This is intended to keep you updated on the latest developments linked to Covid-19. The bulletin includes information on:

• Stoke-on-Trent is now in high alert level
• Please read your letter from the city council
• Testing capacity steps up during half term
• Vulnerable residents reminded of support helpline as covid-19 cases rise
• Support for businesses

Stoke-on-Trent is now in high alert level

Stoke-on-Trent moved to the high COVID alert level on Saturday 24 October.

This means that the risk that the virus poses to our city is high.

This followed an application by Stoke-on-Trent City Council to move the city into tier 2 – high alert level banding of Covid-19. It followed a sharp increase in cases in the city within recent days.

This means that for Stoke-on-Trent, the following measures are now in place:

• People must not meet with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place;
• People must not meet in a group of more than 6 outside, including in a garden or other space; and
• People should aim to reduce the number of journeys they make where possible. If they need to travel, they should walk or cycle where possible, or plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport.

These measures will be reviewed every 14 days with Government to consider whether they are still appropriate.

The high alert comes following news yesterday that the number of admissions into hospital locally is rising as a result of Covid-19.

Read the government guidance to find out what restrictions are in place in areas where the local COVID alert level is high.

More information can be found on our website here.

Please read your letter from the city council

Following Stoke-on-Trent's move to the high COVID alert level on Saturday 24 October, we are writing to all residents to reiterate what moving into high COVID alert level means for our residents and the city. When you receive this letter this week please take time to read through it.

There is more information, including frequently asked questions, on our website: www.stoke.gov.uk. There is also more excellent information at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-level-high.

Testing capacity steps up during half term

Over 500 more coronavirus tests over six days are to be made available to Stoke-on-Trent residents following a further extension of community testing from Monday 26 October.

It means Stoke-on-Trent City Council, working with the NHS and partners, is increasing testing capacity across the city. The facilities have been put in place as a local solution to respond to the increase in positive cases. These community testing centres are in addition to regional and mobile test centres which are organised nationally.

Testing will be available at:

• Monday 26 October: St Mark’s Primary School, Shelton, 10:30am -1pm
• Tuesday 27 October: St Mark’s Primary School, Shelton, 12:30pm -2pm
• Wednesday 28 October: Moorside High School, Werrington,10am-2pm
• Friday 30 October: Trentham High School, Trentham, 11am-3pm
• Saturday 31 October: Smallthorne Primary School, Smallthorne, 11am-3pm

The booking line for appointments is now live and is bookable 48 hours in advance for anyone with symptoms. Before trying to book at the community centres, people should first try to get a testing appointment through the national system. The regional testing centres are at the Stoke City FC South Car Park and Fenton Manor Car Park. Bookings can be made via www.nhs.uk/coronavirus, or ringing 119, where help is available in other languages.

If not successful through the national booking, people can book for a community test 48 hours in advance on a rolling basis if they are showing coronavirus symptoms at on www.stoke.gov.uk

If residents do need to cancel their booking, they are urged to please follow the instruction on their confirmation email.It is vitally important whilst waiting for test results, residents must self-isolate. This means not visiting loved ones, however hard that may be; it is the right thing to do.

Residents are reminded if they are showing symptoms they must book a test immediately at one of the testing centres across the city. Testing is available seven days a week, if residents start showing symptoms at the weekend, they must not wait until Monday, they must get a test straight away.

Vulnerable residents reminded of support helpline as covid-19 cases rise

People who are in need as a result of the coronavirus pandemic can contact a dedicated #StokeonTrentTogether helpline - 01782 234234 - to access a range of services.

#StokeonTrentTogether was first set up in the city in March to support vulnerable people through the coronavirus pandemic and over recent months the support service has made over 100,000 proactive welfare calls to city residents. With the city now in tier two, there is a greater range of flexible support available as needs change through the course of the pandemic.

Help available includes access to food - including for those families who are in need over the half term holiday- and assistance for those who are self-isolating providing essential day-to day support such as prescription collections.

The initiative was first developed with voluntary sector organisation VAST and through the pandemic provided 4,745 requests for food parcels, received 1,886 requests for prescription collections and made 112 referrals for support services for people experiencing loneliness. Focus through the first phase was on protection of the most vulnerable who were isolated. As the situation and service has evolved, the council’s support has moved to focus more on economic hardship as well as social isolation.

A number of organisations have been involved in delivery of the scheme and the strong partnerships between the local authority and voluntary and community sector partners has meant that provision can be flexed accordingly to meet these changing needs.

Children’s charity The Hubb Foundation, based in Stoke-on-Trent, organises fun and education activities for children during school holiday periods – as well as providing nutritious meals. Since March, working as part of the Port Vale Community Hub and by liaising with its network of 42 primary and high schools across the Potteries, it has overseen the delivery of more than 160,000 meals to homes across the Stoke-on-Trent – supporting more than 50,000 people, 32,000 of whom were children. This week, during the October half-term holiday, the Hubb Foundation has already planned to support at least 1,225 children and 446 adults – providing more than 3,700 meals.

This includes emergency referrals of children and families by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and other organisations and the continuing Hubb Pots project which has seen slow cookers, ingredients and recipe instructions delivered to hundreds of families.

To donate to the Hubb Foundation to support this week’s meal provision, visit: justgiving.com/campaign/Halfterm. For more information about the Hubb Foundation and to find out how you can help, visit: www.thehubbfoundation.com.

Support for  businesses - Chancellor announces new additional grants scheme

The Chancellor has now announced additional grants for businesses in areas with high alert status, within the Local Restrictions Support Scheme. This means that these will be available in Stoke-on-Trent as the city is now under high alert coronavirus restrictions.These grants are primarily aimed at businesses in the hospitality, accommodation and leisure sector that are adversely impacted by restrictions.  As soon as we have the final guidance for these grants and an agreed application process, we will be letting businesses know they can apply and successful applicants will be receiving their grant as quickly as possible. We will also be communicating this in future updates.

Other support options for businesses include the Job Support Scheme, the plan designed to replace the furlough system from November 1, and also extra support for the self-employed. 

We understand that these are challenging times for businesses, and we have a dedicated business support team to help answer specific business or funding enquiries. If you are a business owner and need some support and advice, please contact the business support team on 01782  236878 or e-mail business.growth@stoke.gov.uk.

You can find out more about the Local Restrictions Support Scheme here:  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plan-for-jobs-chancellor-increases-financial-support-for-businesses-and-workers

You can find out more about support for local businesses here: https://www.stoke.gov.uk/info/20095/coronavirus_covid-19_closures_and_information/348/business_support

Stay Connected If you enjoyed reading this update, why not check out the other updates and newsletters we offer by clicking here