Coronavirus update - 23 September

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

coronavirus

This update includes what to expect when visiting and using some of our council services:

  • Autumn and Winter Plan
  • COVID-19 rates in Stoke-on-Trent and public health guidance
  • COVID-19 vaccination
  • Flu vaccines
  • COVID-19 testing
  • Shielding programme ends
  • New system for international travel

Autumn and Winter Plan

Last week, the Prime Minister set out the government’s plan to manage Covid throughout autumn and winter. Autumn and winter could pose renewed challenges and it is difficult to predict the path of the virus with certainty.

 

The main aspects of the plan are:

 

Vaccines

Vaccines will continue to be our first line of defence. All those who were vaccinated during Phase 1 of the vaccine programme (priority groups 1 to 9) will be offered booster jabs from this month – to boost immunity amongst the most vulnerable groups during winter.

 

Test, Trace and Isolate

Symptomatic PCR testing will continue throughout the autumn and winter and Lateral Flow Tests (LFT) will remain free of charge. The legal obligation to self-isolate for those who have tested positive and their unvaccinated contacts will continue, and the financial support payment for those self-isolating on certain benefits will continue in its current format until the end of March.

 

Travel

Border policies will remain in place and genomic sequencing capability will be increased to help scientists update vaccines to defeat new variants.

 

However, there is also a 'Plan B' in place with measures kept under review to help control transmission. Plan B includes:

 

  • Introducing mandatory vaccine only Covid status certification in certain, riskier settings.
  • Legally mandating face coverings in certain settings, such as public transport and shops.
  • Communicating clearly and urgently to the public if the risk level increases.
  • Considering asking people to work from home again if necessary.

 

Plan B measures would only be implemented if necessary and if the NHS is at risk of becoming overwhelmed.

 

You can read more on the government's Autumn and Winter plan on the gov.uk website here.


Autumn and Winter Plan

Covid-19 rates in Stoke-on-Trent and public health guidance

The seven-day rate of coronavirus cases in the city is now 355.0 per 100,000 people, for the week 10 – 16 September 2021. This is a 11.1 per cent decrease on the previous seven days. The positivity rate, or the percentage of people who have had a test and tested positive, is 8.9 per cent. The current hotspot area in the city is Moorcroft and the lowest testing rates are around Hanley and Burslem.

 

Case rates are plateauing across the city. 911 people tested positive in the week to 16 September and we need to do all we can to try and avoid this dreaded virus. We still need to continue to hands, face, space, fresh air, test and get the vaccine to stop the spread of coronavirus.

 

We can help to keep reducing cases by continuing to follow the public health advice and to keep regularly testing ourselves. However, the best way of all that we can help to protect ourselves and others around us is to get vaccinated and encourage all our family, friends and colleagues to do the same if they are eligible. The vaccine does not eliminate completely the chance of getting Covid but it does offer a huge protective effect by reducing at least eight-fold your chance of catching it, the severity of illness if you do get it, the chance of having to go into hospital if you do and ultimately the risk of dying. 


5000

COVID-19 vaccinations

 

Covid boosters

The government has confirmed that the most vulnerable people will be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine from the end of September. The programme will be rolled out to the same priority groups as previously. This means that boosters will be offered to:

 

  • care home residents
  • health and social care workers
  • people aged over 50
  • those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19
  • adult carers
  • adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals

Those eligible will receive their booster from six months after their second dose. Vaccinations will begin next week and the NHS will contact people directly to let them know when it is their turn to get their booster vaccine. People will be offered either a full dose of Pfizer or a half dose of Moderna, following scientific evidence showing that both provide a strong booster response. This will be regardless of which vaccine the individual previously had.

 

You can read more about the COVID-19 booster vaccine programme on the government website here.

 

12-15 year olds

People aged 12 to 15 in England will be offered one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, following advice from the four UK Chief Medical Officers. 

 

Vaccinations will be carried out in line with existing school vaccination programmes. The NHS are keen to reassure that they will only be vaccinating children where we have parental consent. Should a child wish to be vaccinated without parental consent, the NHS will instead arrange a conversation between the parent, child and a clinician in a follow-up clinic to resolve.  

 

You can read more about the decision on the government website here. This will be starting to be rolled out across the city from Monday. You should receive further updates from your school soon.

 

Book your COVID-19 jab

COVID-19 vaccines are now available for everyone aged 12 or over.

 

You can:


Vaccine

Flu vaccines

Following 18 months of lockdowns, when people have been less exposed to flu and their immunity may now be lower, the NHS are concerned about the likelihood of higher and more severe winter infections this year.

 

Everyone 16 and over who is eligible, is encouraged to get their first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses for the best protection. Flu too. If you haven’t had yours yet, do get in touch with your GP or local pharmacy to book your jab.

 

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has also advised that the flu and COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered. It is important people take up the offer of both vaccines when they receive it, so people are encouraged to get both vaccinations as soon as possible rather than waiting for the possibility of getting them together.


