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Increase in Covid-19 cases

Unfortunately coronavirus cases in West Berkshire have increased recently.

Latest figures show that confirmed cases in the last 7 days were around 30 per 100,000 people, which is above both the national and regional average. This is largely based around outbreaks in several of our schools, with a high proportion of our cases in school age children and those they live with. However, these are relatively small numbers when compared to the thousands of children attending our schools every day.

Our schools are continuing to do a magnificent job in ensuring a safe learning environment and we wish both pupils and teaching staff a well-deserved break next week.

You can continue to keep yourself and others safe by:

• Having your vaccination when it's offered to you
• Testing yourself regularly at home or in one of our community locations (see more information on this in the Community Testing section below)
• Continuing to follow the guidance, including washing hands, wearing face coverings and ensuring good ventilation when mixing inside
• Remembering to keep your distance at the school gates if you are dropping off / collecting children from school

Covid-19: local cases data

As of 28 May there have been 6,551 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in West Berkshire. In the last 7 days we have seen 48 new cases with a current case rate of 30.3 per 100,000 population.

We have again seen a slight rise in cases this week, and as mentioned above, our current case rate remains above the national and regional average.

Please utilise free, twice-weekly rapid Covid-19 tests (lateral flow testing) if you don't have Covid symptoms.

If you have Covid-19 symptoms, you and your household need to self-isolate, and you need to request a PCR test straight away. See more information below in our Community Testing update section.

New strains of Covid-19

You may have seen in the news this week reports about the rise of a particularly concerning variant of coronavirus first detected in India and its spread through the UK. So far in West Berkshire we have had only a handful of cases of this variant, but it is moving throughout the country and it is inevitable we will see more in time.

The variant may be more transmissible so we are remaining alert for this strain and are reassured that Public Health England has robust measures in place to monitor and react to this strain if and when it is required. 

Community Testing News

New mobile testing site for Newbury now open

Newbury mobile testing site is up and running as from today and replaces the one at Highwood Copse Primary School, which closed permanently on 25 May. The new site is located at Newbury Library car park (Wharf Road, RG14 5QP) and residents can have their twice weekly lateral flow tests done on site or collect lateral flow device home testing kits. Newbury mobile testing site is available on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and opening hours are 9:30am till 4pm (closed on Wednesday and Sunday). There is no booking system for this testing site, so simply turn up on any of the operating days to have your community testing needs met.

Keep up with the rapid Covid-19 testing (lateral flow tests)

Help keep yourself and your loved ones safe from the virus by having twice-weekly lateral flow tests, three to four days apart. Lateral flow testing is a rapid test for Covid-19 and it is free of charge.

Drop into one of our four community testing sites to take a lateral flow test there, or pick up home test kits - no appointment is necessary.

Alternatively, you can pick up free home test kits from our Mobile Community Collect option.

For other ways on how to obtain free home test kits, please visit our community testing page.

If you test positive through a lateral flow test, then it is vital that you and everyone else in your household self isolates for 10 days. You must also book a free PCR Covid-19 test straight away by visiting https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or calling 119. This webpage also contains helpful information with instructions on how to isolate and what additional support is available during your isolation period.

Covid-19 Vaccination Update

Covid-19 vaccine available to people 30 and above

Anyone aged 30 or over, or who will reach that age before 1 July 2021, can now book their Covid-19 vaccine appointment.

If you are not eligible yet, please wait for the NHS to contact you about the Covid-19 vaccination.

Local Outbreak Engagement Board

Our most recent public Local Outbreak Engagement Board meeting to discuss Covid-19 related issues in West Berkshire took place on Monday, 24 May. Agenda items included grants, vaccination programme update, a Covid-19 situation update, and our Covid-related communications activities. You can watch a recording of the event by clicking on the link below.

Our next public Local Outbreak Engagement Board meeting will be held on Monday, 7 June, at 6 pm.

In today’s Weeknotes Council Leader Lynne Doherty and Chief Executive Nick Carter discuss an increase in Covid-19 cases in West Berkshire and the reasons for this. Ahead of National Volunteer Week they also reflect on the work of community and voluntary groups in the district. As part of this, they talk about the work getting underway to understand the voluntary sector’s needs and, working with the sector, ways to put in place solutions that will support them in the work they do.

In Council Tax or Business Rates arrears?

Now that Covid-19 restrictions are easing, businesses have reopened and people are able to get back to work, the Council will be issuing letters requesting payment of outstanding Council Tax and Business Rates.

We recognise that some people are still being affected by loss of income due to the Pandemic and may struggle to make payments, and plans have been put in place to help people manage this debt - for example, they could be entitled to apply for Benefits or reduced payments for a period of time.

Don’t delay - if you are in arrears and will struggle to pay - contact the Council Tax or Business Rates teams as soon as possible.

Phone: 01635 519520

Email: counciltax@westberks.gov.uk or businessrates@westberks.gov.uk

Health and Wellbeing

Mental health support

During these difficult times it is important that we take care of our mental health and wellbeing. Better mental health helps us at work, at home and in the way we feel about our wellbeing. Here are some resources for adults, children and young people that you may find useful:

You are invited to an Online 'Question Time panel' discussing Mental Health coming out of COVID - A panel of experts will discuss some of the top mental health challenges facing individuals and organisations across West Berkshire in a live ‘Question Time’ panel. Hosted by Greenham Trust, the free event will be held on Wednesday, 9 June starting at 9.30am. See event details and register.

Talking Therapies is a friendly, approachable NHS service for anyone aged over 17 living in Berkshire. They offer support if you are coping with challenges such as depression, stress, anxiety, sleep issues or phobias. They have a range of therapies including counselling, online programmes and workshops. You can refer yourself or access support via from Talking Therapies via your GP. See website: https://talkingtherapies.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/

Emotional Health Triage service for young people - This free service helps children and young people under 19 years old get help for mild to moderate mental health problems. Find out more.

Free Recovery in Mind courses for adults - Coping with the pandemic has had a detrimental impact on many of us in different ways. Recovery in Mind's free online courses teach you the skills to improve your thoughts and feelings to maintain a healthy mind so you can learn to deal with life's challenges and feel more fulfilled again. Find out more at www.recoveryinmind.org

Every Mind Matters - There are simple things we can do to take care of ourselves a bit more. Our website contains lots of tips on how you can look after your mental health and wellbeing during this uncertain time.

"Surviving to Thriving" Mental Health fund supports local projects

The West Berks COVID-19 Mental Health Fund is supporting organisations that provide services for mental health and wellbeing. We jointly set up this "Surviving to Thriving" fund with Greenham Trust in February 2021.

So far, £62,360 has already been distributed through the fund to a range of organisations working hard to support vulnerable groups needing help due to the pandemic, lockdown and easing of restrictions.

Click on the link below to read about the mental health projects in West Berkshire already supported by the fund:

Fair Close Centre is one of the fund's grant recipients to enable them to employ a Senior Wellbeing Worker to focus on outreach to vulnerable elderly citizens. Fair Close is now hiring for this urgent post. See more details about the Fair Close vacancy and apply.

Stay safe