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Somerset's Covid-19 Weekly Update
Friday 4 February 2022
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Welcome to the latest edition of the weekly Somerset Covid-19 update for key stakeholders and subscribers. This update is produced on behalf of the Somerset Covid-19 Engagement Board and is designed to provide a weekly update on the current Covid-19 situation in Somerset.
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Please be aware you are receiving this email because you have previously subscribed to Covid-19 updates from SCC or were a part of the Stakeholder mailing list. If you no longer wish to receive these mails you can use the 'unsubscribe' link at the bottom of the update.
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Leader Somerset County Council
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Director of Public Health
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Clare Paul Cabinet Member for Education and Public Health
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Covid-19 case numbers have increased across Somerset in the last week and remain very high, particularly for those of school age, so it is vital we all focus on living safely with Covid-19.
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We are aware of all of the sacrifices people in Somerset have made to help prevent the further spread of the pandemic and the following simple guidance remains:
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- If you haven’t yet had a vaccination you should step forward, whether it's a first dose, second dose or booster. Please check here for full booking details.
- Please continue to take regular lateral flow tests – particularly before meeting others. These can be ordered here. Also, remember to report your test results here.
- Wear a well-fitting face-covering when in enclosed spaces such as supermarkets and try to meet others outside or ensure there is good ventilation when meeting inside.
- If you have any Covid-19 symptoms you need to take a PCR test. If you test positive, you must self-isolate.
- Keep your hands clean by washing often with soap and water , this protects against a lot of infectious diseases.
It has been noted recently that a high proportion of cases are now defined as being reinfections – the figure nationally is around one in ten. This means if you have caught Covid-19 before, you can still catch it again. Of course, this makes it additionally important to continue to follow the advice to protect yourself and others from the virus.
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‘Remember, everyone can catch it, anyone can spread it.’
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This Weeks Top Headlines
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The main items featured in this week’s update are:
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- Workplace, Care and School settings
- Vaccinations Update
- Testing Update
- Resources and further information
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Somerset Covid Cases
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In the week ending 30 January, approximately 145,631 tests were carried out across the county. There were with 6,334 new confirmed cases identified by these tests. The rates of Covid-19 remain very high and have increased in the last reporting week to 1,126.6 per 100,000. This is below both the South-West average and the national average.
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Hospitalisation data for Somerset has increased to around 73 Covid-19 in-patients in Somerset hospitals.
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Workplaces
Are you finding the Covid rules and guidance confusing and do you wish you could help your work colleagues, friends and family to make the best decisions to stay happy and healthy?
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If yes, you could become a Covid Community Champion, or enable one of your colleagues to. It doesn’t take much time. All you need to do is come along to a short online Welcome Session, then you’ll receive regular emails and invitations to online catch-up meetings. The meetings are optional and informal: an opportunity to catch up with other champions and hear the latest direct from the experts.
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You can do as little or as much as you like. We already have over 100 Champions who use the information they get in a range of ways. Some simply share what they learn with friends and family, others use their knew knowledge at work.
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This is what one of our workplace Champions thinks about their experience so far:
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“The main benefit is understanding the best ways to prevent Covid-19, being able to share this with my work colleagues and their families…. Everyone at work is much more confident, as they have knowledge, anxiety has reduced. The biggest contributor was the unknown.”
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Care Settings
We continue to see high case numbers of Covid-19 in our care settings. During these high case rates, Infection Prevention and Control measures, strict adherence to PPE, distancing where possible, ensuring adequate ventilation, regular testing and ensuring staff take up the offer of vaccination, including boosters is key.
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Key guidelines: Please look out for updates in the key guidance documents:
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Covid-19 reporting of cases: Please continue to report cases of Covid-19 to the Health Protection Team (HPT) at UKHSA on 0300 303 8162 (option 9 for a Covid call) and for more than one case or any resident cases, please report to swhpt@phe.gov.uk
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New care setting risk assessment tool: The new risk assessment tool has been launched this week, so when Adult Social Care providers across the South West report 2 or more cases of acute respiratory infections, including Covid-19 to UKHSA, they will be asked to complete an online form to provide further details. This will then be reviewed by the Health Protection Practitioners and the appropriate support provided depending on the information in the form. This new process will hopefully help save time for providers and allow completion of the form at a time most appropriate to care staff.
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Wellbeing support: If you are feeling the strain, there is always someone to talk to at Samaritan’s dedicated line for health and care workers. These calls are answered by highly trained, compassionate and confidential volunteers who provide confidential, non-judgemental support.
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Schools and Early Years settings
Covid-19 case rates remain high in our county and continue to increase, in line with the wider south-west region. Business continuity challenges have limited provision of onsite education in some settings, as high rates of community transmission impact staff, pupils and their parents.
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Protecting the wellbeing of education staff is critical for improving morale and retaining staff. Our staff are a precious resource: valuing them, and their wellbeing and mental health, is a duty we all share. Everyone’s mental wellbeing changes throughout their life, but it’s important not to just put up with poor mental health.
