Latest PHE information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) 10.12.20 16.45 hrs

Update – 16:45, 10.12.20 – Novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Additional information added since the previous update on 08.12.20 is highlighted. Please use update to brief local partners.

As of Wednesday 9^th December 2020, 1,766,819 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK (pillar 1 and 2) and there have been 62,566 deaths (deaths within 28 days of positive test). Further information on the data is available here: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

Announcements

Contact tracing teams: we’re asking our local partners to get in touch if they think they might have footage of contact tracing teams at work. DHSC are working on a piece to celebrate the work of COVID-19 heroes. If you think you might be able to help, please contact your regional PHE communications leads.

PHE COVID-19 Update: feedback sought: We would like your thoughts on the PHE COVID-19 Update. With this in mind, we have prepared a short survey that should take you no longer than five minutes to complete.

Your feedback will help PHE continue to support our regional partners and stakeholders with the latest COVID-19 updates. The survey is open now until 11 December and be accessed here: https://surveys.phe.org.uk/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=m2KM9lmMM

Please note – due to increased demand on the PHE survey platform, the above survey may take a little longer than usual to open.

• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published National influenza and COVID-19 report, monitoring coronavirus (COVID-19) activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• New NHS Test and Trace plan to support return to more normal way of life The NHS Test and Trace business plan sets out a strategy to increase the speed and reach of testing and tracing, working with local partnerships. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Confirmation of guidance to vaccination centres on managing allergic reactions following COVID-19 vaccination with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine Statement by Dr June Raine, Chief Executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on the guidance to vaccination centres on managing allergic reactions following COVID-19 vaccination with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• Medical devices given exceptional use authorisations during the COVID-19 pandemic: List of manufacturers and their medical devices which have been granted an exemption by the MHRA. The list also includes manufacturers whose exemption expired or was cancelled. This information will be listed for 2 months after expiry or cancellation. Updated 9^th December.
• Business evictions ban extended until March: Business owners affected by the pandemic will be protected from eviction until the end of March 2021. Updated 9^th December 2020.

Data Updates to Surveillance Reports and Dashboard

 

• National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports National influenza and COVID-19 report, monitoring COVID-19 activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Wider impacts of COVID-19 on health monitoring tool National monitoring tool that brings together metrics to assess the wider impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19) on health. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• HMCTS weekly management information during coronavirus – March to November 2020 The weekly management information used by HMCTS for understanding workload volumes and timeliness at a national level during coronavirus (COVID-19), March 2020 to November 2020. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Coronavirus and the latest indicators for the UK economy and society: 10 December 2020 Early experimental data on the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the UK economy and society. These faster indicators are created using rapid response surveys, novel data sources and experimental methods. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Coronavirus and the impact on output in the UK economy: October 2020 An analysis of monthly growth for the production and services industries between September 2020 and October 2020, highlighting the impact from the coronavirus (COVID-19). Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Transport use during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: To monitor the use of the transport system during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. DfT provides statistics on transport use by mode. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• COVID-19: PHE laboratory assessments of inactivation methods PHE has undertaken assessments of inactivation methods against SARS-CoV-2 with further evaluations ongoing. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• A ‘new normal’? How people spent their time after the March 2020 coronavirus lockdown: How have individuals spent their time in reduced COVID social distancing measures? How does time spent on different activities differ between lock down (28th March to 26th April 2020) and post lock down (5th September to 13th September 2020)? Is this returning to normal? (levels seen in time use study ran in 2015). Updated 9^th December 2020.
• Coronavirus and higher education students, England: 20 November to 25 November 2020 Experimental statistics from a pilot of the Student Covid Insights Survey. Includes information on the behaviours, plans, opinions and well-being of higher education students in the context of guidance on coronavirus (Covid-19). Updated 9^th December 2020.

