This is my latest roundup of local news and Coronavirus updates for Hunslet and Riverside residents. . There are several links to more detailed information from the Government, the Council and others within the post. In this update you will find:
[1] Covid-19 Cases, Mortality, Infection Rates and Outbreak Management
[2] Covid-19 Clinically Extremely Vulnerable
[3] Covid-19 Business Support Grant Schemes
[4] Covid-19 Leeds Contact Tracing Advisory Service
[5] Covid-19 Testing Sites
[6] Covid-19 Vaccination Plan
[7] Covid-19 Leeds Compliance and Enforcement
[8] Covid-19 Impact on Environmental Services
[9] Student Christmas Plans
[10] Leeds City Centre Christmas Lights
[11] Tackling Islamophobia
[12] Leeds Bus Service Changes
[13] Support Your Local Indie
[14] BuyLeeds
[15] MICE Grants
[16] In the News
[17] Latest Councillor Newsletter
[18] My Meetings and Visits
[19] Upcoming Community Events and Meetings
Previous updates can be found here: Local News Summary. Thank you for reading in advance. Just to mention this website is not paid for by the Council. Please consider making a donation now to support it.
[1] Covid-19 Cases, Mortality, Infection Rates and Outbreak Management
In Leeds – the latest 7 day infection rate is 441 per 100,000. This figure has reduced by 1% over the last week. The Leeds 7 day positivity remains the same as yesterday at 15.8%. The latest Leeds case rate for 60+ years is 408 per 100,000. The 7 day change in the case rate for 60+ years is -3%.
We have now had 864 Covid-19 related deaths registered in the city since March:
847 (98%) were Leeds residents
512 (59.26%) were in hospitals
294 (34.03%) were in care homes
20 (2.31%) in a hospice
38 (4.40%) in the home
The pattern of outbreaks is what we would expect given the level of community transmission across the city. There are 42 care homes and 1 hospice in Leeds reporting cases of Covid-19 and 8 business premises with cases reported. All services continue to work proactively to support these settings.
The current position in schools is that there are: 7999 students are self-isolating; 607 staff members are self-isolating; 119 Bubbles or year groups have been collapsed; 34 secondary schools have live cases; 103 primary schools have live cases; 3 Special schools/sites have live cases
We know that this second lockdown is particularly hard for many people and businesses. With our infection rate at 441 per 100,000 and positivity standing at 15.8%, the expectation is that at the end of the second lockdown on the 2nd December, Leeds will re-enter a Tier with restrictions unless case rates and positivity changes dramatically. We don’t know the details of this but will keep you updated. Please help us by continuing to emphasise the need to reduce contact, and these simple messages through your communications and networks:
Make space and stay 2m away from people you do not live with;
Wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds;
Cover your face in enclosed spaces; and
Isolate when you need to/are advised to, and getting a test if you have symptoms
[2] Covid-19 Clinically Extremely Vulnerable: For those part of the revised shielding group, information on how this impacts you can support can be found online here.
[3] Covid-19 Business Support Grant Schemes: The application form for the mandatory grants relating to the national restrictions is now live and can be found here. The enquiry form to register interest in other schemes is here at the bottom of the page.
[4] Covid-19 Leeds Contact Tracing Advisory Service: Working with PHE, we are rapidly establishing a local contact tracing service to complement the national system. Our local contact tracing service will complement the national system through providing a local, targeted service ensuring that people who need to isolate are referred to local support services if necessary. Its seven principles are:
The service will add value to the national system and be complementary not separate.
It will prioritise the vulnerable and those with increased risk factors, and those living in the top 10% of deprived areas.
It will use the best available expertise and resources.
It will integrate with local testing models to provide greatest added value to local testing in Leeds.
Will be a fully integrated telephone based service operated from the LCC Contact Centre under the leadership of the DPH.
Will identify if any additional local support is required and refer into existing community engagement work.
High risk settings response to outbreaks and clusters will be supported. “Contact tracing is everyone’s business” is a possible hook.
If the national system cannot make contact with a local resident after 1 day, their details will be passed onto the local service to help find additional contacts. We will use local knowledge and data if the national process has been unable to contact someone. Residents will be given advice and guidance to help them isolate for the required length of time. The officer will also ask if the resident needs any support or help delivered through the contact centre or a community hub.
[5] Covid-19 Testing Sites: Here is a reminder of the link to get testing information
[6] Covid-19 Vaccination Plan: The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has asked regions to have an operational plan in place to prepare for a Covid-19 vaccine by 1 December as part of a national programme. It has been agreed for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to be the lead provider for West Yorkshire. Learning from and building on the Leeds Seasonal Flu Vaccination Plan, work has begun to develop the Leeds Covid-19 Vaccination Plan, ensuring strong alignment between the two.
[7] Covid-19 Leeds Compliance and Enforcement: In October:
234 businesses and workplaces were provided with Covid-19 advice and guidance
270 local shops and retailers were visited and provided Covid-19 advice and guidance
50 workplaces were assisted control and contain workplace outbreaks
11 Fixed Penalty Notices were issued of £1000
4 Direction Orders were issued to prohibit or restrict events taking place
[8] Covid-19 Impact on Environmental Services: Please see the attached FAQ.
[9] Student Christmas Plans: The Government has released its plans for students returning home for the Christmas period via phased, planned travel immediately after the national lockdown has lifted. The Council are working through the practical application of this in Leeds.
[10] Leeds City Centre Christmas Lights: The Leeds city centre Christmas lights switch-on will be taking place on 2 December and will be held virtually this year. Any plans to switch on district lights prior to 2 December should also be virtual. Any community involvement would likely now breach the current restrictions.
[11] Tackling Islamophobia: Please also see our press release pledging to join with partners across the city to protect people in Leeds from experiencing Islamophobia.
[12] Leeds Bus Service Changes: A summary of the changes can be found here.
[13] Support Your Local Indie: This will be a website providing a categorised, searchable city-wide directory of businesses open for take away and click-and-collect orders over the course of the lockdown.
[14] BuyLeeds: This new campaign encouraging Leeds residents to buy local and support our local businesses.
[15] MICE Grants: This week I agreed the following grants:
[16] In the News
Radio Interview with Greatest Hits UK on the Cladding Scandal (still to be published)
[17] Latest Councillor Newsletter: Here is a digital copy of our latest newsletter.
[18] My Meetings and Visits:
[19] Upcoming Community Events and Meetings:
17/11/20: Leeds Dock Residents Meeting (Zoom)
19/11/20: LS10 Lockdown Lives (Zoom)
20/11/20: Ask Your Councillor (Live Stream - Past event can be re-watched here)
If you have a community event you'd like me to share, please let me know. The events must be non-party political and for the whole community. I'll also offer to host the Facebook event page if your group does not have its own Facebook Page etc. to do so.
Thank you for reading in this weekly update. This website is not paid for by the Council and costs time and money to run. Please support it by making a donation now.