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Emotional Wellbeing for Education Staff: There are a range of resources available via the Somerset Emotional Wellbeing staff hub. Just search by your role/organisation (simply type ‘education’ or ‘school’) or how you are feeling, to view relevant support resources.
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Childhood Immunisation Programme
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The UKHSA and the NHS are calling on parents and guardians to ensure their children are up to date with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, and all other routine childhood immunisations. The latest data shows the MMR vaccination uptake has dropped to the lowest level in a decade.
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Coverage for the two doses of MMR vaccine in five-year olds in the South-West is currently 90.4%, below the 95% World Health Organization target needed to achieve and sustain measles elimination. Coverage of the first dose of the MMR vaccine in two-year olds in the South West is 93.4%, meaning almost 1 in 10 children under the age of 5 are not fully protected from measles.
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Parents who are unsure if their child is up to date with all their routine vaccinations, should check their child’s Red Book (personal child health record) in the first instance. If you are still not sure, or if you need to bring your child up to date with their vaccines, contact your GP practice to check and book an appointment.
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To find out more about the MMR vaccine, please visit www.nhs.uk/MMR for more information
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Appointment only FLU clinics
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We deliver the nasal flu vaccination programme to all schools in Somerset in the winter months. We also hold community based clinics to make sure we vaccinate as many children as possible.
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The following walk-in flu clinics for children are available:
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Saturday 5th February 2022
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West Mendip Community Hospital (Outpatients)
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Saturday 5th February 2022
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Westlands Entertainment Venue
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The Families Hub, Level 2, East Reach House, Taunton, TA1 3EN
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Covid-19 Vaccine Programme:
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There are new clinics starting regularly in other areas in the coming weeks. Please encourage
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Sparkford, Yeovil, BA22 7LH
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Canal Road, Taunton, TA1 1NY
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High St, Bridgwater, TA6 3BL
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Victoria Park Drive, Bridgwater TA6 7AS
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Bridgwater and Albion RFC
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09.00 – 11.00 and 15.00 – 17.00
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Bridgwater And Albion Rfc (Cranleigh Gardens Pharmacy)
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Sydenham Community Centre
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South Bridgwater Together Team Hub, 2-3 Grenville House, Rhode Lane, Bridgwater, TA6 6JE
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Auction / Market at Junction 24
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Please note: If a child has tested positive for Covid-19 and is not at high risk from Covid-19, they need to wait 12 weeks before they can have a Covid-19 vaccine. This starts from the date they had symptoms, or the date of the positive test if they did not have symptoms.
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Vaccination Update
Over 80% of eligible residents have received two doses of the vaccination. The Vaccination Programme is working with health and community partners to identify locations for mobile vaccination pop-up clinics. By localising the offer, the programme aims to reduce barriers to access and better understand community needs.
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You can also pre-book an appointment. To do this, visit www.nhs.uk/Covid-Vaccination or call 119 for an appointment. The helpline has over 200 languages available if you or someone you know requires an interpreter.
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NHS staff are ready to welcome you whether it’s for your first, second, or third dose.
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Testing
What to do if you have a positive LFD test and a negative follow-up PCR test result
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LFD tests should only be used when you do not have symptoms. You do not need to take a follow up PCR test if you test positive on an LFD test. However there are some circumstances when you are advised to take a follow up PCR test for specific reasons.
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If this follow-up PCR test is negative, you are no longer required to self-isolate. Instead, you are advised to:
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- limit close contact with other people outside your household, especially in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces
- work from home if you are able to
- wear a face covering in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces and where you are in close contact with other people
- limit contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with Covid-19
- follow the guidance on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of Covid-19
You should follow this advice until 10 full days from your positive LFD test result.
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Scam PCR text alert: We are urging the public to be cautious if they receive a text asking them to apply for an ‘Omicron PCR test’. The text contains a link which directs you to a site resembling that of the NHS, and you are then asked for personal details. Do not submit your personal information this is a scam.
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Please note that any texts you receive will be from NHS Test and Trace, and this will only be in relation to: a positive LFD test you have undertaken and reported online; a positive PCR test result, or because you have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive – NHS Test and Trace will provide detailed guidance on what your next steps should be, including how long you have to self-isolate for depending on your vaccination status.
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Below is a screenshot of the scam text message to be aware of:
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Resources and Further Information:
The Somerset Local Outbreak Management Plan outlines how we, the council, will work with the NHS Test and Trace Service, PHE, the NHS and other partners to ensure a whole system approach to preventing and managing local outbreaks. This can be found here.
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Finally, please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn and share our posts with your networks to help us communicate these important messages.
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Follow our Director of Public Health account here.
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We would really welcome your feedback on this email update, so please email any comments to the team using GHaslock@somerset.gov.uk.
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