Key Updates
- On 4th July, a range of government guidance changed. However, while there are significant changes, not everything is changing. Read on our full statement on our website https://neighbournetworks.uk/2020/07/03/friday-3rd-july/
- Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do since 4th July. The government has produced a Frequently Asked Questions webpage covering national guidance for England (excluding local lockdowns) It covers the following:
1) Gatherings, public spaces, and activities
2) Vulnerable groups, shielding, 70 year olds and over, and care homes
3) Going to work / Closed businesses / Safer spaces
4) Workers’ rights
5) Public Transport
6) Schools and Childcare
7) Borders / international visitors, and finally links to equivalent guidance for the
8) Devolved administrations
You can read the full FAQ at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do-after-4-july
This link sets out guidance from the government that enables certain behaviour. Please bear in mind that there is debate about the timing and appropriateness of these measures (including from the Independent SAGE group of scientists), and some people in our community will not wish to take these risks.
- James Bee shares “NHS England is launching a new service for people with ongoing health problems after having coronavirus.” BBC News reports that “Your Covid Recovery” will be an online portal for people in England to access tutorials, contact healthcare workers and track their progress:
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53291925
- James also shared: The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK “is made up of more than 450 relatives of those who have died because of the virus”. They have “written to the government to call for an immediate public inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.” The group say that “it has become tragically clear that fatal mistakes have been made by the government in its handling of the pandemic”. The group and their call has been covered by, for example, ITV: https://www.itv.com/news/2020-06-12/embargoed-till-12-06-2020-00-01-bereaved-families-call-for-public-inquiry-into-government-s-handling-of-virus-pandemic/
Find their Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/covidfamiliesforjusticeuk/
- Are you a working parent living in Gloucestershire? Gloucestershire County Council are asking people to fill in a survey on childcare need. Fill in the survey at: https://gloucestershire-consult.objective.co.uk/public/children/earlyyearsdata_1/finance/oosc_-_parents_survey
- Following news that parking charges will return to Stroud from 21 July , and part of London Road will be closed off until the end of September, Sean Garland asks what provision is being made for disabled drivers
- Kirstie Clarke shared “3 ways to get support face to face online if you’re a pregnant or breastfeeding Mummy. “ from Gloucestershire Breastfeeding Supporters Network
- Emily Miles also shared about breastfeeding support. “Breastfeeding support is available virtually while local group MOBS is not running as usual….This is an important message! So many mums soldier on without seeking support because they assume pain is to be expected. Our breastfeeding counsellors are on hand to support you- just book a free slot using the link” https://gbsn.org.uk/gbsn-virtual-support-registration-form/
- Sarah Dixon shared “a chart [which] offers a rough guide to risk levels which could be helpful in making choices in the coming weeks and months.” From Information is Beautiful
- Masks are a focus in the updates, with this WHO guidance shared by James Bee and another update that “Venki Ramakrishnan, president of The Royal Society (the world’s oldest independent scientific academy) has “called for everyone to be required to wear a mask in all indoor public settings, rather than only on public transport, and criticised confused messaging from the government.”
Sarah Lancaster shared a masks tree in which you can pick up masks from a wide number of designated locations listed in the post.
- We now have 4,376 members. We’ve shared 202 posts in the last month. Please invite your friends to grow this community. And please do introduce yourself and let us know anything you’d like to see in the group related to coronavirus and how we can work together to get through the pandemic and its impacts.
- Please take a look at the Group Purpose and Guidelines if you haven’t read them recently.
Summary of key local, national and international news
We are now providing our main summary of local, national and international statistical data on a weekly basis rather than daily
Local
The drive through testing unit is open at Stratford Park Stroud https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/18533676.drive-through-coronavirus-testing-unit-stroud-today/ – If you have symptoms you can book a test via: orlo.uk/book_test_kIJQN
“On Wednesday, 24 June at the first ever virtual meeting of the county council, councillors unanimously agreed to a series of events, to recognise and celebrate the exceptional efforts of residents, the NHS, social care and wider public sector workers, and to establish lasting memorials so we never forget both the volunteers and the tragic loss of life within Gloucestershire communities.” Read more: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gloucestershire-county-council-news/news-june-2020/county-council-agrees-to-lasting-reminder-of-community-efforts-and-loss-of-life-from-covid-19/
National
- The Royal College of Obstreticians & Gynaecologists has announced additional measures to support BAME pregnant women and new mothers, who are more at risk from COVID. https://www.facebook.com/groups/stroudcorona/permalink/298144791373282/
International
- Dr Tedros of the World Health Organisation has warned ‘the worst is yet to come’ as global deaths from COVID-19 pass half a million. https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19—29-june-2020
- Full WHO statistics for the outbreak are at https://covid19.who.int/
- For a full international roundup, see the Reuters Coronavirus page, or The Guardian’s “summary of the biggest developments in the global coronavirus outbreak”. For updates on confirmed cases, and deaths, we recommend the Financial Times’ “Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as countries fight to contain the pandemic” webpage – which is updated daily.
Notes
Please remember we have a (growing) list of resources to support your emotional and mental health during this time on our website. The following numbers may be useful:
- Samaritans: 116 123
- Domestic Violence Hotline: 0808 2000 247
- Mind: 0300 123 3393
- Age UK: 0800 169 6565
- Childline: 0800 1111.
- NHS 111
Thanks to everyone who helped create this update through our Facebook group. If you submit posts, we will often decline posting them to the discussion directly and instead hold them till the single daily summary – to try to reduce the number of posts in the feed and make it easier for people to follow the information. Please continue to submit posts to admins for this purpose with the appropriate flag: one of REQUEST / OFFER / UPDATE / QUESTION / COMMENTARY.