Coronavirus update 21 May 2020
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A message from Dine Romero, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council
Hello
This week we have announced the reopening of the Keynsham Recycling Centre as we enter this new phase of the Government’s response to Covid-19.
The centre will reopen on Wednesday 27 May strictly for essential use and only in cases where residents cannot safely store their waste at home. I want to stress that the measures being put in place are in the interest of both staff and public safety to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Centres at Midland Road in Bath and Old Welton in Midsomer Norton will remain closed as it is impossible to provide enough space for social distancing at either site. An additional issue at Midland Road is that the site is shared with the refuse depot, meaning traffic queues could delay bin collections for residents. Keynsham Recycling Centre is the only site which operates with a one-way traffic system and has enough space to keep people two metres apart from each other.
We will operate a car number plate system at Keynsham as queues are expected to be significant. Full information on this can be found on our website. However please make full use of kerbside services including refuse, recycling, garden waste and bulky waste collections.
With the bank holiday ahead of us it is useful to remember Government guidance on staying safe, visiting public places and social distancing which is set out here:
This week has been Mental Health Awareness week. Its theme has been ‘kindness’ of which we have seen so much across our communities in response to Covid-19.
The Compassionate Community Hub is one fantastic example of kindess and details about the hub, if you need support, are here Compassionate Community Hub
Next week we hold the Council AGM on May 26 and then two meetings to discuss how the council has responded to the coronavirus outbreak. A detailed report has been prepared and this will go before members of the council’s Corporate Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel on Wednesday 27 May before being presented to the cabinet on Friday 29 May.
In the rest of the newsletter you will find latest updates and guidance to help you. If you know someone with limited online access please share our information which you can find on our website or use our dedicated inbox covid19incidentcomms@bathnes.gov.uk for covid-related queries. You can follow us on twitter and facebook and our newsroom, and if you sign up on https://nextdoor.co.uk/ we are there too.
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Confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Bath & North East Somerset
As of 19 May the official figures show 230 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Bath & North East Somerset.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed that, as of 9am on 20 May, there have been 2,962,227 tests, with 177,216 tests on 19 May.
1,996,648 people have been tested, of which 248,293 tested positive. As of 5pm on 19 May, of those tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, 35,704 have died. This new figure includes deaths in all settings, not just in hospitals. The equivalent figure under the old measure would have been 28,970.
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New information about Covid-19 symptoms
You should self-isolate if you develop a new continuous cough or fever or anosmia. Anosmia is the loss of or a change in your normal sense of smell. It can also affect your sense of taste as the two are closely linked. The Government has been closely monitoring the emerging data and evidence on COVID-19 and, after thorough consideration, they are now confident enough to recommend this new measure. Your household should also self-isolate for 14 days as per the current guidelines and you should stay at home for 7 days, or longer if you still have symptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell.
Further information Statement from the UK Chief Medical Officers on an update to coronavirus symptoms: 18 March 2020 - GOV.UK
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Expansion of testing to everyone across the UK
Everyone in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who is showing coronavirus symptoms is now eligible to book a swab test to find out if they have the virus.
You can register for a test here if you know someone who does not have access to the internet they can call a new 119 service to book a test.
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Mental health and wellbeing support
It is Mental Health Awareness week and the theme is ‘kindness’. If you need mental health and wellbeing support there’s a wealth of information on these pages:
Bathnes 1BD provides information, activities and support for families and children, including mental health and emotional wellbeing. We also have a similar page for adults needing support or care, on Wellbeing Options.
You can call:
- Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust 0300 303 1320
- The Compassionate Communities Hub 0300 247 0050
- Bath Mind Breathing Space 01225 983130 breathingspace@bathmind.org.uk
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Free suicide awareness training
To coincide with Mental Health Awareness week the Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA) has launched a brand new module to their suicide awareness training.
In just 10 minutes you could learn skills to help someone considering suicide. It will give you tips on how to approach someone if you are worried they may be considering taking their own life.
