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Covid-19 update

This week’s COVID-19 situation update has been published and is available at www.cumbria.gov.uk/stopthespread

The government has today announced that Cumbria will move into Tier 2 of the new COVID-19 restrictions classification system from 00:01 on Wednesday 2 December. Tier 2 areas are classed as High Alert for COVID-19.

Under the new restriction level groups of up to six people will be permitted to meet outdoors, but there must be no mixing of households indoors. Education settings remain open and pubs and bars must close unless operating as restaurants.

While the easing of lockdown restrictions is welcomed, Cumbrians are being urged not to forget the basic ways they can help keep themselves safe and avoid spreading infection - maintain social distancing, wear a face covering, and wash hands regularly.

Decisions on tiers are made by government ministers informed by the following factors:

• Case detection rate (in all age groups and, in particular, amongst the over 60s);
• How quickly case rates are rising or falling;
• Positivity in the general population;
• Pressure on the NHS - including current and projected (3-4 weeks out) NHS capacity - including admissions, general/acute/ICU bed occupancy, staff absences; and
• Local context and exceptional circumstances such as a local but contained outbreak.

If these indicators are not improving, an area may be moved up a tier and if the trajectory improves, the area may move to a lower tier.

Full details of the new restrictions can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know

The area’s status will be reviewed after 14 days.

The announcement comes as confirmed data for week ending 20 November shows:

• There were 860 new cases in Cumbria (a 199 decrease, -19%, from 1,059 cases in previous week);
• For the 5th week in a row Carlisle had the greatest number of new cases (+302 new cases), followed by South Lakeland (+244 new cases);
• Carlisle and South Lakeland also had the highest rates of new cases (278 and 232 new cases per 100k population respectively);
• Numbers of new cases increased from week 46 in Carlisle and South Lakeland (+22% and +5% respectively);
• Figures for Carlisle and South Lakeland are significantly affected by large outbreaks at Sedbergh School and Richard Rose Central Academy. These outbreaks resulted in 270 positive cases, the majority of which are reported in this week’s figures;
• Numbers of new cases in Allerdale, Barrow-in-Furness, Copeland and Eden decreased from the previous week, with all four of these districts having rates below the national and regional averages.

• The number of new patients admitted with COVID-19 in both North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMB) decreased slightly from the previous week;
• The average number of patients with COVID-19 in beds in NCIC was unchanged from the previous week, while the average number of patients with COVID-19 in beds in UHMB decreased slightly from the previous week.

Testing: You can book a Coronavirus test on the NHS website:  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/  If people are unable to access the internet, they can book a test by calling 119

• Local testing centre (Carlisle): Carlisle’s walk-through coronavirus testing facility is to be moved from the Castle car park on Devonshire Walk to Cecil Street car park, next to the county council’s Cumbria House building.
•  The Cecil Street car park testing site is expected to be built from Tuesday 24 November using temporary modular units, with testing starting on Saturday 28 November 2020. The larger site at Carlisle Airport will also remain open.

TONIGHT: Live Q&A on Facebook with Colin Cox, Director of Public Health

Colin Cox, Director of Public Health, will host a live Q&A session on Cumbria County Council’s Facebook page tonight (Thursday 26 November) between 7.30pm – 8.30pm. Tune in to hear the latest coronavirus updates for Cumbria and feel free to ask a question. It’s likely the session will cover tiers, bubbles and what they mean for us in Cumbria.

Tune in to the live Q&A at www.facebook.com/CumbriaCC from 7.30pm this Thursday.

Over 300 people tuned in to the director's previous live Q&A on Tuesday 10 November. The video has since been watched by over 15,000 people. The link to Colin Cox’s previous Facebook live, for those who may have missed it is: https://www.facebook.com/CumbriaCC/videos/1253245768366977/

Printable tier posters: Medium, High and Very High

The government has published printable versions of a series of posters which can be used to communicate locally about the various tiers of restrictions (medium, high and very high) which will apply in England from 2 December. A PDF copy of the Tier 2 poster is attached to this email.

Prime Minister’s statement on the coronavirus Winter Plan

The Prime Minister made a statement (23 November) on the government’s coronavirus Winter Plan and set out the government’s approach to ending the national restrictions on 2 December.

The government also set out the local restriction tier system that will be in place from 2 December, including what you can and cannot do in each tier. Alongside this, the government has also published specific materials which can be used to communicate locally about the various tiers (medium, high and very high) of restrictions in England from 2 December.

