This is my latest roundup of Coronavirus and local news updates for Hunslet and Riverside residents. There are several links to more detailed information from the Government, Council and others within the post and links to past updates. Coronavirus Updates
Cases and Mortality
Self-isolation Pre-Operation
Leeds Infraction Rates
Shielding and the Clinically Vulnerable Guidance
Faith Groups and PPE
New powers to Public Health Officers
Covid-19 Prevalence Survey
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Corridors
Emergency Loans and Grants for the Arts
Latest Government Economic Support
Guidance for Employers on Taxable Expenses and Benefits
My Back to School Bubble
Residents Meetings
Live Events
Dewsbury Hub Reopens
Hunslet Stabbing
Dewsbury Road Stabbing
Beeston Hill Bin Yards
Church Street Playground
New Litter Bins
Previous updates can be found here: Local News Summary
Coronavirus Updates
Cases and Mortality: In Leeds as of 17:00 on the 10 July the number of confirmed cases within Leeds stood at 3,632. Sadly, there has been 645 covid-19 related deaths in the city and to date, 25% of all deaths registered have been covid-19 related. Of these:
633 (98%) were Leeds residents
354 (55%) were in hospitals
257 (40%) were in care homes
12 (2%) in a hospice,
22 (3%) in their own home
Self-isolation Pre-Operation: people due to have an operation will need to self-isolate for two weeks in advance. The attached briefing document highlights key information and advice.
14 Day Self-isolation Employer Suggestions
Leeds Infection Rates: The latest 7 day new infection rate for Leeds is down to 5.7 per 100,000- this has continued to fall for 10 days, and infection rates across Yorkshire and Humber, including Bradford, are also coming down, which is encouraging although we don’t want to be complacent. Self-isolation Pre-Operation: people due to have an operation will need to self-isolate for two weeks in advance. The attached briefing document highlights key information and advice. Shielding and the Clinically Vulnerable Guidance: On 6 July, the guidance for those who are shielding changed. By way of reminder, the following now applies:
Those shielding no longer need to socially distance from people they live with.
If they want to, they can meet in a group of up to 6 people outdoors, including people from other households.
They may also form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household if they want to, but one of the households in the ‘support bubble’ should be a single adult household (either an adult living alone or with children under 18 only).
Those shielding can still get a food box, care and/or medicine delivery via the national system until 31 July if they want them, and if they have registered online by 17 July.
Children and young people should continue to shield until 31 July, after which it is anticipated that the majority will no longer be advised to shield. This will be determined by a clinical discussion with a paediatric specialist or GP before any child or young person is removed from the shielded patient list. Specialists and GPs will be asked to contact children and their families to discuss this over the summer, so families do not need to take any immediate action.
Faith Groups and PPE: To support with the safe reopening of places of worship, Leeds Faith Hub are distributing free face coverings for faith groups. These were kindly donated by Morgan King, a local recruitment company. Most of the 1000 face coverings have already been distributed, but there are a small number left- faith groups can contact leedsfaith@leeds.gov.uk to put in a request. We are also offering PPE items for sale to faith groups at cost price- queries and orders can be placed via ppeorders@leeds.gov.uk. New powers to Public Health Officers: They may now direct, remove or request a constable to remove an individual to a place suitable for screening and assessment, for up to 48 hours if they are deemed potentially infectious. Following this assessment, PHO’s can impose requirements and restrictions on the individual. Guidance can be found here. Covid-19 Prevalence Survey: The survey is a pilot study that provides the first estimate of the extent of COVID-19 infections among domiciliary care workers in England. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Corridors: an updated list of countries and territories from where you can return to England and may not have to self-isolate can be found here.
General Updates
Emergency Loans and Grants for the Arts: The Government has announced a £1.57 billion rescue package for arts, culture and heritage institutions through a combination of emergency grants and loans. Latest Government Economic Support: The Chancellor has made the following announcements:
The jobs retention Bonus – a £1,000 incentive scheme to encourage employers to bring furloughed staff back to work.
A new three point plan; supporting people to find jobs, creating jobs and protecting jobs.
A new £2 billion “kickstart jobs scheme” that will pay employers to create new jobs for 16-24 year olds.
£3 billion green investment package, including a Green Homes Grant that will provide vouchers for people to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
The stamp duty threshold will increase immediately to £500,000 until 31st March 2021.
A VAT cut for the hospitality sector to 5% for 6 months in hotel and holiday accommodation and admission to certain attractions.
A 50% discount for people eating at restaurants, that include takeaways, catering services for private functions, room service in hotels and mobile food vans or trailers.
The Recovery Advice for Business scheme; free, one-to-one advice with an expert adviser for small businesses delivered by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and hosted on the Enterprise Nation website. Guidance can be found here.
Guidance for Employers on Taxable Expenses and Benefits: the guidance for where these are paid to employees because of coronavirus, and how to report them to HMRC, has been updated. If employers are providing testing kits to their employees, outside of the government’s national testing scheme, either directly or by purchasing tests that are carried out by a third party, no Income Tax or Class 1A National Insurance contributions will be due. My Back to School Bubble: This has been created by the e-Bug team and aims to help children understand the new protective measures that may be in place at their school, in an age-appropriate way. It reinforce public health messages including the importance of hand and respiratory hygiene, while reassuring children that everyone makes mistakes, helping to combat feelings of anxiety, that have been reported by parents. The published story is available as a free download and can be found alongside our other COVID-19 resources on the e-Bug website.
Ward Updates
Dewsbury Hub Reopens: One of our wards hubs has opened in the first phase of the reopening of our libraries and community centre. More details can be found here. Hunslet Stabbing: The double stabbing in the Hunslet Carr area is deeply shocking. If you have any information you think is important, please contact the police. More details can be found here. This is unrelated to the stabbing on Dewsbury Road. Dewsbury Road Stabbing: The setting of a minor is also of deep shock. Again, if you have information, please contact the police. More details can be found here. This is unrelated to the stabbing in Hunslet Car. Beeston Hill Bin Yards: The current phase of bin yard improvements is near completions. Once the Euro Bins are installed, the wheelie bins on the relevant streets will be removed. This will free up the paths for residents and improve the overall feel of the area. Plans are in place to deal with an “side” waste and to remove fly-tipping if this happens. Church Street Playground: Work has restarted at this Hunslet Playground. Once done, the £50,000 upgrade will provide a safer and more fun environment for local children. New Litter Bins: Our ambition to reduce litter across the ward continue. We have agreed a new batch of 21 litter bins to help reduce litter in even more areas of the ward. More details are here. We still have a long wish list but need to do these in batch to allow staff to incorporate the new bins in to their routes. More will follow.
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