 2020 has been a long and difficult year, but we are Southampton. This film shows a year in pictures in Southampton and how we have pulled together as a city (socially distanced of course).
Every resident has played their part in the fight against the virus this year, however big or small. This is our huge thank you to you all.
Here’s to continuing that fight into 2021 – We March On.
Watch on YouTube.
 COVID-19 infections in the last week have risen from the previous week, as we are seeing nationally, and hospital admissions to the University Hospital Southampton have increased. Capacity across the health system is fragile due to the additional strain that COVID-19 is causing on top of the normal winter pressures. You can see more detail here.
It is vitally important that we keep infection in the community as low as possible to protect our local health and social care services, and specifically to reduce pressure on intensive care beds. To reduce our local infection rate, we need to continue to follow the Tier 2 government guidance for the ‘High’ risk COVID-19 category and plan safely for the Christmas period.
We also need to stick to the basics of working from home where we can, and if we are meeting people from outside our household or support bubble, we must only do this outdoors in groups of six or less (this limit of six includes children of any age). By following these public health measures, we can help protect each other and our NHS and social care services during the winter.
The roll-out of the Pfizer vaccine gives us hope for the future, but this will take a number of months. It remains vital for everyone to continue to follow the HANDS-FACE-SPACE guidance.
If you have symptoms, you must isolate at home, get tested and continue to isolate until you get the results and further advice from NHS. The mandatory self-isolation period is now 10 days.
For more details, take a look at our full local COVID-19 data dashboard.
Have a safe and happy holiday. Be sure to read and follow the national guidance for ‘Making a Christmas bubble’ between 23 and 27 December—this type of bubble is different from support and child care bubbles.
Our COVID Marshals scheme is up and running successfully in Southampton. The marshals have had many positive interactions with the public and are supporting people and businesses to stay safe.
We're aware that in some areas of the country people are falsely claiming to be Council officials in order to enter business premises. They are saying they need to carry out compliance checks and may even issue fake fines.
Our officers will never ask you to pay a fine on the spot for non-compliance with coronavirus rules.
Please ask for ID if someone comes to visit your business. All our officers will have photo ID, clearly marked with the Southampton City Council logo. Don’t let anyone into the premises to conduct inspections who cannot provide ID.
If you are suspicious that someone is falsely claiming to be from the Council or asking you to pay a fine on the spot for non-compliance with coronavirus rules, call the police.
 Southampton City Council’s City Telecare Services have maintained a 24/7 response to support our city's most vulnerable residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The local First Responding team now has two new electric vehicles for use when doing emergency home visits, making the fleet cleaner and greener.
Southampton City Council's City Telecare Service offers 24 hour help to over 6,300 city residents (and almost 2,700 Portsmouth residents), providing security and peace of mind whilst at home. If users fall or feel unwell, they can access our services by pressing a pendant or wristband, which is connected directly to a local monitoring and responding team that gives help when an alarm is raised. So far this year the Responding Team has attended over 6,000 emergency calls.
The new electric Nissan Leaf vehicles are part of the council’s commitment to tackling climate change. This at the centre of the Green City agenda which is outlined in the Green City Plan, published in March. Read more here.
City residents interested in City Telecare Services, including the dedicated responding service, should visit www.southampton.gov.uk/telecare or call 03332 079937.
|
