From: Atkins, Philip (County Cllr) <philip.atkins@staffordshire.gov.uk>
Sent: 27 November 2021 15:22
Coronavirus COVID-19 Briefing
This briefing summarises the key points around Staffordshire County Council’s response and recovery to the Covid-19 pandemic. This bulletin is issued fortnightly unless there are major announcements or changes to the current situation.
Friday 26 November 2021
Latest Situation:
- The total number of deaths nationwide now stands at 144,593– new deaths reported = 160.
- The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK has now passed the 10 million mark.
- The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the West Midlands region has now exceeded 925,000.
Nationally:
- The emergence of a new variant of Covid-19 called ‘Omicron’ has been announced and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid made a statement to the House of Commons today confirming that this is now a variant of concern.
- Mr Javid also set out the Government’s response to this development including restrictions on travel to southern Africa where the variant was first identified.
- Oral statement to Parliament: Oral Statement on B.1.1.529 variant The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has given a statement to Parliament on a new variant under investigation and action government is taking. [26 November 2021]
- Guidance, Coronavirus: how to stay safe and help prevent the spread Find out how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of coronavirus. [Updated 17 November 2021
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Staffordshire:
Covid Case Rates:
· As of 1600hrs 26 November 2021 the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Staffordshire is now 140,636 a rate of 15,924 per 100,000 people
· The overall number of cases continues to increase across Staffordshire, and as of 22 November 2021, the seven-day rate for Staffordshire was 493.4 per 100,000 people.
· The overall 7-day rate of infection per 100,000 people in Staffordshire remains above the regional (West Midlands) rate of 413.6 and England rates of 428.5.
· All districts in Staffordshire now have Covd-19 7-day rates above both the regional and national rate
| Staffordshire: 16/11/2021 to 22/11/2021 | ||
| = Above the Regional Rate | ||
| LA Area | Rate per 100,000 | |
| Cannock Chase | 484.8 | |
| East Staffordshire | 560.7 | |
| Lichfield | 522.5 | |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme | 454.4 | |
| South Staffordshire | 428.9 | |
| Stafford | 457 | |
| Staffordshire Moorlands | 495.8 | |
| Tamworth | 581.5 | |
· Two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine give you the best protection from coronavirus.
· The county council, together with our partners continues to push vaccination take up for those who have not yet had their first or second dose.
Walk-in Vaccine Clinics for over 16s
Walk-in clinics this weekend to give whole family COVID-19 vaccinations in time to stay safe at Christmas
· Family members aged 12 and over can all get their COVID-19 vaccinations together at the same place and time at special walk-in clinics in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire this weekend to ensure that everyone is protected in time for Christmas.
· The selected vaccination clinics will be taking place this Saturday (27 November) and Sunday (28 November), offering first and second doses for people aged over 16, booster doses for people aged 40+ and a single vaccine jab for children aged 12-15.
· These walk-in clinics are for family groups only, not individual patients.
· The clinics will be taking place at the following locations and times.
- Saturday 27th November: Sacred Heart Church, Silverlink Road, Tamworth, B77 2EA, between 10.30am-2.30pm.
- Sunday 28th November: Chase Terrace Fire Station, Rugeley Road, Burntwood, WS7 1AU, between 10.30am-2.30pm.
· Individuals will still be able to get their vaccine at other walk-in clinics this weekend. Up-to-date details and times for all other Staffordshire COVID-19 vaccination walk-in clinics can be found at https://www.twbstaffsandstoke.org.uk/coronavirus/how-to-get-a-vaccine-where-and-travelling
· Appointments for vaccines can also be booked online through the National Booking System by visiting www.nhs.uk, or by calling 119.
· You don’t need to be registered with a GP or have an NHS number to get your jab, but it will be quicker if you do, so take that information with you if you can.
· We would ask that all members continue to promote vaccination and booster take up and to highlight the availability of these sessions to residents especially before the Christmas season.
· The latest walk-in clinics for the coming days can be found at: Search – Find a walk-in coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site (www.nhs.uk)
Testing
People without symptoms only:
· Everyone is being encouraged to have a Covid test twice weekly, even if they have had the vaccine.
