Members Update - Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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Members briefing

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Members Update

Your weekly round up of the latest coronavirus response updates in Cumbria.

In this briefing:


Cumbria County Council’s Archive Centres set to reopen next week

Cumbria County Council’s three Archive Centres in Carlisle, Kendal and Whitehaven will reopen on Wednesday 21 October with new safety measures in place. The Archive Centre at Barrow will reopen later in 2020 due to ongoing building works at Barrow Library.

To protect the health and safety of archives staff and customers, new Covid-secure measures will be in place and the opening times and procedures will be slightly different.

Key changes include:

  • Researchers will be asked to book a place at least 24 hours in advance so that the service can safely manage the numbers of visitors. Bookings can be made by emailing the relevant Cumbria Archive Centre. Researchers can also contact our Archive Centres by telephone but the service cannot always guarantee that staff will be available to respond in a timely manner.
  • We ask researchers to pre-order details of the documents they require.
  • Opening hours will be:
    • Wednesday - Friday, 9.30am - 1pm.
  • Visitors are required to wear face coverings unless they are exempt.
  • Hand sanitiser stations are located at entrances and exits and customers are advised to use them.
  • Signage and floor markings are in place to promote 2 metres social distancing and to help people find their way around safely.
  • We are waiving camera licence charges and ceasing photocopying services to encourage users to take their own photographs and to prevent handling of cash.
  • We can provide an enhanced enquiry service for customers who cannot visit the Archive Centres
  • We can now accept donations and deposits of records again by appointment.

To welcome customers back to our Archive Centres, staff will be on hand to receive visitors and provide help and advice.

Public communications will begin this week from Wednesday 14th October and we will publish more information online at cumbria.gov.uk/archives.

If you have any questions please email Helen Blake, Senior Manager Policy and Scrutiny, at Helen.Blake@cumbria.gov.uk.

reopening

Help us encourge eligible people in your communities to get the free flu vaccine

The county council is working closely with local health partners to promote uptake of the flu vaccine across Cumbria. More information can be found at cumbria.gov.uk/healthandwellbeing/fluvaccine.asp.

You can help by sharing some key messages aimed at this year's eligible groups, including children, pregnant women, people who have been shielding and more. See below:

Pregnant women

  • Flu can cause harm to both mother and baby. The free flu vaccine is the very best protection for you and your unborn baby from the harms of flu.
  • Pregnant women can get their vaccine from their GP, pharmacist or through their maternity service.
  • However fit and healthy you might feel, if you are pregnant you need the flu vaccine now. The flu vaccine is the safest way to help protect you and your baby against the flu virus. It’s free because you need it.
  • Ask your pharmacist, GP Practice or midwife about the free flu vaccine.

Parents of 2-3-year olds

  • Flu can be horrible for young children and they can easily pass it on to those around them who could be vulnerable - even if they don't show any symptoms. The free flu nasal spray is easier to give to children that the injection, is the best way to protect your child and can prevent the spread of the virus.
  • Children who get flu have the same symptoms as adults – including fever, chills, aching muscles, headache, stuffy nose, dry cough and sore throat.
  • Some children develop a very high fever or complications of flu such as bronchitis or pneumonia and may need hospital treatment. Call NHS 111 if you are worried about your child's symptoms.
  • Vaccinating children can protect both them and those around them who are at high risk of serious complications if they get flu.
  • Ask your GP Practice about your child's free flu nasal spray.

Parents of children 4-11

  • Flu can be horrible for young children and they can easily pass it on to those around them who could be vulnerable - even if they don't show any symptoms. The free flu nasal spray is the best way to protect your child and can prevent the spread of the virus.
  • Children who get flu have the same symptoms as adults – including fever, chills, aching muscles, headache, stuffy nose, dry cough and sore throat.
  • Some children develop a very high fever or complications of flu such as bronchitis or pneumonia and may need hospital treatment. Call NHS 111 if you are worried about your child's symptoms.
  • Vaccinating children can protect both them and those around them who are at high risk of serious complications if they get flu.
  • For most children the flu vaccine is not an injection, just a quick painless nasal spray.
  • Social distancing and safety measures are in place in schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when giving the vaccine.
  • Look out for your child's consent form from their school and sign and return it to ensure they get their free flu nasal spray.

People aged 65+

  • Flu can cause serious complications for people aged 65 years and over. The free flu vaccine is the very best protection for you from the harms of flu.
  • People aged 65 years and over are more likely to experience serious complications from flu. As well as having your flu vaccine, you may be eligible for the pneumococcal and shingles vaccines. All three vaccines can be given at the same time.
  • Ask your pharmacist or GP Practice about the free flu vaccine.

People with LTHCs

  • Flu can cause serious complications if you have a long-term health condition. The free flu vaccine is the very best protection for you from the harms of flu. Ask your pharmacist or GP Practice if you’re eligible for a free flu vaccination.
  • If you have diabetes, a long term respiratory, heart, kidney, liver or neurological condition, Immunosuppressed, morbidly obese or have problems with your spleen you are more likely to experience serious complications from flu. Ask your pharmacist or GP about the free flu vaccine
  • All children who have long term health conditions should be offered flu vaccination from the age of six months. Ask your GP about the free flu vaccine.

Household contacts of those on the NHS shielded patient list for COVID-19

  • Flu can easily spread (even if you are not showing symptoms) to those around you who are vulnerable and are on the NHS shielded patient list for COVID-19. That is why their household members are being offered the flu vaccine this year.
  • As well as household contacts of the shielded getting the flu vaccine, it is also the very best protection for those who have been shielding from COVID-19 from the harms of flu.
  • Flu can be serious and can be easily spread to those who are more vulnerable. That's why you may be offered the vaccine for the first time this year, to protect yourself and others.
  • Ask your pharmacist or GP if you’re eligible for a free flu vaccination.If you live with someone who is on the NHS Shielded Patient List, or if you expect to share accommodation with them on most days over the winter, making close contact unavoidable, then you should ask for a free flu vaccine.

We have a range of useful images for you to use, download them here.

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Useful links


Please share our social media updates

Agencies across Cumbria are continuing to share trusted information, advice and guidance and you can help by sharing this on your own social media accounts.

Every share or retweet means we reach more people and spread important messages wider across our communities.

@Cumbria Twitter

@CumbriaCC Facebook


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