Coronavirus (COVID-19): Members Update
Your weekly round up of the latest coronavirus response updates in Cumbria.
In this briefing:
The latest COVID-19 status report for Cumbria has been published. The weekly report sets out key statistics relating to COVID-19 infections in the county.
It can be found at www.cumbria.gov.uk/stopthespread
This week’s report shows a small decrease in the number of cases in the county. The decrease is small but shows that people’s diligence is being rewarded.
The county council’s Director of Public Health, Colin Cox is still reminding people to continue to be vigilant and and follow social distancing guidelines and good hygiene measures.
The local multi-agency Cumbria Health Protection Board is continuing to monitor the situation closely.
This week there are 55 new cases in Cumbria - a slight decrease from previous week which was 59.
There is no change to the local public health advice.
Colin Cox, Cumbria’s Director of Public Health, said:
“While this week we have seen a small decrease - I must stress it is very small but that said it is very welcome.
“We are still not seeing the levels in Cumbria that have prompted the tightening of measures seen in other parts of the country this week such as Aberdeen.
“Sadly as we have seen from media coverage this week the virus is still circulating and being passed between local people in the community, so we must not think that the risk is going away - even though we have seen a decrease in numbers this week. Only by continued vigilance and following the basic public health guidance will we continue to prevent the number of people being infected.
“As before we are urging people living in, and visiting, Cumbria to adhere to social distancing guidelines, wash your hands regularly and to provide good quality contact details to any venues you visit. If you are getting a taxi we would also advise you to wear a mask and wear them in shops and other indoor settings in line with the latest guidance from government.”
The key public health messages remain:
- 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
The guidance on coronavirus testing, including who is eligible for a test and how to get tested, was updated this week to reflect that there is now a single GOV.UK testing service for people who have symptoms and want to get tested.
Guidance
Book a test or order a home testing kit
Local mobile testing site details
Testing is available at Penrith Rugby Club seven days a week.
Testing is also available in Annan and Gretna. Tests can be booked at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested/pages/arrange-a-test/
Anyone who tests positive is being asked to contact our COVID-19 call centre on 0800 783 1968.
- September – The government are suggesting schools, nurseries and colleges will open for all children and young people on a full-time basis. Universities are working to reopen as fully as possible
- October - The government intends to bring back audiences in stadia and to allow conferences and other business events to recommence in covid-secure way, subject to the successful outcome of pilots.
- November – The government’s ambition is to scale back remaining social distancing measures, but this is contingent on a number of factors, including consideration of the specific challenges as we move into winter.
The Department for Education has now published guidance on what councils in England will need to do about transport to school and other places of education from the start of the autumn term.
The guidance provides advice for councils on managing the capacity of, and demand for, public transport, and increasing capacity of both public and dedicated home to school services. Advice is also provided on the provision of dedicated home to school transport in the autumn term.
Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transport-to-school-and-other-places-of-education-autumn-term-2020
As people return to work and school, and attractions and destinations reopen, it is expected a number of families and households to use cars to make their journey.
The Department for Transport are encouraging people to plan their journey; if it requires them to share a car with another household, they are asked that they follow government guidance to help them keep safe. The advice for the public is to:
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· try not to share a vehicle with those outside their household or support bubble
· if this is not possible, share the transport with the same people each time
· open the windows for ventilation
· wear a face covering for the duration of the journey
· consider seating arrangements to maximise distance between people in the vehicle – e.g. leave seats some free.
· clean their car between journeys including door handles and other areas that people may touch
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Councils are invited to let local people know about this guidance. This guidance is for personal family owned cars. Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles have their own guidance and regulations.
Taxi and private hire vehicles guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-operators
A new NHS Test and Trace app has been launched, with trials starting from yesterday (13 August).
The NHS Test and Trace app has been designed to work alongside traditional contact tracing services and testing and is designed to the highest standards of data privacy and data security. It will not track individuals and does not hold personal information such as name, address or date of birth. For some features, the app may require more information from the user (e.g. if you are booking a test) but only if the user gives their explicit consent.
The app will log the time and distance a user has spent near to anyone, even if they don’t know them, so it can alert them if necessary if that person later tests positive for coronavirus, and help them easily book a free test, and quickly get their results.
The app has a range of additional, enhanced features that will help to reduce personal and public risk from coronavirus as part of the end-to-end NHS Test and Trace service:
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· Alert: letting users know the level of coronavirus risk in their postcode district.
· QR check In: alerting users if they have recently visited a venue where they may have come into contact with someone who later tests positive with coronavirus
· Symptoms: allowing users to check if they have coronavirus symptoms and see if they need to order a free test all in one place
· Test: helping users book a free test through the app and get results quickly to know whether they have coronavirus
· Isolate: if a user is told to self-isolate, a timer feature will help countdown that period and access will be provided to relevant advice.
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Announcement: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/test-and-trace-service-reaches-more-than-250-000-people-since-launch
Privacy notice: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-test-and-trace-app-privacy-information
For the 2020 to 2021 academic year, more laptops and tablets have been made available for disadvantaged children in certain year groups who are affected by disruption to face to face education at their school, or have been advised to shield because they are clinically extremely vulnerable.
The Department for Education (DfE) last week (07 August) published guidance on how schools can access these digital devices. Before the start of the autumn term, councils and academy trusts in England will be contacted to request details of people within each school who would be responsible for placing orders if required.
Guidance on accessing digital devices: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-laptops-and-tablets-for-children-who-cannot-attend-school-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19
This offer is in addition to 200,000 devices and 4G wireless routers already distributed between May and July 2020 to councils and trusts for disadvantaged pupils in year 10, care leavers and young people with a social worker. DfE published guidance last week (07 August) for councils, academy trusts and schools on managing DfE devices.
Guidance on managing devices: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-provided-during-coronavirus-covid-19
The guidance on devices and support available to provide remote education and access to children’s social care has also been updated.
Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-with-technology-for-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19
The Cabinet Office last week published optional badges that can be used to show the carrier may have difficulties or concerns in maintaining social distancing. The badges are available for mobile phones as well as print.
Badges can be found here
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has extended the application deadline for the fund set up to help those dairy farmers most in need in England to overcome the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. The deadline has been extended to midnight, 11 September 2020.
The fund will be administered by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
Announcement: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-farmers-landowners-and-rural-businesses
Fund Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dairy-response-fund-2020
From autumn 2020, schools will be able to access support for children and young people who have been most affected by school closures during the coronavirus outbreak through the National Tutoring Programme. Tutoring will begin from the second half of the autumn term and increase through the spring term 2021. Schools can register their interest in joining this programme below.
To register interest: https://nationaltutoring.org.uk/contact-us
Guidance for school sixth forms, colleges and all other 16 to 19 providers on delivering small group tutoring activity for disadvantaged 16 to 19 students whose studies have been disrupted as a result of coronavirus will be issued shortly.
The guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable has been updated on 10 August to clarify the position for travelling to work in local lockdown areas.
Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19
The information for those providing personal care to people living in their own home during the coronavirus outbreak has also recently (07 August) been updated to reflect wider changes to shielding guidance and to include further details about the new online recruitment platform for social care.
Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-providing-home-care
The guidance on when to wear a face covering and how to make one was updated on Friday (07 August) to reflect the latest government guidance.
Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
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