Worcestershire County Council – COVID 19 update – June 12th 2020
Key Messages
As stated previously, 97% of Primary Schools are open for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils. Up to 60% of eligible pupils attended last week but due to staffing and space constraints, some smaller schools have re-opened on a part time basis.
- Plans are being finalised for the phased return of pupils in year 10 and 12 in secondary schools, sixth form and further education colleges across the county from Monday next week (15 June). Risk assessments have been taking place on a school by school basis to ensure pupils and staff will be returning to school safely.
- Face-to-face birth registrations by appointment only resumed this week at four sites across Worcestershire – Worcester (County Hall), Bromsgrove, Redditch and Kidderminster, and by the end of Saturday, the offices will have registered 226 births which is a fantastic achievement.
- The Regional Testing Facility at Worcester Warriors can process approx. 600 tests per day. Capacity is managed within the DHSC system, with availability being released to meet demand as required. Review of “pop-up” locations underway as businesses and sites start to re-open.
- 10 of the 11 Household Recycling Centres in Worcestershire are now open. As expected, these are extremely busy and therefore additional traffic management measures have been put in place.
- The level of infections in Care Homes in Worcestershire remains stable and in line with levels across the West Midlands. All staff and residents in Care Homes with positive cases of COVID-19 have been tested.
- The Test and Trace service is live. A team of Environmental Health Officers and Public Health Practitioners will provide this locally in Worcestershire. The COVID-19 Outbreak Control Plan is being developed
- Plans under way to facilitate the phased re-opening of Libraries next month. Risk assessments being undertaken to ensure social distancing rules can be observed.
- Pressure continues to ease on the Acute Trust with the number of active cases and new admissions still falling. Only 29 new cases have been identified in the past 10 days.
- No significant issues with PPE. Now responding to calls for PPE from Dental Surgeries in light of plans to re-open next week.
- Plans to support businesses as we begin to enter the economic recovery phase are being developed jointly by the County Council, the District Councils and partners. Government grants continue to be distributed to ensure businesses benefit from the additional funds.
Key Service Areas
Adult Services
Increasing concerns re the financial viability of Care Homes linked to a reduction in admissions.
- As with school capacity issues, adherence to social distancing guidance will impact on Day Care capacity provision.
- Worcestershire County Council Care Home Support plan has been published and is available at:
www.worcestershire.gov.uk/downloads/download/1437/worcestershire_s_covid-19_care_home_support_plan
- COVID-19 restrictions have enabled a review to commence on how service provision could be delivered differently in future.
- In addition to Libraries, exploring opportunities to re-open Museums and Registration Services.
Children’s Services
- Awaiting several guidance notes from the Department for Education on:
- Home to School Transport
- Summer Activity Clubs
- Autumn Term commencement
- There remains a level of parental anxiety surrounding the phased re-opening of schools, which accounts for the lower turnout than expected.
- To ensure social distancing measures are in place, it is estimated that there will be a significant reduction in pupil capacity, although this will obviously vary by school.
- Attendance at school is still to be voluntary and online learning will continue to be available pupils not in schools.
- Home to School transport being provided to those entitled to subsidised transport. Whilst too early to say, it is likely that transport expenditure will increase
Community Services
- The Here2Help Contact Centre has scaled its opening times to reflect the reduction in calls for assistance.
- Frequently Asked Questions paper being developed relating to testing within the community.
Economy & Infrastructure
- Highways surface dressing and maintenance returning to “Business as Usual”. Construction work on the county’s major infrastructure projects are restarting.
- The vastly improved Kidderminster Rail Station opened 6/6/20
- In accordance with recent guidance from Transport Minister Baroness Vere, contractors are required to comply with the Highway Sector’s recently issued Site Operating Procedures which require personnel with symptoms to stay at home and sets out clear hygiene and travel procedures for those attending site.
Workforce and Training
- Working from home will be the norm for the foreseeable future. We remain committed to ensuring staff are supported and that any action we take is mindful of wider considerations such as future transmission risk, social distancing measures, school closures, childcare needs and transport/travel concerns.
- Self-assessment of home workspaces is now under way and all requests for additional equipment will be delivered by 12 June.
Communications
- Developing messages around Test and Trace
- Working with the Worcestershire Association of Carers, celebrating National Carers Week.
Finance
- £2.7m funding allocated to support Test and Trace.
- The return to MHCLG on our expected spend / lost income due next week, with an increasing concern over Social Care and Home to School Transport.
COVID-19 STATISTICS
Official statistics and information are available on the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-track-coronavirus-cases
Some key statistics being:
| Number Testing Positive in Worcestershire | 1423 |
| Number Testing Positive in UK | 292950 |
| UK | 8/6 |
| Number of Tests carried out on the day | 193253 |
| Daily Increase in Cases | 1541 |
| Cumulative Deaths | 41481 |
WHERE CAN I GET FURTHER INFORMATION, HELP AND ADVICE?
Reminder that the Here2Help website www.worcestershire.gov.uk/here2help is the first point of contact if people want to offer assistance or gain support. The other option is the telephone contact number which is staffed 8am-6pm 6 days a week – 01905 768053.
Carers who support a family member or friend who require support should contact the Worcestershire Association of Carers on www.carersworcs.org.uk or call the Helpline 0300 012 4272.
http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/coronavirus
NHS Website for information on Coronavirus
