Rates of COVID-19 are continuing to fall in all areas however the rate in Crawley remains the highest area in the county. In the seven days to Saturday 30 January there were 2,167 new cases. This means on average 310 people are testing positive for COVID-19 each day in West Sussex.

The latest data indicates there have been 37,124 cases so far in West Sussex, as at Thursday 4th February 2021. In cases among those aged 60+, in the seven days to Saturday 30 January there were 525 new cases. This means on average 75 people in this age group are testing positive for COVID-19 each day in West Sussex.

You can get further information on the infection rates in your area by visiting https://bit.ly/3ql7q2h

Continue to follow National lockdown restrictions.

• You cannot leave your home to meet socially with anyone you do not live with or are not in a support bubble with (if you are legally permitted to form one).
• You may exercise on your own, with one other person, or with your household or support bubble.
• Indoor gyms and sports facilities will remain closed. Outdoor sports courts, outdoor gyms, golf courses, outdoor swimming pools, archery/driving/shooting ranges and riding arenas must also close.
• If you think you may have any coronavirus symptoms, isolate immediately and book a test. There is availability at your local walk or drive-through sites that may be closer than you think.

You can book a test online or by calling 119 to get an appointment to visit a test site.

Please be on your guard against fake COVID-19 vaccination appointment text and email messages. People are receiving a text or email notification of their ‘vaccination appointment’ and are being asked to confirm it by clicking on a link. This looks very similar to the genuine texts being sent to patients to arrange their appointments at the GP led vaccination services.

The COVID-19 vaccination is ONLY available from the NHS and it is FREE – you will never be asked to pay for it or give your bank details.

Our Trading Standards Service has been working hard to keep residents safe throughout the pandemic.

Since the start of the national lockdown in March 2020, Trading Standards officers have issued 36 notices to businesses refusing to comply with COVID-19 regulations.

Whilst the vast majority of businesses have followed the rules, some were found to be non-compliant, including hairdressers, car washes and retailers. One business has received multiple fines following the involvement of Trading Standards.

Businesses required to close include clothing stores, gyms, hair, beauty and nail salons, nightclubs, theatres and museums.

There is a wide range of support available for businesses.

To report an issue to Trading Standards please contact the service via Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 or online.

A plan which sets out what we should focus on in the future, a five-year capital investment programme, and the day-to-day budget for the coming year could be agreed by West Sussex county councillors next week.

At the Full Council meeting next Friday (12 February),  councillors will decide whether to approve the 'Our Council Plan,' which sets out how money should be spent and performance measured.

The plan sets out the key priority outcomes for the council over the next four years, focusing on learning from the response to COVID-19 to ensure the council provides the best support it can for residents, both now and in the future.

An extra £12m investment in highways and £10m to address the challenges of climate change are two of the investments which are proposed in the revised five-year Capital Programme. 

An increase in council tax of 1.99% is proposed - plus an additional 3% for adult social care – making a total increase of 4.99%. This is an average increase of £1.38 per week compared to last year’s bill.

The Full Council meeting is being held virtually starting at 10.30am on Friday 12 February. The meeting can be followed online here.

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for snow and ice for much of the country, including West Sussex this weekend.

Temperatures are expected to drop sharply going into next week.

There's plenty of information on our website on what to do when it snows including updates on road closures and gritting routes.

You can also sign-up to receive email alerts for the latest updates on extreme weather in West Sussex. 

If you don't have a support network to help you during the extreme weather, our friendly team from the COVID-19 Community Hub are just a call away, whether you need food, prescriptions, advice or support.

Call 033 022 27980 or click the link below for more information.

We’re working with Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove (WSBH) to deliver homecooked meals, wellbeing and energy advice to the over 50s across West Sussex.

The initiative is part of the county council’s COVID-19 Winter Grant scheme. It runs until the end of March 2021 and aims to ensure older people have nutritious food, a warm home and someone to turn to during lockdown. Homecooked frozen meals and desserts can be delivered to doorsteps for a suggested donation of just £2 (those on low incomes can receive these free of charge). Older people can also get information and advice over the phone on how to keep warm and well this winter.

Anyone interested in receiving meals, energy advice or other support should call 01903 731800 or email info@ageukwsbh.org.uk

Do you regularly visit people’s homes as part of your work? Would you know what to do if you saw something that concerned you about a child?

The NSPCC is currently offering free, 15 minute online training to help workers spot possible signs of child abuse and neglect.

The interactive ‘It’s Your Call’ training is designed for delivery drivers, postal workers, gas engineers, housing and maintenance staff, taxi drivers, council staff and other workers who continue to visit people’s homes and complements any other safeguarding training already taken.

Concerns around child abuse have continued to rise since national lockdown measures were first introduced and the average number of referrals from the NSPCC’s helpline to local authorities in the South East is up by 81%.

So we are calling on everyone who visit people’s homes to take the charity’s training course, available here online and free until March 31, 2021.

If you see something that raises a concern about a child, please say something by reporting it to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 01403 229900. If you think a child is at immediate risk, call the police on 999.