the service will now resume face to face contact with customers in our buildings from 20th July.
All registration offices, with the exception of Wigton, will be open for customers with appointments from this date. Arrangements to ensure the safety of staff and customers have been put in place; and customers will be advised of these measures when booking appointments. Our arrangements will be kept under review in line with the government guidance. Our website will be kept updated from next week alongside additional supporting comms activity for the public. Details for the different types of appointments are set out below:
Births
Central government has allowed birth registrations to resume. These have to take place face to face and had to be paused during lockdown. There are therefore a significant number of customers waiting to register the birth of their child. We will seek to deal first with the customers who have been waiting for appointments the longest. Letters have been sent to these customers advising them we are now able to offer appointments.
Deaths (including still-birth)
Registrations of a death or still-birth will continue to be undertaken by telephone. We have had feedback that during this difficult time this arrangement has worked well for our customers allowing a much quicker service to bereaved families at such a difficult time and it means that people can also register from home rather than travelling to an office.
Notices of intent for Marriage or Civil Partnership
From 20th July couples will be able to attend our offices for these appointments.
Ceremonies
Since 4th July we have been carrying out ceremonies at external venues (eg venues not part of the registrar service) in line with the latest government guidance.
From 20th July ceremonies can commence again in our Registration Offices
Other Ceremonies
Our focus at this time will be ensuring birth and death registration services, along with marriages are back up and running. Once these are well established we will then review the delivery of other ceremony services.
Certificate Services
Customers can continue to order certificates online or by phone. These will be posted to customers.
Cumbria’s new COVID-19 Health Protection Board has published the first of what will be weekly updates on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in Cumbria.
The report draws together publicly available data to provide an overview of the number and rate of new COVID-19 cases and contact tracing activity.
The update includes the latest data for Carlisle, which last week prompted Public Health leaders to issue a warning for people to ensure they were following the guidance fully to stop further infection spread.
The Carlisle latest data shows a further 21 cases in the week ending 10 July, in addition to the 19 new cases in the preceding week.
Colin Cox, Cumbria’s Director of Public Health, said:
“It’s important that the public have access to clear information about what is going on and can act accordingly. Apart from Carlisle, Cumbria is seeing very low numbers of new infections and this is good news. But Carlisle continues to be of concern, with significantly higher numbers of new infections than other districts.
“Along with partners we have been working hard to trace contacts of new cases and to understand the pattern of infection and we are in a better position. The infection data for next week will be critical in informing decisions about whether we need to change the advice to people in the Carlisle area. We are hopeful that the steps we have taken will see the number of infections fall. For the time being we are still urging people to follow the existing advice carefully and remember that this is a highly infectious disease that can spread rapidly.”
The key public health messages are:
- Wash or sanitise hands regularly
- Observe social distancing rules
- Wear face masks or coverings in enclosed public spaces
- If you have symptoms, self-isolate and get tested
- Follow advice to self-isolate if asked
Following examples on Carlisle’s Botchergate last weekend where social distancing was not observed, people are also being reminded that it is possible to be infected and be spreading the virus without having any symptoms.
Colin Cox continued:
“I’d like everyone to remember that it’s not just about whether they get infected, it’s also about whether they could be spreading infection without knowing it to friends and family who might be more vulnerable. Following the public health guidance is the best way to stop this happening and I hope people will think about that carefully when they are out socialising.”
Cllr Deborah Earl, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities and Chair of the Cumbria Outbreak Engagement Board, said:
“A lot has been happening since we issued the warning for Carlisle last Friday, but really we won’t know until next week whether the numbers are heading back in the right direction. We absolutely have to be vigilant and everyone has an equal part to play in controlling the spread of the virus. None of us want to see a return of lockdown restrictions, so we just need to work together as a community.”
The weekly COVID-19 status report is published at cumbria.gov.uk/stopthespread.
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.
In England, you must by law wear a face covering in the following settings:
- Public Transport
- Shops and Supermarkets as of 24 July 2020
The evidence suggests that face coverings can help us protect each other and reduce the spread of the disease from someone who is suffering from coronavirus, but not showing symptoms.
Read the face covering guidance.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) can spread predominantly by droplets from coughs, sneezes and speaking. These droplets can also be picked up from surfaces, if you touch a surface and then your face without washing your hands first. This is why social distancing, regular hand hygiene, and covering coughs and sneezes is so important in controlling the spread of the virus.
The best available scientific evidence is that, when used correctly, wearing a face covering may reduce the spread of coronavirus droplets in certain circumstances, helping to protect others.
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24 July 2020
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In England, you must by law wear a face covering in shops and Supermarkets as of 24 July 2020. This new regulation is in addition to wearing a face covering on public transport.
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See Gov guidance.
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25 July 2020
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Following the announcement that outdoor pools could reopen to the public from 11 July, indoor gyms, pools and leisure centres will be able to reopen from 25 July.
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See Gov press release.
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1 August 2020
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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.
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Updated guidance will be published on the 1st August. In the meantime, see here.
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1 August 2020
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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.
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More information of furlough arrangements here.
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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
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