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Hampshire County Council: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Edition 46

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Parent Category: Notice Board
Category: Coronavirus COVID-19
Last Updated on Wednesday, 13 May 2020 13:23
Published on Wednesday, 13 May 2020 13:23
Written by Parish Clerk
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Government press conference - 11 May

  
 

The press conference was chaired by the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

The Government outlined the new COVID Alert Level System, which will determine the level of social distancing measures in place relating to the level of threat posed by the virus. The three steps that will see the UK move from level four to level three of the COVID Alert Level System over the coming months were recapped. It was confirmed that by 'Stay Alert' people should continue to work from home if they can, limit contact with other people, maintain social distancing, wash hands regularly, wear face coverings in some scenarios, and self-isolate if they or anyone in their household has symptoms.

The press conference slides and datasets are available to view online.

As of 4pm on 11 May, the total number of lab-confirmed cases was 223,060. The daily number of lab-confirmed cases was 3,877. The total number of Covid-19 associated deaths was 32,065, with 210 new deaths reported on the day. The data is available to view online.

  
 

National context

  
 

Transport guidance

The Department for Transport has published new guidance for passengers on how to travel safely. It urges people to consider cycling, walking or driving to help ensure there is enough capacity for those who need to travel on public transport to do so safely.

Guidance has also been published for transport operators and organisations setting out safe worker principles and risk assessments.

Additionally guidance has been issued for people who work in or from vehicles, including couriers, mobile workers, lorry drivers, on-site transit and work vehicles.

  
 

Phased wider opening of schools, colleges and nurseries

The Department for Education has issued guidance for educational and childcare settings and additional guidance has been published for parents and carers to help to prepare for wider opening from 1 June. The Department has also issued guidance on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings.

  
 

Working safely

The Government has published ‘Covid-19 secure’ guidelines to UK employers to help them get their businesses back up and running and workplaces operating as safely as possible. They have also published eight guides which provide more tailored advice on different types of workplace including: construction sites, factories, offices, shops and working in other people’s homes.

  
 

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme extended

The Chancellor has announced that the job retention scheme will now operate until the end of October. Furloughed workers will continue to receive 80% of their current salary. From the start of August, furloughed workers will be able to return to work part-time with employers being asked to pay a percentage towards the salaries of their furloughed staff. More details and information around the implementation of this will be made available by the end of May.

  
 

Coronavirus grant funding

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has updated the dataset which shows local authority payments as of 10 May to businesses under the two grant schemes, the Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Grants Fund.

  
 

Covid-19 deaths by occupation

The Office for National Statistics has published a provisional analysis of deaths involving Covid-19, by different occupational groups, among males and females aged 20 to 64 years in England and Wales. The data shows social care workers suffering significantly increased rates of death involving Covid-19. Healthcare workers were not found to have suffered higher rates of death involving Covid-19 compared to the rate amongst the general population.

  
 

Health and wellbeing of the adult social care workforce

The Department of Health and Social Care has issued guidance for those working in adult social care and their employers. It provides advice, guidance and tools for managing wellbeing and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic.

  
 

Testing in care homes

The Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed that the new online portal for care homes to arrange deliveries of test kits has been launched today. All symptomatic and asymptomatic care home staff and residents are eligible for testing and it will be prioritised for care homes that look after the over 65s.

The Minister of State for Care, Helen Whately, has written to ask Local Directors of Public Health to lead work with Directors of Adult Social Services, local NHS providers, and PHE Regional Directors to ensure that the testing of staff and residents in care settings is joined up.

  
 

Mental Health Act complaints process

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has announced that in response to the pandemic, they will prioritise complaints relating to the Mental Health Act from or about people who are currently detained on an inpatient ward in hospital.

  
 

Town and Parish Councils

The National Association of Local Councils has published a report which includes over forty case studies of action and initiatives taken at parish and town council level to support their communities during the Covid-19 crisis. (Hampshire - pages 56- 61).

  
 

Fraud and cybercrime against charities

The Charity Commission has updated the information for charities about Covid-19 related fraud and cybercrime. They have added information about a fraud webinar for charities and new information on phishing and protecting devices.

  
 

Local context

  
 

Country Parks

Following the Prime Minister’s address on Sunday in which he said that people can take more exercise from Wednesday 13 May, the car parks of Hampshire’s country parks will reopen tomorrow (13 May). Normal parking charges will apply, and toilets will be open. However, cafés, shops, visitor centres and play areas will remain closed until further notice. Visitors are being asked to continue following government guidance and to keep themselves and others safe by keeping two metres apart from others and using paths and spaces responsibly. Press release to be issued on the County Council's website.

  
 

Hampshire Futures

Young people are being reminded that they are still able to obtain information and advice from Hampshire County Council careers specialists – Hampshire Futures. Hampshire Futures has developed a wide range of new online careers information on its ‘Your Future’ website, including details of sixth form and college careers contacts and the arrangements being made for virtual interviews and open events. Students can also arrange a face to face careers guidance appointment with a member of Hampshire Futures, which can be conducted virtually.

Throughout the Covid-19 response, Hampshire Futures’ Careers and Participation Teams have continued to work with schools and maintain support for Year 11 students moving on to further education or training after the summer, to ensure their transition from secondary education will be successful.

  
 

Household waste recycling centres (HWRCs)

Following the re-opening of all 24 of Hampshire’s HWRCs on Monday (11 May), for people who are unable to store waste at home without it causing a health risk, there have been several positive reports in local media, including papers, television and radio. Councillor Rob Humby, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment recorded a short informative video for social media, which has had over 35,000 views. The HWRC re-opening animation which went live on social media on Monday (11 May) has had 9,027 impressions.
  
 

Rail services

Rail services in Hampshire are responding to the new government guidance on safer travel and safer transport. Great Western Rail (GWR) has issued an update on their services and are publicising that they will have an amended timetable in place from next Monday (18 May) which is now shown on their online journey planners. There will be further staged increases in service in response to the easing of lockdown. GWR will monitor demand to assess the need for further options, which may include measures to limit numbers on board services.

Information on rail services throughout the country is available on the National Rail website, and local service information can also be accessed on South Western Railway and Southern Railway.

  
 

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