COVID-19 testing

Testing twice a week should now be a normal part of our lives; even if you have had the vaccination you can still spread the virus.

 

Pop up testing and doorstep testing

Our pop-up testing centres offer lateral flow tests where people who don't have symptoms of COVID-19 can get a test which gives results in just over 30 minutes. No appointment is needed for these testing centres and anybody who isn't showing COVID-19 symptoms is welcome. You can also pick up home testing kits.

 

Our teams alongside the Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust will be at:

 

Date: Friday 24 September 2021           

Time: 11am – 3pm

Location: The Potteries Shopping Centre, middle floor near to Lush Cosmetics

 

Please pop along – ask any questions, have a lateral flow test or collect your home testing kits.

 

Doorstep testing has taken place today in the Weston Coyney area of the city where case rates are high but testing rates have been low. Our COVID stewards visited a number of streets in the area, dressed in high visibility tabards and carrying identification at all times.

 

Information on pop up testing and doorstep testing will be updated on the council website later this week – www.stoke.gov.uk/bookacovid19test. You will also be able to keep up to date by following us on social media.

  

There are a number of ways you can access regular Covid-19 tests in Stoke-on-Trent

  • Home testing kits

Everyone in England can access free lateral flow tests. The kits are quick to use from home, and give results in 30 minutes. One in three people with coronavirus don’t show symptoms, so the tests are really important in helping to quickly spot positive cases and squash any outbreaks. 

 

It’s also really important that you follow the instructions in your test kit to ensure that the result is as accurate as possible, and that test results are registered online or over the phone - whether your result is positive, negative or a void result. If testing at home, residents will need to register their results online or by calling 119. They should self-isolate if positive and order a confirmatory PCR test within 48 hours of a positive LFT.

 

You can order lateral flow testing kits to use at home via any of the following routes:

  • Community Collect

Home testing kits are available to collect from a number of venues across the city. Our staff are trained and on hand to help you and they are available to answer any questions or concerns you may have and to talk you through how to use these tests. You can find out more details about the community collect venues which offer this via https://www.stoke.gov.uk/communitycollect

  • Pharmacy collection:

58 pharmacies across the city offer home testing kits. You can find out where you can collect them from via a map on the NHS website. Click here to find out more.

  • Ordering tests online:

If you cannot collect a home test kit from a community testing site or pharmacy, you can order them online by clicking here.

 

If you have one of the three main symptoms then you are not eligible for lateral flow testing. You should instead book a test through https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test, or by calling 119.

 

Please also remember that confirmatory PCR tests for positive lateral flow tests have been reintroduced. It is really important that everyone has a confirmatory PCR test within 48 hours maximum of a positive lateral flow test (LFT) at our community venues.

  • Book a Covid-19 test (for people without Covid-19 symptoms)

You can still book lateral flow tests at our community testing centres and there are still plenty of slots available. A full list of community locations and booking options and a range of locations, dates and times for the week ahead the are available on our website via www.stoke.gov.uk/bookacovid19test

  • PCR tests

If you are symptomatic or need a confirmatory PCR test for a positive lateral flow test, and are unable to book one using the national system, you can alternatively request PCR home delivery.

New slots are added to the national portal throughout the day, but people can also book a home PCR test online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus

 

If you require an urgent test you do have the option of a walk-up (no book required) test at Fenton Manor Car Park or Synectics Solutions.

 

PCR tests are available in the city at SCFC, Fenton Manor Car Park and Synectics Solution and can be booked by going to Coronavirus (COVID-19) - NHS (www.nhs.uk) or by phoning 119.


testing

Shielding programme ends

Shielding was introduced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the few interventions available to support those who were considered to be most at risk of serious illness from the virus.

 

The government has agreed to end the requirement for centralised guidance for the clinically extremely vulnerable, meaning they will not be advised to shield again. The closure of the shielding programme follows a pause to shielding guidance in place since 1 April 2021.

 

Since 19 July, the guidance for clinically extremely vulnerable people has been to follow the same advice as the rest of the population, with the suggestion of additional precautions people may wish to take.

 

Those previously on the Shielded Patient List will receive a letter from the government in the coming days to inform them of this decision.

 

You can find more information on the ending of the shielding programme on the government website here.


Meet up outside covid

New system for international travel

From Monday 4 October at 4am, the current international travel system will be replaced by a single red list of countries and territories. Testing requirements will also be reduced for eligible fully vaccinated travellers, who will no longer need to take a pre-departure test when travelling to England from Monday 4 October 4am. From the end of October, eligible fully vaccinated passengers and those with an approved vaccine from a select group of non-red countries will be able to replace their day two PCR test with a Lateral Flow Test. Anyone testing positive will need to isolate and take a free confirmatory PCR test. 

 

Testing for unvaccinated passengers from non-red countries will include pre-departure tests, day two and day eight PCR tests. Test to release remains an option to reduce the self-isolation period.

 

You can read more about the new international travel system on the government website here.


lets keep life moving covid

Stay Connected

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