Day of Reflection next week
Next Tuesday 23 March will be a year to the day since Southampton first went into lockdown.
Since then 370 residents have passed away with coronavirus (COVID-19).
On Tuesday we will join the rest of the country in a day of reflection.
We will remember all those we've lost.
And we will resolve to continue the fight against COVID-19. To save lives and to support people through the most difficult of times.
You can join us at 12 noon on Tuesday for a minute of silence to remember all those who have died.
You can also join in by shining your torch or phone, or by lighting a candle on your doorstep at 8pm to pay your respects.
 Local data update
The number of COVID-19 cases in Southampton has risen again this week. This is a reminder that we are not yet out of the woods.
While the vaccination programme rolls out at speed we must remain vigilant and continue to follow guidance. This is to ensure we can keep to the national roadmap for easing restrictions, protect our NHS, and save lives.
If you’re a local employer looking ahead to reopening in the months ahead, or you’re currently operating, we encourage you to help keep your workplace safe by getting symptom-free tests for staff at one of our local testing sites or order online.
See our full dashboard for Weekly COVID-19 Updates.
Vaccination update
Due for your second dose of the vaccine soon?
You will be eligible for your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination from 10-12 weeks after your first dose. You will need to go back to the same location where you had it before, so that they make sure you receive the same type of vaccine again.
Depending on where you were first vaccinated, the ways of confirming second dose appointments differ; this is due to the logistics of operating different sites and different vaccines, compounded by vaccine delivery schedules:
- If you were invited by your GP practice (e.g. Adelaide Health Centre, Ladies Walk Surgery, Chessel Avenue Surgery, St Peters Surgery, University Health Centre), wait to be contacted by your GP.
- If you were invited for vaccination at a hospital site, (e.g. Solent NHS Trust Hospital), then you will be contacted by the hospital site to book your second dose appointments.
- If you went to a mass vaccination site or pharmacy site (e.g. Applemore Leisure Centre, Boots Pharmacy, West Quay Retail Park), you can book your second appointment online via the National Booking Service or by calling 119 if you do not already have one.
Book second dose
Aged 50 or over?
Clinically vulnerable?
If you are aged 50 or over, are clinically vulnerable, a frontline worker or a carer, you can now book your COVID-19 vaccination through the NHS website even if you haven’t yet received a letter.
You must book your appointment before you go to a vaccination centre. We are aware of other scam messages circulating – please ignore them. The NHS will never ask you for money or your bank details for your vaccination – it is free.
You can book an appointment now if:
• You are aged 50 or over
• You are at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)
• You are an eligible frontline health or social care worker
• You have a condition that puts you at higher risk (clinically vulnerable)
• You are a main carer for someone at high risk from coronavirus
You can book appointments at a larger vaccination centres or a pharmacy that provides COVID-19 vaccinations.
Appointments are available in Southampton.
Please make sure you plan your journey responsibly to allow for as much social distancing as possible.
 Plotting a course for economic recovery
The economic impact of COVID-19 has been and will continue to be significant. And as the latest case numbers above show, we are not out of the woods yet.
But this week we received the positive news that two key city centre developments, which will create over a thousand jobs and bring in £350m of investment, were approved at planning. The council’s cabinet also approved a new ten-year strategy for the sustainable growth of the city’s economy.
Watch our video on YouTube to find out more, or you can read the full detail on our website.
 Half a million pounds secured to support care sector
We have secured £550K of Government funding to continue to support the city’s most vulnerable people. The funding, from the Workforce Capacity Fund for Adult Social Care will help towards the continued support of the city's care homes and home care services through the pressures of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It will be spent on training, recruitment and employee morale initiatives, including counselling support.
The care sector has been one of the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this in partnership with the NHS Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), we have developed a Care Home Oversight Group.
Over the last year the group has developed and put in place a range of supportive measures such as action planning, training and digital support so the city’s 60 care and nursing homes can meet the major challenges presented by the pandemic and deliver the best care possible, to ensure that all our residents are supported to be healthy and independent.
The current needs within the city's homes were reflected in the funding bid and will continue to support the work of the Care Home Oversight Group, and ongoing work with home care providers.
Read more here.
 Free counselling service for health and social care
In partnership with Southampton City Council, local charity Options Wellbeing Trust, part of the Social Care in Action group (SCiA), are now offering free counselling support for frontline health and social care workers in Southampton whose mental health and wellbeing have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Counselling sessions are offered on a 1:1 basis or in small groups, online or over the telephone. The free service, available exclusively to health and social care workers, includes up to 8 sessions, completely free of charge.
If you or one of your colleagues would like to talk to someone confidentially, please contact the team on 023 8063 0219 or email enquiries@optionscounselling.co.uk for further information.
Self-isolation saves lives
Whether you have COVID-19 symptoms, someone you live with has symptoms or has tested positive, or you were contacted by Test and Trace and advised to self-isolate, it is important to think ahead and seek support when you start self-isolation.
Lynda, a housing tenant who was shielding, recently shared her positive reflections on self-isolating with us:
I live alone and had to shield, so was frustrated at not being able to be of any practical help in the community. I’m a member of the charity Communicare so I volunteered as a telephone befriender to the isolated and lonely, which made me feel useful. I decided to make use of lockdown to catch up with loose ends in my voluntary work. That kept me happy and busy for a while and I also treated it as a ‘watershed’ to sort out my life’s priorities.
The most difficult aspect was staying in. I was used to going out and about daily, and I realized that I would have to combat cabin fever. I live on the third floor of an 8-storey tower block and have a small balcony. There’s also a landing outside of the front door. I tricked my brain into thinking I was going out properly by taking the keys, going out of the door, locking up, then walking round & round in circles on the landing. When I went back indoors, I would visit the bathroom and have a coffee as usual as if I had been out properly. This also gave me much-needed exercise.
I also sat on the balcony a couple of times a day visualizing the Southampton parks and memorials, which I love, and I visited them in my imagination. I’ve never been able to walk far due to a birth disability, but on those occasions, I walked miles in my mind, and it was marvellous. These activities successfully helped me deceive my brain into thinking that I wasn’t locked in. Good job I have a simple brain.
I kept in close touch daily with family & friends, and emailed agencies in my voluntary work to keep up the continuity of contact. The agencies were all particularly good with keeping in touch.
My three neighbours on the landing and I would meet every Monday at 5 o’clock and chat for a couple of hours from the safety of our own doors, and that helped a lot.
We know that self-isolating is very difficult for some people, however, we live in an area with many community resources that can help make it easier for you.
Our resident helpline is dedicated to COVID-19 queries, if you need support: 023 8083 4800 (Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm). If you’ve been told to self-isolate due to a positive test, you may be eligible for the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment.
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