Take a look here: www.zerosuicidealliance.com/training
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Compassionate Community Hub
If you feel anxious or isolated, are concerned about getting food or medication, need emergency housing or benefits support, or just want advice on keeping well, the hub is there to help.
You can call our compassionate community hub on 0300 247 0050. The line is open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm
The Compassionate Community Hub, is a partnership between the council Virgin Care, the CCG, 3SG and others including Bath Mind and Citizens Advice BANES.
The Compassionate Community Hub will be closed on Bank Holiday Monday (25th May)
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Schools guidance
We are working closely with all schools in B&NES, who are already making plans ahead of June 1st to start to re-open their provision for some year groups. Schools will be following the DFE guidance in planning this provision and will start to communicate closely with their parents regarding what they will be able to offer.
Not all schools or settings will be able to offer full time provision to the identified year groups given the guidance they have to follow around pupil numbers, safe working and also staff availability. This may lead to a range of arrangements being put in place e.g. part-time provision, staggered start and finish times, and short weeks.
This is a significant piece of work and schools will do their best to reassure parents of the changes that they will be making to enable their schools to be safe spaces for additional children returning to their school sites.
The latest advice from the government can be found here:
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Staying safe
It is still very important that people stay home unless necessary to go out for specific reasons set out in law.
These include:
- for work, where you cannot work from home
- going to shops that are permitted to be open – to get things like food and medicine, and to collect goods ordered online or on the phone
- to exercise or spend time outdoors for recreation
- any medical need, to donate blood, avoid injury or illness, escape risk of harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
This guidance is for the general public who are fit and well. There is separate, specific guidance on isolation for households with a possible coronavirus infection.
Some people, including those aged 70 and over, those with specific chronic pre-existing conditions and pregnant women, are clinically vulnerable, meaning they are at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus’. As the Government begin to ease restrictions, this group who are clinically vulnerable should continue to take particular care to minimise contact with others outside their household.
There is a further group of people who are defined, also on medical grounds, as clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus – that is, people with specific serious health conditions. They are advised to continue shielding measures to keep themselves safe by staying at home and avoiding all contact with others, except for essential medical treatment or support.
If you have been shielded, you will need to continue to do so; government guidance says this is until the end of June.
If you’re clinically extremely vulnerable you’re strongly advised to stay at home at all times and avoid any face-to-face contact to protect yourself. Please continue to follow the government guidance.
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Visiting public places
You can exercise outside as often as you wish and you can also sit and rest outside – exercise or recreation can be alone, with members of your household, or with one other person from outside your household, while keeping two metres apart at all times.
You may drive to outdoor publicly accessible open spaces irrespective of distance but should follow social distancing guidance whilst you are there. You should plan ahead to ensure that, where you are visiting places like National Parks, you have checked that they are open and appropriately prepared for visitors. You should not go to ticketed outdoor leisure venues, where there is a higher risk of close contact and touching surfaces.
When travelling to outdoor spaces, it is important that people respect the rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and do not travel to different parts of the UK where their intended activities there would be prohibited by legislation passed by the relevant devolved administration.
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Public gatherings
To ensure people are social distancing, the government has prohibited by law all public gatherings of more than two people, except for reasons set out in the regulations.
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Birth registrations and weddings
As part of step 2 of the Government’s recovery plan it may be possible that birth registrations and small ceremonies will commence.
Once this has been confirmed by Government, parents will be able to book birth registration appointments online via the council website, for appointments at the Guildhall Bath, or the libraries at Midsomer Norton or Keynsham.
For marriages and civil partnerships, once Government has confirmed how many can attend a ‘small’ ceremony and given us the start date we will resume ceremonies in the Guildhall in Bath and at any venues that opens.
We continue to book ceremonies so if you would like to book your marriage or civil partnership please contact:
register_office@bathnes.gov.uk or call 01225 47 7234
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Keynsham Recycling Centre
Bath & North East Somerset Council is reopening its recycling centre in Keynsham on Wednesday 27 May strictly for essential use and only in cases where residents cannot safely store their waste at home.