· You can also find your nearest community testing centre or pharmacist offering testing kits by your postcode at Find where to get rapid lateral flow tests – NHS (test-and-trace.nhs.uk)
· Full details of all testing options are available at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/coronavirus
· People with symptoms should not use a Lateral Flow Test and should self-isolate and book an appointment at one of the national testing sites.
· Bookings can be made at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by phoning 119
· Mobile Testing Units (MTUs): Two national MTUs are operating across the county. These are national testing mobile centres, but the county council influences where they are deployed.
The Planned Mobile Testing Unit Rota 27 November to 10 December is as follows (subject to change)
| Date | Additional MTU (support of closed LTS) | MTU 1 | MTU 2 | ||||
| November 2021 | |||||||
| Saturday | 27 | November | Meadowside LC – Burton on Trent DE14 1TL | JCB Tunstall – Genesis Centre ST6 4PY | JCB World HQ ST14 5JP | ||
| Sunday | 28 | November | Meadowside LC – Burton on Trent DE14 1TL | JCB Tunstall – Genesis Centre ST6 4PY | JCB World HQ ST14 5JP | ||
| Monday | 29 | November | Meadowside LC – Burton on Trent DE14 1TL | Codsall WV8 1PX | JCB – Cheadle ST10 2JU | ||
| Tuesday | 30 | November | Meadowside LC – Burton on Trent DE14 1TL | Codsall WV8 1PX | JCB – Cheadle ST10 2JU | ||
| December 2021 | |||||||
| Wednesday | 1 | December | Meadowside LC – Burton on Trent DE14 1TL | Codsall WV8 1PX | Leek Britannia HQ (Newton House) ST13 5RL | ||
| Thursday | 2 | December | Meadowside LC – Burton on Trent DE14 1TL | Codsall WV8 1PX | Leek Britannia HQ (Newton House) ST13 5RL | ||
| Friday | 3 | December | Meadowside LC – Burton on Trent DE14 1TL | Codsall WV8 1PX | JCB – Cheadle ST10 2JU | ||
| Saturday | 4 | December | Meadowside LC – Burton on Trent DE14 1TL | Tamworth – Sir Robert Peel B78 3NG | JCB World HQ ST14 5JP | ||
| Sunday | 5 | December | Meadowside LC – Burton on Trent DE14 1TL | Tamworth – Sir Robert Peel B78 3NG | JCB World HQ ST14 5JP | ||
| Monday | 6 | December | Meadowside LC – Burton on Trent DE14 1TL | Codsall WV8 1PX | JCB – Cheadle ST10 2JU | ||
| Tuesday | 7 | December | Meadowside LC – Burton on Trent DE14 1TL | Lichfield WS13 6QG | JCB – Cheadle ST10 2JU | ||
| Wednesday | 8 | December | Meadowside LC – Burton on Trent DE14 1TL | Lichfield WS13 6QG | Leek Britannia HQ (Newton House) ST13 5RL | ||
| Thursday | 9 | December | Meadowside LC – Burton on Trent DE14 1TL | Tamworth – Sir Robert Peel B78 3NG | Leek Britannia HQ (Newton House) ST13 5RL | ||
| Friday | 10 | December | Meadowside LC – Burton on Trent DE14 1TL | Tamworth – Sir Robert Peel B78 3NG | Leek Britannia HQ (Newton House) ST13 5RL |
Communications:
We are continuing to proactively use media and social media channels to encourage everyone to take personal responsibility for their health to protect others.
This includes getting tested, getting vaccinated when eligible, and following Government advice to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the community and is being reinforced by our ‘Up to You’ campaign.
Next week we will be focusing on:
- Continuing to encourage testing and vaccinations across the general population of Staffordshire
- Promoting vaccine take and booster vaccinations in those areas where take is low
- Promoting booster vaccinations for those eligible.
- Working with schools to promote take up of vaccinations for 12-15-year olds.
- Continued roll out of the ‘UpToYou’ campaign.
Regards
Philip
| Philip Atkins OBE County Councillor for Uttoxeter Rural County Buildings Martin Street, Stafford, ST16 2LH Tel: 01889 590230 Mobile: 07973820345 Email: philip.atkins@staffordshire.gov.uk www.staffordshire.gov.uk |