Today’s update includes
- Updates, Requests and Offers from the Stroud Coronavirus Community Response team and beyond
- Summary of local news
- Key national/international points
Updates from the Stroud Coronavirus Community Response team and beyond
- We shared the World Health Organisation’s webpages on “Advice for the Public”
- Stroud District Council shared with our group that they have “received £26million from the Government which it is distributing to businesses to keep them afloat during the Coronavirus pandemic. The first payments of £6.2million to 621 businesses were paid at the start of this week and payments are expected to be made daily. Approximately £10million has been paid by today (Wednesday, April 8)”
- We shared the launch video of NHS Gloucestershire’s ‘Every Name a Person’ campaign. Watch the 1 minute ‘Every Name a Person’ video, and remember that the numbers we provide below refer to people, who lived lives, and have loved ones in need of our support and compassion.
- Please complete our questionnaire to be added to oura Local Services Directory! We are particularly looking for people who are emergency maintenance/repair folk like plumbers/gas engineers etc. The form allows you to list a price for services – we are not expecting everyone to volunteer.
Local updates
- “Six more people have died from coronavirus in Gloucestershire as the UK death toll has reached 7,097. Five were being treated at Gloucestershire hospitals while one was being treated at the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Trust.”
- “Regionally, the South West has now seen 319 deaths – with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust recording a grand total of 52 [people who have died, the highest total for a NHS Trust in the region]. The second highest in the South West is University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, with 29 and then Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust with 28” (Gloucestershire Live article)
- “Severn Freewheelers, who provide hospitals with a vital out of hours medical courier service have just gone live with not one but two new services to help hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic. After a call for volunteers and utilising existing hospital volunteers, Severn Freewheelers can now offer a vital service to hospital pharmacies by delivering essential medication, including cancer treatment drugs, to patient homes. This service runs every day.” (Stroud News and Journal)
- Google have released data which claims to show how much the lockdown is affecting movement in the county and nationally (Gloucestershire Live): “Retail and recreation visits are down 86 per cent on base levels [in Gloucestershire], nationally they are down 85 per cent. Grocery and pharmacy visits are down 48 per cent, lower than the national 46 per cent. Visits to parks are down 49 per cent in the county, compared to 52 per cent nationwide. Transit station use is down 73 per cent in Gloucestershire, and 75 per cent in the rest of the UK. Workplace visits are down 55 per cent in the county and the UK. Residential trends are up 15 per cent in the UK and Gloucestershire follows this trend” (Gloucestershire Live)
- Google Maps is now highlighting restaurants that offer either takeaway or delivery services (Stroud News and Journal). Don’t forget we have a directory of local businesses that are open and/or offering delivery of food and household goods.
National:
- “As of 9am 7 April, 266,694 tests have concluded, with 14,006 tests on 6 April. 213,181 people have been tested of which 55,242 tested positive. As of 5pm on 6 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 6,159 have sadly died.”
- “As of 9am 8 April, 282,074 tests have concluded, with 14,682 tests on 7 April. 232,708 people have been tested of which 60,733 tested positive. As of 5pm on 7 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 7,097 have sadly died.” (Department of Health and Social Care tweet)
- This means there were 5,491 new cases confirmed yesterday, and 938 people died.
- “The UK suffered its deadliest day since the outbreak began as official figures showed 938 more people had died in hospitals, taking the overall total to 7,097. The true death toll is likely to be significantly higher.”
- Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled a £750m rescue package for charities “after stark warnings that coronavirus was about to send many to the wall”
Global Summary
- Worldwide cases approach 1.5m (1,495,051), nearly 90,000 people have died (87,469) and 317,640 recovered.
- There are still 17 countries with over 10,000 confirmed cases (Johns Hopkins University tracker)
- “The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 60,000 people in Europe“
- USA: “recorded its highest one-day death toll, with 1,858 people dying on Tuesday.” “Shipments of key protective medical gear bound for export from the United States will be seized, two federal agencies announce. The measures will be in place until Washington determines whether or not the equipment is needed in the US”
- France: will “extend its national lockdown for a second time, meaning it will run beyond 15 April”
- Peru: “The state of emergency in Peru has been extended for two more weeks to 26 April”
- Benin: “has made wearing face masks mandatory in public in several key regions”
- Malta: “has recorded its first coronavirus victim”
Please remember we have a (growing) list of resources to support your emotional and mental health during this time on our website.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to this update via our Facebook group.