Key changes to the rules, announced, include:

• In tier 1, people should continue to work from home where possible.
• In tier 2, pubs will only be able to serve drinks with a meal.
• In tiers 1 and 2, spectator sports will also be able to resume with limits on attendance.
• In tiers 1 and 2, business events can be held subject to capacity constraints.
• In tier 3, indoor entertainment and hotels will close, and restaurants and pubs will only be able to provide delivery and takeaway services.
• There will be no additional local rules in tier 3 areas.
• The curfew will remain at 10pm but customers will have an hour to finish their drink or meal.

As a brief overview, this includes:

• Leisure and sporting facilities such as gyms, sports courts and facilities, leisure centres, fitness and dance studios, golf courses, swimming pools, riding centres, outdoor playgrounds can open in all tiers, although group activities and classes should not take place at tier 3.

Tier 1:

• Hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:
  • provide table service only, for premises that serve alcohol
  • close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, on transport services and in motorway service areas are exempt)
  • stop taking orders after 10pm
• Hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm, as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through.
• Early closure (11pm) applies to: casinos, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities and bingo halls. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances that start before 10pm.
• Public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 4,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors
• Public attendance at spectator sport and business events can resume inside and outside, subject to social contact rules and limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 4,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors
• Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees - 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, and 15 people can attend linked commemorative events

The guidance states that: If you live in a tier 1 area and travel to an area in a higher tier you should follow the rules for that area while you are there. Avoid travel to or overnight stays in tier 3 areas other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through a tier 3 area as part of a longer journey.
 
Tier 2:

• Pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals
• Hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:
  • provide table service only, in premises which sell alcohol
  • close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, transport
  • services and motorway service areas are exempt)
  • stop taking orders after 10pm
• Hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
• Early closure (11pm) applies to: casinos, cinemas, theatres, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances that start before 10pm
• Public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors
• Public attendance at spectator sport and business events can resume inside and outside, subject to social contact rules and limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors

The guidance states that: If you live in a tier 2 area and travel to an area in a higher tier you should follow the rules for that area while you are there. Avoid travel to or overnight stays in tier 3 areas other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through a tier 3 area as part of a longer journey.

Tier 3:

• Hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed - they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services.
• Accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and guest houses must close. There are several exemptions, such as for those who use these venues as their main residence, and those requiring the venues where it is reasonably necessary for work or education and training 
• Indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close. This includes:
  • indoor play centres and areas, including trampolining parks and soft play
  • casinos
  • bingo halls
  • bowling alleys
  • skating rinks
  • amusement arcades and adult gaming centres
  • laser quests and escape rooms
  • cinemas, theatres and concert halls
  • snooker halls

• Indoor attractions at mostly outdoor entertainment venues must also close (indoor shops, through-ways and public toilets at such attractions can remain open). This includes indoor attractions within:
  • zoos, safari parks, and wildlife reserves
  • aquariums, visitor attractions at farms, and other animal attractions
  • model villages
  • museums, galleries and sculpture parks
  • botanical gardens, biomes or greenhouses
  • theme parks, circuses, fairgrounds and funfairs
  • visitor attractions at film studios, heritage sites such as castles and stately homes
  • landmarks including observation decks and viewing platforms
• Leisure and sports facilities may continue to stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead. Saunas and steam rooms should close.
• There should be no public attendance at spectator sport or indoor performances and large business events should not be taking place. Elite sport events may continue to take place without spectators.
• Large outdoor events (performances and shows) should not take place, with the exception of drive-in events
  • weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees - 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions are not allowed, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, 15 people can attend linked commemorative events
  • you can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible

The guidance states that: People should avoid travelling to other parts of the UK, including for overnight stays other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through other areas as part of a longer journey.

Making a Christmas bubble with friends and family

It has been announced that the government and the Devolved Administrations have agreed on joint arrangements for an easing of social restrictions that will allow friends and loved ones to reunite over the Christmas period.

The government also published a joint statement on UK-wide Christmas arrangements and guidance on meeting friends and family over the Christmas period - forming a Christmas bubble. The guidance sets out what you can and cannot do in over the Christmas period in the UK.