It is re-opening under the following terms:
- Journeys to Keynsham recycling centre must only be taken if people are unable to keep their waste and recycling at home without causing a risk to their health.
- Unless residents fall into this category, residents must continue temporarily storing their waste and are encouraged to make full use of kerbside services including refuse, recycling, garden waste and bulky waste collections.
- The Keynsham centre will close temporarily if queues become unmanageable or staff are subjected to aggression.
- Only four cars at a time will be allowed onto the site.
- Residents will be permitted to visit the Keynsham site for essential visits on a day allocated to them based on their vehicle’s number plate as queues are expected to be significant. Full information on this can be found at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/keynsham-recycling-centre
- The Keynsham centre will initially operate with extended opening hours of 8am-7.30pm Mondays to Fridays, 8am-3.45pm on Saturdays and 8am-1pm on Sundays.
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The NHS is 'open for business'
If you need medical help, the NHS is still here for you:
- If you need medical help from your GP practice, contact them either online, by an app or by phone to be assessed.
- If you need urgent medical help, use the NHS 111 online service. If you cannot get help online, call 111.
- If it’s a serious or life-threatening emergency, call 999
- If you are told to go to hospital it is important that you go to hospital.
- You should continue to attend your appointments, unless you have been told not to attend.
Don’t forget washing your hands could be a matter of life or death
To help prevent infection, don’t touch your face, eyes, nose or mouth.
Wash your hands more often for 20 seconds.
Use soap and water or a hand sanitiser when you:
• Get home or into work
• Blow your nose, sneeze or cough
• Eat or handle food
Strokes
A stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.
Strokes are a medical emergency and urgent treatment is essential. The sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen.
It is very important that you act FAST if you or someone else are showing symptoms of stroke by dialling 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance. The NHS is here for non-coronavirus patients too.
Find out more: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stroke/
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Support for business
The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme has been announced as part of a package of support measures for businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The scheme will allow small and medium sized employers, with fewer than 250 employees, to apply to HMRC to recover the costs of paying coronavirus-related SSP.
Employers will be able to make their claims through a new online service from May 26. This means they will receive repayments at the relevant rate of SSP that they have paid to current or former employees for eligible periods of sickness starting on or after 13 March 2020.
There is still time to register for the small business and retail grants. These are grants, not loans and don't have to be paid back. Businesses can check eligibility and register online.
Any business currently in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate relief may be eligible for a £10,000 cash grant. Any retail, hospitality or leisure business with a rateable value above £15,000 and below £51,000 may be eligible for a £25,000 cash grant.
If you have any questions or concerns about applying please contact the Invest in Bath team at info@investinbath.co.uk please contact the Invest in Bath team at info@investinbath.co.uk
The full range of financial support for businesses announced by Government can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses
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Support to get back to work
Future Bright offers free career coaching, training and support. If your income has been affected by coronavirus or you have been made redundant, the service can offer three months of tailored careers support using telephone and online tools. More information is at www.futurebright.org.uk
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Family Fund support
Any parent with a disabled or seriously ill child needing a grant to provide specialist equipment to help with social distancing, can apply for this themselves through Family Fund – https://www.familyfund.org.uk/
Please apply to The Family Fund which administers this.
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University of Bath research
The University of Bath is conducting a survey to explore the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on parents/carers and children. In particular they want to find out from parents/carers the effect of lockdown on their mental health, how this may have effected their parenting and how their children are coping. To do this they are inviting parents/carers of a child aged 6-16 to complete a one off, anonymous, online survey. The survey will take 20-30 minutes.
They are keen to get as many parents as possible to complete the survey so that they can fully understand the psychological effects of lockdown. They will be able to explore the UK data by region and will therefore be able to provide information about the mental health needs of our population which could inform our post-COVID response planning.
