The outbreak of coronavirus, officially named Covid-19, continues to be managed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Public Health England (PHE). Local Authorities are following their expert guidance and are working with the NHS to communicate with specific settings as and when guidance is produced. Please can you help to disseminate this information amongst your networks.
- What to do if someone thinks they might have coronavirus or have been in close contact with someone who has it:
- stay at home and avoid close contact with other people
- do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital
- phone NHS 111 or use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do next. The 111 coronavirus service will tell you if you need to continue to stay at home (self-isolate) or if you need medical help
- Number of cases in B&NES: There are currently no positive cases of COVID-19 in B&NES. This is a table of confirmed cases split by upper tier local authority. B&NES does not appear in this as we do not have any cases. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-number-of-cases-in-england/coronavirus-covid-19-number-of-cases-in-england
- Updated useful links & advice: Please find attached a useful updated word document which gives links to the DHSC & PHE’s latest guidance and information which is continuously being developed and refreshed. Latest information and advice for the general public is on the NHS pages and contains links to the GOV.UK pages. Stakeholders and media should be directed to the GOV.UK pages as before.
- Five things you can do to protect yourself and your community: Please follow this PHE blog on five things you can do to protect yourself and your community. Including: wash your hands, be prepared to self-isolate, plan ahead, use health services wisely and use trusted sources of information.
- Businesses & employers: The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy have issued a special bulletin for businesses and employers (dated 11 March – attached). Included is business continuity advice, business support and online resources for businesses and employers.
- Educational establishments: The information and guidance issued in the attached letter to all B&NES schools by the Director of Public Health, Bruce Laurence is still current. The Department for Education have set up a helpline to answer questions about coronavirus related to education. Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline as follows: Telephone: 0800 046 8687 Email:DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
- Advice for travellers: see the coronavirus advice for travellers to find out what to do. There have been a number of travel updates including the categorisation of Italy.
- Public facing campaign: To help get this information out into local communities PHE have asked all local authorities to share some public information posters for community spaces which can be downloaded here. Follow this link for a useful handwashing video: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/
Please note that we will update you on a weekly basis for the foreseeable future. If there are no new updates to tell you about, we will still email you to tell you this.
Many thanks for your continued help in this matter.
B&NES Council Public Health Team