This update includes:
- Information about changes we’ve made to our group and website
- A call out for help
- Summary of local news
- Key national/international points
Team updates:
- We have a new page on our website providing a directory of food and other local businesses. As with supermarkets, please leave delivery slots for those of us who are most at risk: people who are “shielding” (find out what “shielding” is, and if you or others you know are among the people who should be shielding)
- We shared an important article on why we must “Stay strong and in solidarity knowing that what you are doing is saving lives, even as people continue getting sick and dying”. The article, “Social Distancing Is Dead Serious. Hold the Line” is by Jonathan Smith – Infectious disease epidemiologist focusing the dynamics of disease transmission, and a Lecturer at Yale University in the US
- We shared links to the national Covid-19 Mutual Aid Network, and their Frequently Asked Questions. Please make sure your group is listed on their map: https://covidmutualaid.org/local-groups/. If you are administering a group, you may be interested in joining their private Facebook group for admins.
- We created a new section of the Facebook group (and soon, website) on detailed “Evidence and Global Efforts to Tackle Covid-19”. This currently includes links to:
- Oxford University’s Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Covid-19 service
- A drive to build data and technology tools by universities and tech communities around the world on April 4-5 (a 2-day virtual “Hack from Home”)
- A link to “Folding@Home” software that can help scientists fight Covid-19 by using spare capacity on your computer while you do other things
Call out from the Team
We would really like anyone involved in a facebook group or neighbourhood/street/road network to help us map which streets have networks. As well as our map of groups, we have a “master map” showing streets which have been leafletted, but this is focused on Stroud town centre, Cashes Green, Brimscombe and around Chalford at present. Download our pdf guide to mapping streets in your area.
Local updates:
- “As of Saturday morning there were 105 confirmed cases” in Gloucestershire – an increase of 27 since yesterday (reported in Gloucestershire Live)
It is important to say that these are confirmed cases only, and that since testing has been suspended for all cases but those needing hospitalisation, we do not have an accurate number for the actual number of cases in the community.
- Sarah Scott, director of public health in Gloucestershire, answered questions about the coronavirus for Gloucestershire Live. Questions include: How long can coronavirus last on a material? Are there any common myths about coronavirus symptoms or ways of transmission you have come across? Why are there “unknown” cases in Gloucestershire? The answers to these and other questions are worth reading.
- Age UK Gloucestershire published details of their offers to support older people, which includes guidance for volunteer groups and mutual aid networks on safeguarding (pdf).
- Morrisons in Nailsworth, “is letting 30 customers in at a time, and then applying a one out one in policy”, the Stroud News and Journal reported.
- “‘Checkpoints’ have been set up as officers question people about the reason for taking to the road (Gloucestershire Live reported). There are only four reasons to leave your house, to go shopping for basic necessities, one form of exercise, any medical need and travelling to work when absolutely necessary.”
- Gloucestershire Live covered a few examples of “The amazing acts of kindness happening in Gloucestershire during the UK lockdown”
National:
- Daily confirmed cases in the UK rose by more than 2,500 compared with the previous day
- 260 people died. Over 1,000 people (1,019) people have now died after being tested positive for Covid-19.
- Medical director of NHS England Prof Stephen Powis says if the UK were to keep the number of deaths from coronavirus below 20,000, “we will have done very well” (above all from today’s BBC Live blog, you can track cases nationally via the government’s dashboard tool)
- The British Red Cross announced they had received a letter from The UK Home Office, and welcomed the announcement that “people won’t be evicted from asylum accommodation for the next three months” (British Red Cross tweet)
Global:
- Over 25,000 people have now died after testing positive for Covid-19 (26,494 – and increase of 3,159 since yesterday)
- There are 571,678 confirmed cases globally (an increase of 62,514 since yesterday)
- (above points from the World Health Organisation (WHO) daily Situation Report)
- The WHO’s Director-General’s spoke at a media briefing saying, amongst other things
- “WHO has shipped almost 2 million individual items of protective gear to 74 countries that need it most, and we’re preparing to send a similar amount to a further 60 countries. But much more is needed. This problem can only be solved with international cooperation and international solidarity. When health workers are at risk, we’re all at risk.”
- The WHO’s Director-General also said: “More than 1 million health workers have been trained through our courses on OpenWHO.org. We will continue to train more.”
- “We’re also delighted to report that the COVID-19 Solidarity Fund has now received donations of more than US$ 108 million in just two weeks, from 203,000 individuals and organizations. Thank you to each and every one of you.”
- “The English version of [the WHO] WhatsApp Health Alert now has more than 12 million users globally, and the Arabic, French and Spanish versions were launched today. More languages will be added, including Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Kurdish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Urdu, Swahili and more”
- Italy: Over 10,000 people have now died after testing positive for Covid-19 (10,023). And there are now 92,472 cases in Italy (Guardian report).
- Spain: Over 5,000 people have now died after testing positive for Covid-19 (5,690), and there are now 72,248 cases in Spain (Guardian report). The head of Spain’s centre for health emergencies, said “we’re getting close to the peak of the curve that we’re studying so anxiously…” but added that “Spain’s overstretched intensive care units (ICUs)… were predicted to pass beyond full capacity in less than a week’s time”
- France: Over 2,000 people have now died after testing positive for Covid-19 (2,314 – Guardian report)
- China: “Wuhan, [the city] where the virus first emerged, has partially reopened after more than two months in isolation” (today’s BBC Live blog)
Please remember we have a (growing) list of resources to support your emotional and mental health during this time on our website.