Please complete the survey if you can: https://www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/help-us-with-our-study-to-find-out-how-the-lockdown-is-affecting-children-and-their-carers/
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Fostering
We are coming to the end of Foster Care Fortnight (11-24 May) and we want to say thank you to all those people who have got in touch to find out more about fostering opportunities. We also want to once again thank all our amazing carers who are providing invaluable support to our young people – especially during the coronavirus outbreak. Here’s a short video to show how grateful we are/
We are encouraging you to consider fostering and join our team to help local children stay in their communities, go to the same school and see their friends
You can choose the types of fostering you do and the age of the children you prefer to look after. All of your support and training is based in and around the district, so you won’t have to travel far.
You’ll be connected to other carers in your area, giving you a local support network and your own personal Buddy.
Currently you will also receive 25% off your annual council tax bill. Find out more at fostering.bathnes.gov.uk, by emailing fpt_duty@bathnes.gov.uk or by calling 01225 394949
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Help for parents and carers
Take a look at the huge range of information, support, advice and activities available to help you and your family during the coronavirus lockdown on 1 Big Database bathnes.
There is something for all ages and abilities. See https://www.bathnes1bd.org.uk/pages/coronavirus-covid-19 for learning activity ideas, emotional and mental wellbeing support, resources for children with additional needs and more.
You can follow the Family Information online Facebook page too; see https://www.facebook.com/bathnesfis
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New version of the Hope Guide
This new version of the guide has been created specifically to help people through Covid-19. Here you will find information for groups and services in B&NES, who have adapted to continue their fantastic work in the community, along with new groups and projects which have started in direct response to the situation.
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Council meetings
Our Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday May 26 at 5pm, Corporate Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel on Wednesday 27 May and our first cabinet meeting is scheduled for 29th May.
Any crucial decisions have been made under the Council’s Constitution and have been published on the council’s website. We are ensuring that all necessary training and safeguards are in place.
Keep track of upcoming key decisions in our forward plans and our calendar.
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Domestic Abuse – At home shouldn’t mean at risk
Vulnerable people at risk of domestic abuse are being reminded that support services are still available to them as usual during the coronavirus pandemic.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is highlighting that anyone in need of support and people who are aware of a victim who needs help that domestic abuse support services are still operating.
People who are affected by domestic abuse can contact independent charity Southside on 01225 331243 or enquiries@south-side.org.uk to get in touch with an advisor.
More help is available by calling the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or, in an emergency, dial 999.
Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (SARSAS) provides specialist services to people who have experienced rape or any kind of sexual assault or abuse at any time in their lives. Its helpline numbers are 0808 801 0456 and 0808 801 0464. Victim-survivors can email support@sarsas.org.uk.
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Scams
There are a number of scams taking advantage of people during the current situation. Cyber criminals are unfortunately preying on fears of the coronavirus by either sending scam emails that try and trick people into clicking on a false web link so please be extra vigilant.
For advice about avoiding scams follow this link.
Avon and Somerset Police has also issued this advice.
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Easy English
If you know someone who needs coronavirus advice and guidance set out in Easy English please find helpful PHE guidance coronavirus - Easy Read Guide
There is also advice from Mencap here and there is a version to help explain situation to children here coronavirus - Child friendly version
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Local agencies
We have been working closely with local agencies and if you would like to find out more about their work please look on their website: RUH, Avon and Somerset Police, Curo, and Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire CCG.
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Tune in
Local radio is a great way of keeping up to date with essential information, if you don’t already you should tune into BBC Radio Bristol, BBC Radio Somerset or BBC Radio Wiltshire.
Somer Valley FM covers Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Westfield and surrounding villages including Farrington, Paulton, Peasedown, Coleford and Stratton.
It broadcasts online and on 97.5fm and can be contacted on studio@somervalleyfm.co.uk or call 01761 411 755
Keynsham’s KTCRfm 105.8FM is now broadcasting 24/7 streaming at www.ktcrfm.com
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_bristol
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_somerset_sound
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_wiltshire
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