As a reminder between 23 and 27 December: 

• You can form an exclusive ‘Christmas bubble’ composed of people from no more than three households.
• You can only be in one Christmas bubble.
• You cannot change your Christmas bubble.
• You can travel between tiers and UK nations for the purposes of meeting your Christmas bubble.
• You can only meet your Christmas bubble in private homes or in your garden, places of worship, or public outdoor spaces.
• You can continue to meet people who are not in your Christmas bubble outside your home according to the rules in the tier where you are staying.
• You cannot meet someone in a private dwelling who is not part of your household or Christmas bubble.
• You should travel to meet those in your Christmas bubble and return home between the 23 and 27 December.
• Anyone travelling to or from Northern Ireland may travel on the 22 and 28 December.

Covid-19 Vaccine Cumbria

You will all be aware of the exciting news around the development of vaccines and the plans to offer immunisations in the near future.

Work to plan for the covid vaccine is well underway for Cumbria.

The planning involves a wide range of organisations. The NHS locally, regionally and nationally are leading the work, but with significant support from Cumbria County Council, our district councils, the military, Cumbria Police and many more.

While there is a lot of media coverage about the vaccine and how it will be delivered, it is important to remember we are still at a very early stage and this work is to ensure that we are ready as soon the vaccine is available.

The first part of the vaccine programme will focus on those that are most at risk, and is likely to include those who are in residential care or the very frail and elderly living at home, those who are clinically vulnerable, and those that work with them.

The first part of the process is expected to be led by GPs, who already carry out the national annual flu vaccine delivery for those in the at risk group.

This is likely to be a complex operation with GPs working with their neighbouring practices in Primary Care Networks (PCNs) - that’s groups of practices in local areas. We have eight PCNs across north Cumbria and nine in south Cumbria and Morecambe Bay. They are used to working together and with local pharmacy teams on vaccination programmes.

It will also involve the vaccination of frontline NHS and social care staff.

Once completed, the programme will move onto vaccination for the rest of our community in line with the national plans.

This work will be complex because of the way the vaccine might have to be stored and delivered, so early planning is crucial.

It is likely that the plans will continue to evolve as we know more about the vaccine and the timescales - but there is a team of people from a range of organisations across the county who are working to ensure we are ready.

Free flu vaccinations rolled out to over 50s from December

The government has announced that people aged 50 to 64 will get free flu vaccine from 1 December as part of expanded flu vaccination programme this winter.

Spending Review Statement

The Chancellor has presented his Spending Review to Parliament, setting out funding to tackle coronavirus, deliver public services and invest in capital spending including infrastructure. The 2020 Spending Review also included detail of next year’s package for local government.

Councils in England are expected to receive over £3 billion of additional support for coronavirus pressures next year. This is on top of the over £7 billion the Government has provided for pressures since March.

Within core spending power, councils will have access to over £1bn of funding for social care through £300m of new social care grant and the ability to introduce a three per cent adult social care precept.

This settlement gives councils the flexibility to increase their council tax bills by two per cent without needing to hold a referendum, plus an additional three per cent adult social care precept for authorities with social care responsibilities. Police and crime commissioners can raise their bills by £15.

The announcement is here.

The policy paper is here and the documents are here.

Coronavirus Winter Grant Scheme

The government has published a letter on the indicative funding allocations for county councils and unitary authorities as part of the coronavirus Winter Grant Scheme funding to support vulnerable households. The £170 million scheme will be made available in early December 2020 and covers the period until the end of March 2021. The guidance is here.

Business grants

A new coronavirus business grants scheme has been launched in Carlisle.

The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) will be paid out for every period that Carlisle is under national or local Tier 3 restrictions.

It is a discretionary grant scheme for businesses that have been severely affected by the current lockdown restrictions but have not been legally required to close. In addition, businesses that are legally required to close but do not pay business rates, so are not eligible for LRSG, may also qualify.

The criteria and online application form are available at www.carlisle.gov.uk/ARG

We also launched a further funding grants scheme for businesses last week. Businesses forced to close during the national government restrictions (5 November - 2 December) may be eligible for a Local Restrictions Support Grant. Businesses that have had to close but have adjusted their operation - such as through the introduction of a ‘click and collect’ service - may also be eligible for this grant.

The criteria and online application form are available on www.carlisle.gov.uk in the Business Support section on the homepage. A direct link is: https://bit.ly/3j8NmfV

Return of fans to elite sports events and reopening of grassroots sport

The government has announced the return of limited numbers of fans to elite sports events and the reopening of grassroots sport from 2 December.

Supporters will be welcomed back into stadia and sports venues in limited numbers from 2 December and organised grassroots sport is also allowed to resume. Gyms and leisure centres will be able to reopen across all tiers, benefitting the health and wellbeing of people across the country.