As of Monday July 26th, Public Health England has revised the figures for the total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in our region, to exclude any false positives. People who tested positive more than once are only counted once, on the date of their first positive test.

A total of 43,002 confirmed cases have been recorded in Worcestershire. Of those cases, 8,291 have been recorded in Bromsgrove, 3,800 in Malvern Hills, 7,526 in Redditch, 8,348 in Worcester, 7,974 in Wychavon and 7,063 in Wyre Forest.

The Office for National Statistics published updated information regarding the number of deaths from Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic to show the number of people who had had a positive test result for COVID-19 and died within 28 days of the first positive test. The data for Worcestershire has been revised and now shows a total of 1,200 deaths in the county from Coronavirus across all settings, an increase of 2 on the previous week. 

You can download the latest Coronavirus advice here:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKWYCHAVON/bulletins/2e861c2

England moves to Step 4 of the roadmap on 19th July 2021. Everyone should be cautious whilst managing the risks as cases of COVID-19 remain high. 

Most legal restrictions to control COVID-19 will be lifted at step 4. This means that when step 4 takes place:

• You will not need to stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with. There will also be no limits on the number of people you can meet.
• However, in order to minimise risk at a time of high prevalence, you should limit the close contact you have with those you do not usually live with, and increase close contact gradually. This includes minimising the number, proximity and duration of social contacts.
• Meet outdoors where possible and let fresh air into homes or other enclosed spaces.
• The Government is no longer instructing people to work from home if they can. However, the Government expects and recommends a gradual return over the summer.
• The requirement to wear face coverings in law will be lifted. However, the Government expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded areas such as public transport.

Also, From 19 July fully vaccinated people returning to England from amber list countries will not need to quarantine.

In England from 16 August:

If you’re fully vaccinated or under 18, you will not need to self-isolate following close contact with someone who has COVID-19. You’ll still need to take a PCR test and self-isolate if it’s positive.

You can read full details of the latest UK Government advice and rules relating to Coronavirus at:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Following the announcement by the Prime Minister yesterday, The Evesham Journal has produced a helpful summary of the new rules applying to residents of England from 17th May. Announcements regarding Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are expected shortly.

A HOST of Covid-19 restrictions will be eased from May 17. Here’s the full list following prime minister Boris Johnson’s announcement today. 

WORK

You should continue to work from home if you can. When travelling within the UK, you should aim to do so safely and plan your journey in advance.

GATHERINGS

Gathering limits will be eased.

Outdoor gatherings will be limited to 30 people and indoor gatherings will be limited to six people or two households, including overnight stays.

BACK TO THE PUB!

Indoor hospitality venues such as restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes can reopen.

HUGS

New guidance on meeting loved ones will emphasise personal responsibility rather than government rules.

Instead of instructing you to stay 2m apart from anyone you don’t live with, you will be encouraged to exercise caution and consider the guidance on risks associated with Covid-19 and actions you can take to help keep you and your loved ones safe.

Guidance on gov.uk reads: “Remember that the risks of close contact may be greater for some people than others and in some settings and circumstances, there will be specific guidance that you will need to follow even when you are with friends and family.”

WE CAN GO OUT (YES, EVEN TO GO IN)

Indoor entertainment and attractions will be permitted to open with Covid-secure measures in place.

They include:

• Cinemas
• Theatres
• Concert halls
• Bowling alleys
• Casinos
• Amusement arcades
• Museums
• Children’s indoor play areas

THE GREAT OUTDOORS – INLCUDING FANS AT LIVE SPORT

People will be able to attend indoor and outdoor events, including live performances, sporting events and business events.

Guidance on gov.uk reads: “Attendance at these events will be capped according to venue type, and attendees should follow the Covid-secure measures set out by those venues.”

PLAYING SPORT…

Organised indoor sport will be able to take place for all (this includes gym classes). This must be organised by a business, charity or public body and the organiser must take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of transmission.

UK HOLIDAYS

All holiday accommodation will be open, including hotels and B&Bs, for groups of up to six or two households.

WEDDINGS, FUNERALS AND CHRISTENINGS

Funeral attendance will no longer be limited to 30 people but will be determined by how many people the venue can safely accommodate with social distancing.

Limits at weddings, wakes and other commemorative events will be increased to 30 people. Other significant life events, such as bar/bat mitzvahs and christenings, will also be able to take place with 30 people.

CARE HOME VISITS

The rules for care home residents visiting out and receiving visitors will change, allowing up to five named visitors but only two can attend at any one time. They must test negative for Covid-19.

UNIVERSITIES

All higher education students will be able to access in-person teaching.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Support groups and parent and child group gathering limits will increase to 30 people (not including under 5s)

OVERSEAS TRAVEL

There will no longer be a legal restriction or permitted reason required to travel internationally.

There will be a traffic light system for international travel, and you must follow the rules when returning to England depending on whether you return from a red, amber or green list country.

