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Government press conference - Tuesday 28 April
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The press conference was chaired by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock.
As of 9am on 28 April, 599,339 people had been tested, of whom 161,145 had tested positive. As of 5pm on 27 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 21,678 have died.
The Government announced that from 29 April it will publish the daily number of deaths in care homes and the community, alongside existing figures of hospital deaths.
As a result of increased capacity, a further expansion of access to testing was announced. Everyone in England aged 65 and over with coronavirus symptoms can now be tested, along with symptomatic members of their household. Symptomatic workers who are unable to work from home are also eligible. Testing of all asymptomatic NHS and social care staff and care home residents is also being rolled out. Anyone eligible can book a test using an online portal.
The slides and datasets are available to view online.
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Local authority funding allocations
Individual councils have had their funding allocations confirmed (28 April) following the Local Government Secretary, Robert Jenrick’s announcement of a further £1.6 billion in additional funding on 18 April. [Hampshire County Council is to receive a total of £53,967,976 additional funding – Tranche 1: £29,654,341 and Tranche 2: £24,313,635].
The Government has also confirmed that the Review of Relative Needs and Resource and 75% business rates retention will no longer be implemented in 2021-22.
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Early years
The Department for Education has published guidance for local authorities and early years’ providers on the use of free early education entitlements funding during the coronavirus outbreak.
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Schools
The Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, has today (29 April) appeared in front of the Commons Education Select Committee and stated that the reopening of schools in England is expected to take place in a "phased manner". He told the Committee that the date for opening would depend on scientific advice, but schools would get "as much notice as possible". He also suggested that when pupils start returning, it could just be for some year groups.
The Department for Education has updated guidance for schools to include information on bank holidays, Early Years Foundation Stage, recruitment and the workforce.
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Shielding
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government wrote to all local authority chief executives yesterday outlining how the new regional leads are to act as ‘shielding contacts’ for every council.
The Government call centre - the National Shielding Helpline - is working to contact those who have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable but have not yet registered via the GOV.UK shielding website or automated telephone line.
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Treatments
The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that a rapidly scaled-up national initiative will mean clinical trials could start in weeks rather than months. Six potential drugs will initially enter the programme, with the first of these beginning phase two studies – the stage of a clinical trial testing a drug on patients to assess effectiveness and side effects – across the UK imminently.
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Reuse of medicines
The Government has issued a standard operating practice which gives guidance to care homes and hospices about reusing medicines during the coronavirus outbreak.
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Prisons
The Government has confirmed that the spread of coronavirus within prisons is being contained using the ‘compartmentalisation’ approach. Measures have also been taken to reduce the prison population by almost 3,000. The Ministry of Justice, Public Health England and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service have published a paper which assesses the impact of various population management strategies implemented in prisons.
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Seasonal farm work
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has issued guidance for seasonal working on farms, including the requirements for seasonal and furloughed workers – covering information on finding a seasonal job and staying safe at work.
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Visas
The Home Office has updated guidance for visa applicants and temporary UK residents to include information on what to do if your 30 day visa to travel to the UK for work, study or to join family, has expired or is about to expire.
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Multi-generation households
Public Health England has updated the guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk or has symptoms of coronavirus.
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Drug and alcohol treatment services
Services for people in Hampshire who are dependent on alcohol and drugs are continuing to offer support for new and existing clients via telephone and online contact during the coronavirus crisis.
Inclusion Recovery Hampshire offers free and confidential services for adults who are using, or affected by problems associated with alcohol and drugs, as well as for family or friends who may be worried about someone. Face to face meetings and group sessions which play an important role in an individual’s recovery are continuing via a digital platform. The service is also working to make sure that those who need alcohol and drug services, and their families, are kept safe and supported whilst social distancing restrictions are in place. There is also support available for anyone affected by some else’s alcohol or drug use through a 24-hour family and carer support line - 023 8039 9764.
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Community efforts
Hampshire County Council is aware of a significant number of local organisations which are supporting the national effort against coronavirus by manufacturing visors and ear protectors for local hospitals, pharmacies and care homes. One such organisation is the Church Crookham and Fleet Men’s Shed. The Men’s Shed are currently manufacturing between 80 and 100 ISO838 headbands with laminate visors per week for second line care workers and care homes. Members contacted Hart Voluntary Action, which was able to act as an intermediary, gathering requests for supplies and distributing the final products using volunteer drivers.
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Aerospace
The Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) has been asked by the Government to conduct a survey of their membership to gain an understanding on the current range of measures available to counter the impact of coronavirus on the Aerospace Industry. FAC is urging members to submit comments on current support available to the industry, as well as views on what else is needed.
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