COVID Champions Update – 4th March 2021
Surrey Heath Borough latest COVID-19 information
Please see this week’s Surrey Heath Covid Champions update its good news COVID-19 figures are decreasing in all boroughs.
Key messages this week:
Borough Update:
- In the last 7 days*, there have been 51 positive coronavirus tests recorded in Surrey Heath, with a 35% decrease compared to last weeks’ figures (79 cases).
- Whilst Surrey Heath has stayed in the same position on the table, having the 3rd highest rates in Surrey, Surrey as a whole continues to drop in case numbers. With a collective decrease of 38% in all positive cases of coronavirus in the last 7 days* across all of Surrey, the total recorded number is now at 545.
- With this good news, and so many green arrows on the table, it is important to encourage people to continue to ‘act as though they have the virus’ and follow the ‘hands, face, space’ guidance to continue the fight against the virus.
- The daily coronavirus updates for Surrey can be accessed here.
*Data shown for time period Sunday 21st to Saturday 27th February 2021
Local updates:
Frimley:
- The COVID-19 vaccination services across Frimley Health & Care have now administered more than 200,000 doses to local people. 204,436 to be exact. Amazing achievement & they’re reaching more people every day.
- Frimley Health Care publishes regular vaccination updates, showing the progress, their website also has up-to-date, helpful FAQs section.
- Updates are also published on the Frimley Heath & Care Twitter and Facebook pages at: @FrimleyHC and @FrimleyHealthandCare.
Surrey Heartlands:
- A FAQs section and an infographic showing progress – 285,000 first jabs, may be found on the Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group website.
- Surrey Heartlands publishes regular Vaccination Programme Updates, the latest is 25 Feb.
- There is a Surrey Heartlands vaccination helpline for the public (not a vaccine booking service): 0300 561 2500 (9am-4pm, Mon-Fri) or syheartlandsccg.vaccination@nhs.net.
Schools reopening – All schools due to reopen on 8th March 2021
- Twice-weekly asymptomatic testing for: Secondary school pupils, Staff in education settings and Households, bubbles, carers.
- Lateral flow (LFD) rapid tests are issued out – self-swabs for people aged 12+ but parents can assist/ supervise 11-year-olds. These tests are on top of hygiene measures, e.g., hands, face and space – masks should be worn indoors by pupils in Year 7+ unless they are medically exempt.
- Your school will advise you of its individual policies – Updated Government guidance for parents/carers and schools is available.
- Schools can call Department for Education helpline 0800 046 8687 (Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00).
- Anyone in the same household or bubble as a secondary school pupil or someone who works in a school or college can collect a Home Testing kit from a collection point (not one of the Target Community Testing sites) or order one for home delivery: COVID-19 Testing for households and bubbles of school pupils and staff – Surrey County Council.
Reducing Health Inequalities
- Unpaid carers and people with learning disabilities have been added to Cohort 6 (next group) for vaccine.
- People who are homeless in Surrey are being offered vaccinations for both the flu and COVID-19.
- Report: identifying and tackling Covid-19 disparities.
- Vaccine reduces severe COVID in older adults.
- UK Charities are working together to boost vaccine uptake in people with long-term health conditions.
- Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum (SMEF) ran a Zoom discussion on 6 Mar on vaccine uptake in Black communities, facilitated by BAME doctors.
- Resources on engaging with South Asian people are available via the South Asian Health Foundation.
- Information about COVID-19 Vaccine scams in South Asian languages.
- If you haven’t already, please share the video of BAME celebrities promoting the vaccine.