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Somerset's Covid-19 Weekly Update
Friday 11 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 remain high in Somerset, particularly for those of school age, and so we should all focus on living safely with the virus.
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To help prevent the further spread of the virus and other illnesses the following simple guidance remains:
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(The helpline is available from 8am to 6pm every day, including weekends).
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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.
There has been a lot of coverage in the media of a potential reduction or removal of Covid-19 rules towards the end of the month and we are awaiting the Government update scheduled for 21 February. Until this date, all current guidance still stands including the need to self-isolate if you test positive.
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A 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 and 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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The main items featured in this week’s update are:
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- Vaccinations Update
- Testing Update
- Covid Catch-up Film
- Schools, Workplace and Care settings
- Resources and further information
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Somerset Covid Cases
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In the week ending 6 February, approximately 111,487 tests were carried out across the county. There were 5,749 new confirmed cases identified by these tests. The rates of Covid-19 in Somerset remain very high but have decreased slightly in the last reporting week to 1,022.5 per 100,000. This is above both the South-West average and the national average.
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Hospitalisation data for Somerset is around 64 Covid-19 in-patients in Somerset hospitals.
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There are bookings and walk-in clinics available NOW across Somerset. Head to somersetccg.nhs.uk/covid-vaccines to book yours.
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Over 60% of Somerset’s young people aged 12 to 15 have had their first Covid-19 vaccine since rollout began in September. The second vaccination for 12–15-year-olds is now available to book via the national booking service and is also available at many walk-in local vaccination centres Covid-19 vaccinations in Somerset - Somerset CCG. Please continue to ensure that all eligible groups are aware of the vaccination offer available to them, including those that may be contacted by their GP as part of the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable cohort.
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The in-school offer for the second Covid-19 vaccination for 12-15 years olds has also begun, alongside the HPV vaccination. Parents and carers may find their local vaccination centre is able to administer the second Covid-19 jab to 12-15 year olds sooner than the school appointments.
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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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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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What to do if you have a positive LFD test and a negative follow-up PCR test result: 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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In our latest Covid catch up film, Clinton talks to Angela, who has been suffering with Long Covid. He also talks to Dr Jon Dolman, a Long Covid specialist and explores the chance of reinfection of the virus.
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Please click the image below to watch.
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Schools & Early Years
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High Covid-19 case rates continue to cause staff shortages, limiting the provision of onsite education in some settings. 10% of Somerset schools have had to limit their face-to-face teaching offer due to staff shortages this week. The SCC Public Health team recognise that, despite these challenges, all settings in Somerset are doing their best to keep education and childcare open to their communities. Our education and childcare staff are a precious resource: valuing them, and their wellbeing and mental health, is a duty we all share, so please play your part in supporting these valued members of our community.
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Staff and pupils should follow wider advice on face coverings outside of school, including on transport to and from school. There are resources available Covid-19 School Toolkit | Support Services for Education to help promote the wearing of face coverings on school transport to parents as well as pupils:
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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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Workplaces
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As case numbers are still high our message to employers remains one of caution. Employers have a duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their staff and customers and Covid-19 risk assessments will need to be reviewed in the light of the latest advice.
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It is important to respect and be considerate of those who may wish to take a more cautious approach as restrictions are lifted. The following behaviours should be encouraged by staff to help protect themselves and reduce sickness absence:
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- Get vaccinated.
- Meeting in well-ventilated areas where possible, such as outdoors or indoors with
- windows open.
- Wearing a face covering where you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet in enclosed and crowded spaces.
- Washing your hands with soap and water or using hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day.
- Covering your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze.
- Staying at home if unwell, to reduce the risk of passing on other illnesses onto colleagues and others in your community.
- Considering individual risks, such as clinical vulnerabilities and vaccination status.
- Staff should be encouraged to continue to take rapid lateral flow tests in line with the guidance.
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Businesses must not require a self-isolating employee to come to work and should make sure that workers and customers who feel unwell do not attend the setting and take a PCR test.
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Care Settings
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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. It is also important for visitors and essential care givers to follow good IPC measures to support the care home in keeping their loved ones free of Covid-19.
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Please look out for updates in the key guidance documents:
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Covid-19 reporting of cases: Care settings are required 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: 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. Please could the form be completed as soon as possible and if any problems with the completion, please contact UKHSA. It is essential UKHSA have this information to make risk assessments and of course it is a requirement to report all notifiable diseases.
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Wellbeing support: For our care staff who 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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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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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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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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Finally, please follow Trudi Grant, our Director of Public Health’s Twitter account here.
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