 This week’s COVID-19 update covers the latest picture for coronavirus in Southampton. The Leader of the Council welcomes positive news on vaccines, the introduction of a new local contact tracing team for the city, our COVID marshals and all the guidance for the city as we enter tier two of national restrictions.
You can read more on these stories below and watch the weekly update video on YouTube here.
 On Wednesday Southampton moved to Tier 2 following the end of the 4 week national lockdown in November. This puts us in the ‘High’ risk COVID-19 category set out by central government. This will mean that people must not mix with other households indoors, apart from people in a support bubble.
People must not meet with other households in any indoor setting. This includes inside restaurants and pubs, where people must keep to a household bubble. Shops, gyms, entertainment and personal care businesses can reopen with COVID safety procedures in place. Hospitality venues can reopen but can only serve alcohol with substantial meals, with last orders at 10pm and must close by 11pm. Avoid travelling into Tier 3 areas, except where necessary, such as work, education, medical attention, youth services or caring responsibilities. The full list of restrictions that apply in tier two areas is available here.
To find out more about the government’s national Christmas Bubble between 23–27 December visit the government website.
Read more.
 COVID-19 infections in the last week are lower than the previous week as a result of our collective efforts in Southampton. The data shows that the enhanced national restrictions and your efforts in following them are making a difference.
But, in order to try and keep cases and rates down, we need to follow the Tier 2 government guidance for Southampton. Tier 2 puts Southampton in the ‘High’ risk COVID-19 category set out by central government. By following the restrictions and guidance, we can protect our clinically vulnerable residents and our local health and social care services during the winter.
The promise of three effective vaccines and the national rollout of rapid testing services give us hope for the future, but it remains vital for everyone to continue to follow the HANDS-FACE-SPACE guidance.
If you have symptoms, you must isolate at home, register to get tested, get tested and continue to isolate until you get the results and further advice from NHS.
For more details, take a look at our full local COVID-19 data dashboard
Next week our Local COVID-19 Outbreak Engagement Board will meet to discuss the response to the virus in Southampton. This will be your chance to ask any questions you have about the impact of COVID-19 on the city and the response of the council and its partners, directly to members of the board.
The online meeting will be chaired by the Leader of the Council and will start at 6pm next Tuesday 8th December. You are invited to view all of the meeting, or you can join just for the live Q&A which is scheduled to begin at 7pm. You can submit questions at any time during the meeting from 6pm.
Log in on the day and ask your questions via the Chat function.
We will do our best to answer all your questions live. But if we get a high number it may not be possible to cover everything in time. We will answer any questions left outstanding after the meeting by updating the COVID-19 FAQs on our website.
 From Thursday, 3 December 2020, Southampton City Council will take on a greater role in contact tracing locally, to help stop the spread of COVID-19, save lives, and protect the NHS and our local health and social care services. In partnership with Public Health England and the national NHS Test and Trace Programme, the council has launched a pilot local contact tracing service called Southampton Test and Trace, which will see local call handlers contact residents that have tested positive for COVID-19.
Southampton Test and Trace call handlers will work alongside Southampton Primary Care Limited who have experience in supporting testing services, including Southampton’s saliva testing pilot. Call handers will provide residents with advice on the self-isolation guidance, identify who they may have been in close contact with so that the close contacts can also be advised to self-isolate, and will help residents access support where they need it to be able to self-isolate. In this way, the service will play an important role in making contact with residents that may be vulnerable and ensuring their needs are met.
For more information visit our Southampton Test and Trace Service webpage.
 Southampton City Council in partnership with NHS Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have supplied iPad Carts to every care home in Southampton to help keep residents in touch with loved ones and health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year care homes have suffered from outbreaks of the virus and measures were introduced to restrict visitors to avoid the unnecessary spread of COVID-19.
The city-wide roll out of 60 iPads on moveable carts will enable care homes to conduct video consultations with health and social care professionals during the continued pandemic. Residents can also use the devices to use Skype and Zoom to keep in touch with family and friends whilst COVID-19 visiting restrictions are in place. Families can call through at any time to say hello to their loved one.
Barclays Digital Eagles, as part of a partnership with NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sustainability and Transformation Partnership, have supported care homes to set up their iPads and helped to build skills and confidence with their functionality.
To celebrate their new-found virtual skills and to mark the beginning of the festive season, Barclays Digital Eagles has brought together a group of residents from Springfield House in a virtual video Christmas singalong for family and friends, conducted by celebrity vocal coach Carrie Grant.
 To support the safe reopening of the high streets, Southampton City Council, alongside GO! Southampton (the Business Improvement District), have continued and renewed the measures introduced in the summer. These measures support social distancing and public health safety using the Reopening High Streets Safety Fund.
Please do your part to Keep Southampton Safe.
Read more.
 Healthier Together is an online resource for parents with school age children. Dr Sanjay Patel has prepared a series of short videos for you on subjects like "How can I explain COVID-19 to my child or class?"
Dr Patel filmed the videos to answer some of the questions being posed to him by parents and children about schools. The videos help explain why schools have put certain processes in place; why it is so important that children, parents and teachers comply with the rules; and why children are very unlikely to get unwell from COVID.
You can watch all of Healthier Together's videos here.
 Southampton City Council has been awarded a Home Office government grant of £153,929 to fund COVID-19 Marshals over the winter months. On Wednesday the Marshals started patrolling the city centre and local district centres across Southampton, providing non-police support but co-ordinating closely with police colleagues.
COVID-19 Marshals will be part of a new campaign launching soon to encourage people to play their part in keeping Southampton safe and explain the rules when required. In their role COVID-19 Marshals will engage with the public to keep people informed and help them to follow national safety guidelines. They will promote social distancing in public areas where people might congregate such as parks and high streets and play their part in supporting businesses by providing advice to ensure that they are COVID-safe.
Read more about our COVID-19 Marshals
 During most flu seasons, people who are 65+ years old bear the greatest burden of severe flu. That’s why, if you’re in this age group, you should get your free flu vaccine now.
With both the flu virus and COVID-19 circulating this year, getting a flu jab is more important than ever to reduce your chance of catching it. The flu vaccine is the best protection for you and those around you.
Also, if you’re over the age of 50, you’ll now be able to get your free flu vaccine from 1 December. If you’re 50-64 years old, you’ll be able to get a vaccine from your GP or pharmacy.
Learn more about getting your flu jab.
 With the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s fair to say that it’s been a difficult and challenging year for children in the city. That’s why we’ve once again teamed up with Westquay and other local businesses and charities for a Christmas Toy Appeal. The goal? To help put a smile on the faces of the city’s children – whatever their circumstances.
From this week, you can donate new toys at Westquay’s customer services desk until Sunday 20 December. These will be collected and given to children and young people up to the age of 18 who are supported by the council’s children’s services teams.
Read more about our appeal and how we can all help bring a bit of Christmas cheer to children in difficult circumstances.
 Back in March we started to issue this Coronavirus e-alert, dedicated to providing you with the latest local advice and information about COVID-19. With so much non-COVID-19 work going on across the council, we have decided to bring back our weekly City News e-alert, in addition to this COVID-19 update.
City News is a great way to keep up to date with news from the council with a roundup of what has been going on over the week such as the introduction of contactless payments on the Itchen Bridge, our Christmas Toy Appeal and how we’re supporting our armed forces community.
If you’re already subscribed to City News then you don’t need to do anything, you’ll receive your first bulletin next week. If you’re not signed up to receive it, then you can subscribe on Stay Connected.
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