You can read the full text of the guidance issued by the Government here:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

The Evesham Journal advises that local residents over the ag e of 18 will now be able to get a test for Covid-19 at Evesham Library in Oat Street as regular rapid testing starts today, Tuesday 6th April.

The library will be open for testing between 9.30am to 4.15pm, Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 3.15pm on Saturday.

The Library will also become a community collection point for home testing kits.

Rapid testing produces results within two hours and can identify cases in people who don’t have any symptoms of Covid-19. Anyone who tests positive is then able to self-isolate to prevent the spread of the virus to others.

Dr Kathryn Cobain, Director of Public Health in Worcestershire said: “It’s great to see Evesham Library offering support to the local community, becoming the next rapid testing site.

“Everyone has been working so hard to get the number of cases of Covid-19 down. Now people in the Evesham area have another choice of where to get a rapid test.

“1 in 3 people with Coronavirus do not have any symptoms. Having one of these tests will help identify if you are one of these people. By self-isolating more quickly you will stop unknowingly passing it on to someone else.

“By doing this we are all helping to protect our family and loved ones, as well as our community.”

It is well established that 1 in 3 people with Covid-19 do not have symptoms yet can spread the virus. Therefore, people must access regular rapid testing to protect their families and communities.

It is currently advised that if you need to leave home for work or are a member of a household or childcare bubble you should get a twice-weekly rapid test.

Regular rapid Covid testing is only suitable for people without symptoms. If you have symptoms of Covid-19 (a new, continuous cough, a high temperature, and a loss or change in your sense of taste or smell) please book a test here: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

Wychavon District Council have confirmed the latest stage in the lockdown easing process:

The second part of step one of the Prime Minister’s lockdown easing road map began on Monday 29 March. From that date….

• You can meet outdoors either in a group of six (from any number of households), or in a group of any size from up to two households (each household can include existing support bubbles, if eligible)
• You can take part in formally organised outdoor sports with any number of people (outdoor sports venues and facilities will be able to reopen)
• Childcare and supervised activities will be allowed outdoors for all children
• Formally organised parent and child groups will be able to take place outdoors for up to fifteen attendees. Children under five will not be not counted in this number

From 1 April, if you have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable you will no longer be advised to shield. However, you should continue to take extra precautions to protect yourself. It is important you continue to keep the number of social interactions you have low and try to limit the amount of time you spend in settings where you are unable to maintain social distancing.

• Government publishes four-step roadmap to ease restrictions across England and provide a route back to a more normal way of life
• Each step to be assessed against four tests before restrictions ease, starting with the return of schools on 8 March
• PM is clear that the decision on each stage will be based on data not dates, and government will move cautiously to keep infection rates under control

You can read the full official announcement from the Government here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-sets-out-roadmap-to-cautiously-ease-lockdown-restrictions

Latest update on coronavirus in Wychavon

Lockdown is working – let’s keep going.

Act like you’ve got it. Around 1 in 3 people with Covid-19 don’t have any symptoms but can still pass it on. Now is not the time to give up, let’s keep going.

You can read the full post here:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKWYCHAVON/bulletins/2c1a0c3

Wychavon District Council reports that extensive surveillance of Covid-19 has identified a small number of cases of the Covid-19 variant first discovered in South Africa, in localities across England, including the WR3 area of Worcestershire.

You can read the full report including details of how to book a test if you are concerned plus a statement from Dr Kathryn Cobain, Director of Public Health for Worcestershire at:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKWYCHAVON/bulletins/2bfd38a

Mark Goodge has relayed this important message from the Vale of Evesham Primary Care Network:

Important message for patients at Abbey Medical Practice, Barn Close Surgery, Bredon Hill Surgery, DeMontfort Medical Centre, Grey Gable Surgery, Merstow Green Medical Practice and Riverside Doctors’ Surgery.

Over the next couple of weeks, these practices will be inviting 70 ~ 74-year old and Clinically Extremely Vulnerable patients to be vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Riverside Surgery vaccination hub.

If we have a mobile number on file for you, you’re likely to receive this invite by text – but it won’t look like our usual messages. It will however contain your surgery name, and will ask you to read through some information on our website before booking using your link.

You’ll need to enter your date of birth in order to book – but you won’t (and will never) be asked to provide any bank details or any personal identity documents. If you ever receive anything asking for this, do not provide it, as it’s almost certainly fraudulent – so please be careful!

If you don’t have a mobile number on file with your practice, please don’t worry – you won’t be left out. Practices will be calling those patients directly in order to book them in, so please wait to be contacted by your surgery.

In time we hope to provide vaccinations at all seven practices – but for the time being, please ensure that you go to Riverside Surgery for your appointment once it’s booked.

We and all our surgeries are grateful for the continued support of our wonderful local community – so thank you for your patience and enthusiasm as we roll out this life-changing vaccine across the Vale of Evesham.