Sharing these newsletters
To share this newsletter on social media sites such as Facebook, please visit our COVID-19 Community Champions website www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/covid-champions where you will find links to this update and previous ones at the bottom of the page. Just copy and paste the link.
Read the MK COVID-19 Champions code of conduct here.
COVID-19 snapshot
 Click here to see and print the full COVID-19 snapshot as of 10 February 2021 (data reported up to 7 February 2021).
MK mass vaccination centre
 On Monday, thanks to a joint initiative between MK Council and the NHS, a mass vaccination centre opened at MK Council’s former offices Saxon Court on Avebury Boulevard. This centre now becomes an option for you to book when you receive your letter from the NHS inviting you to have a vaccination.
Vaccine update
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Cumulative Total Doses to 11 February
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England
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8,558,136
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East of England (including MK)
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1,046,435
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Read full stats here.
People aged 70 or older in England who have not yet had their coronavirus vaccine but would like to, are being asked to contact the NHS. A national booking system can be accessed here: online or call 119 free of change between 7am and 11pm.
Health and social care workers should also speak to their employer about arranging their jab if they have not yet had one.
The vaccine is safe, simple, and will offer you and those around you crucial protection against this virus.
The deputy chief medical officer Prof Jonathan Van-Tam urged people to get the vaccine without delay. "Protect yourself against the clear and present danger," he said.
He said the vaccines worked very well against the "immediate threat" of the Kent variant of coronavirus circulating in the UK.
There are currently three new variants of the virus in the UK: Kent, South African and Brazilian. Current vaccines were designed around earlier versions of the virus, but scientists believe they should still provide protection against these variants, in particular to protect against serious illness, just slightly less effective.
The government has a partnership with CureVac to develop new vaccines against future variants. Scientists are working to update vaccines to make sure they keep up with the virus as it continues to change. This is something the world is very used to for flu vaccines, which can be updated every year. Vaccines can be tweaked in a matter of months if necessary.
MK frontline key workers rapid tests
Around one in three people who are infected with COVID-19 have no symptoms and could be spreading the disease without knowing it. To help find more of these cases so people can isolate and break the chain of transmission, MK Council is offering MK frontline key workers free rapid COVID-19 tests.
Eligible key workers currently include people who work in shops, early years settings (eg nurseries, childminders), public transport, waste crews, and police, fire and frontline council workers.
To be tested, bring your work ID and a smartphone to the Central Library. No need to book. Results will be sent to you within around 45 minutes.
The centre is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm, and on Tuesday and Thursday from 9.30am to 7pm.
Frontline key workers should not attend this centre if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or if they are seeking a test because of close contact with a positive case. Instead see below for what to do.
If you have symptoms get a test
Please get a COVID-19 test if you have any of these symptoms
- A new and persistent cough
- A raised temperature
- If you lose your sense of taste and/or smell
Book your test here.
If your result is positive, you and your family (and support bubble) must self-isolate. This means staying in your home for 10 days. You may be entitled to financial help including a £500 self isolation payment. Find out more here. https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/benefits-council-tax/coronavirus-financial-help-for-individuals
Your employer must allow you to self-isolate. If you are worried this won’t happen, let us know by contacting us at covidconcern@Milton-Keynes.gov.uk
Why get a test?
- When you self-isolate it protects the NHS and vulnerable people
- It triggers a warning to people who you may have been in contact with
- It keeps track of the variants
- It is crucial that we understand how many people are infected so that we can keep track of the virus which will help us to get back to a normal life quicker
New Futures
Would you like to help young people and adults whose employment has been affected by COVID-19?
We are looking for enthusiastic and positive people who have experience in their own career, and who are willing to give up their time to support and encourage people as they return to the workplace.
Full training is given with a Level 2 qualification.
Interested? Please tell us more about yourself here Mentor Expression of Interest
Leaflet attached here.
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Volunteering Matters
Volunteering Matters volunteer drivers are available to take passengers to vital medical appointments (including cancer treatment, face to face GP/nurse/clinic appointments, dental treatment) and to school, court visits, respite activities and vital family appointments during lockdown. Priority will be given to medical appointments for clinically vulnerable members of the community and maintaining education for children and young people.
Volunteers can also run errands such as collecting prescriptions or shopping, dropping a sample to the GP or helping someone flee a dangerous domestic situation.
Volunteer drivers and mentors are never more needed so please get in touch if you have some time to give.
To book a volunteer – or to volunteer your own time to help - call 07765 291616 or email miltonkeynes@volunteeringmatters.org.uk.
Taking part in the 2021 Census
 Can you help?
If you’re a people person, have great customer service skills and want to be part of something that affects all of us, then apply for a job with the census.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) are particularly keen to recruit residents in Milton Keynes, and the surrounding areas, who speak community languages.
It takes a big team to ensure the census runs smoothly. The ONS are hiring at least 30,000 field staff across England and Wales for Census 2021.
The team includes:
- officers who visit those who’ve not yet completed their census form, offering help and encouragement to take part
- supervisors who manage the area field operation
- managers who plan and act to get the best results
- In every role, you will be an essential part of making the census the best it can be.
So, join the team and make a lasting impact.
For more information on how to join in: https://census.gov.uk/jobs or https://www.censusjobs.co.uk
Reporting concerns
One of the ways you can help is by reporting serious concerns about workplaces and other facilities where social distancing and other measures aren’t being followed. Intelligence like this can help us to track and control virus transmission.
Please tell us when the breach of restrictions took place, and a full address of the site if known. Your details will not be shared with the person or place you are telling us about.
You can write to us at COVIDconcern@milton-keynes.gov.uk.
We may not reply to all messages but we will read them all, and they’ll be used to gather intelligence so we can take action where needed.
Useful links
See the latest Government guidance here gov.uk/coronavirus.
Find COVID-19 Information from the NHS: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
To print and share this, please click "view it as a web page" at the top of this bulletin. This will take you to a web page with the option to print this off at the top.
To share this newsletter on social media sites such as Facebook, please visit our COVID-19 Community Champions website www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/covid-champions where you will find links to this update and previous ones at the bottom of the page. Just copy and paste the link.
Your Feedback
Have you found this email useful?
Let us know how we can improve: COVIDChampions@Milton-Keynes.gov.uk
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