Information, advice and guidance

• Check if you can claim for your employees’ wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Find out if you’re eligible and how much you can claim to cover wages for employees on temporary leave (‘furlough’) due to coronavirus (COVID-19). Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Check which employees you can put on furlough to use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Find out which employees you can put on furlough and claim for through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
• NHS COVID-19 app: privacy information Privacy notice and data protection impact assessment for the NHS COVID-19 mobile app. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Steps to take before calculating your claim using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Find out what steps you need to take before you calculate how much you can claim for furloughed and flexibly furloughed employees. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Calculate how much you can claim using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Calculate how much you have to pay your furloughed employees for hours on furlough and how much you can claim back. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Claim for some of your employee’s wages if you have put them on furlough or flexible furlough because of coronavirus (COVID-19). Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Find examples to help you calculate your employees’ wages Check examples to help you calculate your employee’s wages, National Insurance contributions and pension contributions if you’re claiming through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents This is advice for visa customers and applicants in the UK, visa customers outside of the UK and British nationals overseas who need to apply for a passport affected by travel restrictions associated with coronavirus. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• COVID-19: guidance for the safe use of places of worship and special religious services and gatherings during the pandemic Guidance to provide advice on how places of worship can open, for limited permitted activities, in a manner that is safe and in line with local tier restrictions. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• NHS Test and Trace statistics (England): methodology How the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) puts together the contact-tracing data in its weekly reports. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): Office of the Public Guardian response This page provides guidance on how OPG is responding to the coronavirus outbreak. It will be updated when new information is available. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Making and registering an LPA during the coronavirus outbreak If you want to make an LPA now, you can as long as you follow government guidance on social distancing and self-isolating and observe local restrictions. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Guidance for full opening: special schools and other specialist settings What all special schools and other specialist settings will need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak from the start of the autumn term to support the return of children and young people with special education needs and disability (SEND). Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested Guidance on coronavirus testing, including who is eligible for a test and how to get tested. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the EU drivers’ hours rules: delivery of essential items to retailers Temporary relaxation of the EU drivers’ hours rules for drivers carrying food and essential goods by road. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• COVID-19: guidance for arranging or attending a funeral during the coronavirus pandemic Guidance for arranging or attending a funeral during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Updated 10^th December 2020.
• COVID-19 and renting: guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities Non-statutory guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities in the private and social rented sectors in the context of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Updated 10^th December 2020.
• Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) Find out how to make your workplace COVID-secure. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• Local Restrictions Support Grants (LRSG) and Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG): guidance for local authorities This is guidance for local authorities on paying grants to support businesses during the November to December 2020 national lockdown and periods of local restrictions. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• COVID-19: background information Information on COVID-19 including epidemiology, virology and clinical features. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing service for extra care and supported living settings Guidance on regular retesting for extra care and supported living settings that meet the eligibility criteria. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• PPE portal: how to order COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) Eligible health and social care providers can order PPE through the portal to meet the increased need that has arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• Temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the EU drivers’ hours rules: delivery of essential items to retailer’s Temporary relaxation of the EU drivers’ hours rules for drivers carrying food and essential goods by road. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): health and wellbeing of the adult social care workforce Advice for those working in adult social care on managing your mental health and how employers can take care of the wellbeing of their staff during the coronavirus outbreak. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• COVID-19: letter to clinically extremely vulnerable people Reference-only version of letter from the government to people who are clinically extremely vulnerable. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable Information for shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• Early years foundation stage statutory framework (EYFS) The standards that school and childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• Environment Agency waterways: Coronavirus (Covid-19) update Guidance for users of all Environment Agency waterways, including the River Thames, Anglian waterways and the Upper Medway Navigation. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing: privacy information Privacy notice for NHS Test and Trace virus testing for all users of the service. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• Local Restrictions Support Grants (LRSG) and Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG): guidance for local authorities: This is guidance for local authorities on paying grants to support businesses during the November to December 2020 national lockdown and periods of local restrictions. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• DfE exam support service: claiming costs Information for schools and other exam centres needing to claim costs for autumn exams. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• Coronavirus antibody home test kit: taking a blood sample Guidance and video to help you do your antibody test correctly, post your sample and get your results. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing service for extra care and supported living settings: Guidance on regular retesting for extra care and supported living settings that meet the eligibility criteria. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers Walking, cycling, and travelling in vehicles or on public transport during the coronavirus outbreak. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• Claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme If you’re self-employed or a member of a partnership and have been impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) you may be eligible to claim the grant. Updated 9^th December 2020.
• COVID-19: vaccinator competency assessment tool Knowledge and skills competence assessment tool. Updated 8^th December 2020.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing home care Information for those providing personal care to people living in their own home during the coronavirus outbreak. Updated 8^th December 2020.
• Tier 1: Medium alert What you can and cannot do in an area in Tier 1 of local restrictions. Updated 8^th December 2020.
• Tier 2: High alert What you can and cannot do in an area in Tier 2 of local restrictions. Updated 8^th December
• Making a childcare bubble with another household How you can get informal childcare for anyone under 14 from friends and family you do not live with. Updated 8^th December.
• Making a support bubble with another household How you can safely expand the group of people you have close contact with during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Updated 8^th December 2020.
• COVID-19: vaccinator training recommendations Guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination training to support healthcare workers involved in delivering the programme. Updated 8^th December 2020.

Marketing and communications materials – Updated 10 December

Campaign Resource Centre

To view all COVID-19 related assets, and other campaign materials, please visit the Campaign Resource Centre. A ‘sort’ function has now been incorporated within every campaign section, allowing you to easily see the most recently uploaded resources.

COVID-19 vaccine

• New assets for Health Care Workers (HCW), Social Care Workers (SCW) and Care Home Workers (CHW): posters, digital screens and email signatures.
• Additional Social/ multiple creatives:
• Expertise drawn from
• NHS Deployment

View here: https://coronavirusresources.phe.gov.uk/covid-19-vaccine/resources/additional-social/

• The BBC has published another set of videos in South Asian languages, this time the topic is vaccines. You can see the content here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55171293 (script attached).

COVID-19 vaccine

• New social media (animations and static)

Festivals and Celebrations

• Hanukkah social statics
• Hands Face Space messaging
• Celebrate Hanukkah Safely messaging
• Translations of messages in Hebrew and Yiddish

Hands Face Space

• New PR cutdown – sliding doors

Tiering

• Translations in 10 languages

LA comms – please use this to brief councillors, MPs etc.

LRF Comms – please use this update to brief LRF Chairs via their secretariat.

CET members – please cascade to your team leads.

ICC – please share with the Incident Lead