Current UK Risk Level: HIGH

The risk to the UK has been raised to high (as of 13/03/2020).

As of 13 Mar, UK is in the ‘delay’ phase of the government’s action plan to limit the spread of the virus.

Current UK Situation

• As of 9am on 8 April, 232,708 people have been tested, of whom 60,773 tested positive. As of 5pm on 7 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 7,097 have died. Full details and latest numbers are available here.
• In Suffolk we have 302 confirmed cases. However, with routine community testing discontinued, these figures will not describe the full extent of cases locally. You can view the latest UK dashboard of cases by local authority here.
• Government’s daily press conference (8 April 2020) – as of 11:30, transcript not available
• Press conference slides with the latest data from COBR coronavirus fact file (transport use, new cases, hospital admissions, deaths) and datasets available here.
• View past press conferences on YouTube.
• NHS works with tech firms to help care home residents and patients connect with loved ones - Thousands of isolated residents and patients will be able to connect with their family and friends with video call devices, the government has announced.
• BBC: Ministers to discuss UK lockdown review
• WHO: Advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19 (6 April 2020) – Highlights that medical masks should be reserved for health care workers. The use of medical masks in the community may create a false sense of security, with neglect of other essential measures, such as hand hygiene practices and physical distancing.

Suffolk

• Easter message from Suffolk’s NHS, Emergency and Public Services: Yesterday Suffolk’s Public Sector Services release the following statement ahead of the Easter Weekend https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/suffolks-response/suffolks-nhs-emergency-and-public-services-easter-message

• Care Act 2014 (Care Act Easements): On 31 March 2020 Government brought into force regulations that provide Local Authorities with discretionary powers to streamline assessments, reviews and care planning, and to prioritise the urgent and acute care and support needs of those most vulnerable during the critical period of the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures are temporary and only to be used when necessary, based on the Councils judgement of its ability to meet the needs of local people in a Care Act compliant way. Across Suffolk we are currently operating under flexibilities within the Care Act. If, and when, a decision is made to operate under the Care A ct Easements this will be undertaken with a measured and appropriate approach. At present our services are: and the wider social movement restriction imposed by government. This has inevitably resulted in changes to the way existing customer

• Responding to the impact of social distancing, social-isolation s are having their care and support needs met.

• Developing plans with customers, families, care providers and health partners to keep people safe, well and cared for, as the crisis develops.
• Exploring alternative ways of meeting customer needs through the use of digital technologies, voluntary care sector and wider community initiatives
• Working intensively with the care market to monitor (using RAG ratings) the resilience and capacity of service providers to maintaining existing provision and to scale up capacity 

• PPE update:  Yesterday (8 April 2020) SCC received a PPE delivery from the Local resilience forum: Ministry of housing communities and local government, which was very welcome and will support ongoing PPE demands across Suffolk. Stock is urgently being sent out to the care sector, home first, social workers, funeral directors, district and borough councils, police and fire service.... to mention a few. The PPE cell is operating to support all NHS PPE needs and prioritising PPE for service areas with confirmed/suspected cases of COVID 19. SCC are prioritising appropriate protection for our front line staff to minimise the spread of the virus and are ensuring that PPE used appropriately by following Public Health England guidance, this will ensure we are protecting valuable stock levels. Good progress is being made and military planners are on site to support with logistics.

• Fake Covid-19 Testing Kits: Suffolk Trading Standards have become aware that individuals on social media are claiming to sell fake coronavirus (COVID-19) home testing kits. If you spot posts claiming to sell these items, report the to the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

• Safeguarding guide for volunteers: Community Action Suffolk have put together a 30 minute safeguarding guide to help volunteers who are briefing visiting peoples’ homes (e.g. with food or medicine deliveries) to spot those who are at risk of arm and neglect and how to report it. More information can be found here www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk/covid-19-response/covid-response-communities/

• Emergency funding to support farming and rural communities: The Prince’s Countryside fund has launched an £100,000 emergency funding to support farming and rural community support groups who are providing assistance during the Coronavirus pandemic. To find out more visit; https://www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk/grant-giving-programme/grant-programme

• Free coronavirus book for children: A free information book which explains the coronavirus to children is now available. The book is illustrated by Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler. For more information or to read the book visit; https://suffolkfamilycarers.org/coronavirus-a-book-for-children/

• Digital safety guide for children: The Children’s Commissioner have produced a digital safety and wellbeing kit for parents and a safety guide for children to help ensure they are safe and their wellbeing is looked after while at home during the coronavirus outbreak when screen time. The digital safety and wellbeing kit provides useful tips and guidance to help protect children on a range of issues including video calling, how to ensure devices and web browsers are set up and updated correctly and tips regarding best practise with usernames and passwords. For more information and to access the guides visit; https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/coronavirus/digital-safety-and-wellbeing-kit/  

• Suffolk Archives: Suffolk Archives are looking to build a brand new collection covering ‘life in lockdown’. Find out how to get involved; www.suffolkarchives.co.uk/life-in-lockdown/

• Bin Collections: A reminder that on bin collection days everyone is encouraged to thoroughly wash their hands after putting the bin put and getting back inside again. Also, everyone is asked to wash their bin handle and lids before and after collections to help minimise the spread of any germs.

• School Travel: SCC understand that this is a challenging time for parents but SCC still need parents to opt in for school travel if their child is eligible. If a child is eligible for SCC funded School Travel their parents must opt in by 31 May 2020 to receive travel for the start of the 2020/2021 school term. If their child already receives SCC funded travel they still need to opt in every year. To find out more visit www.suffolkonboard.com/optin. Parents should not be applying for a reception age child until they have received their school place offer on the 16 April 2020.

• Clap for Carers: #ClapforCarers will now be a weekly event, taking place every Thursday at 8pm. SCC would once again like to encourage everyone to join in and to praise the NHS this evening. It is absolutely right that we show them our support and appreciation for all their tireless work. It might also be worth remembering our other unsung heroes during this show of appreciation. Our care workers who are visiting people in their homes to provide them with essential care, those working in our care and nursing homes who are supporting their residents through these worrying times. Our social workers who are continuing to support those people and families who need them now more than ever and our wonderful family carers, who continue to put the needs of their loved ones above their own needs. These incredible people are showing great strength and dedication to others and are often doing this quietly in the background, just getting on and doing what needs to be done. Each and every one of them deserves to feel the support of the rest of the nation, so please try to think of them while we applaud our brilliant NHS this evening.

Useful Websites (any new guidance is in RED)

The existing guidance is being updated extremely regularly (and in some cases daily) so please check any guidance relevant to your area to ensure that you are accessing the most up to date version. I will only be able to highlight new published and some other key published guidance in this bulletin.

Global: WHO Situation Report – reports available here

• WHO RISK ASSESSMENT (Global Level) - Very High
• WHO Covid-19 Dashboard for professionals using near real time data.

Situation in Numbers WHO SitRep 79, 8 April (new since last 24hrs)