COVID-19 Faith Conference Call 1 April 2020 5:00 – 6:00pm

Agenda

Introduction to GoToWebinar Siobhan Bassford To explain how to ask questions WMCA

Introduction to the subject and panel Andy Street Mayor of the

COVID-19 in the West Midlands Dr Justin Varney Director of Public Health at

The NHS in the West Midlands Dr William Taylor Deputy Chief Medical Officer Birmingham and CCG

West Midlands Response Nick Page The current structures in place for a Local Resilience Forum response in the region

Economic Response Deborah Cadman What the WMCA is doing to tackle COVID-19 Chief Executive of the WMCA

The Faith Community Amrick Ubhi What support faith leaders can provide Co-Chair of the Mayor and Faith their communities Conference Steering Group

Q&A

Summary and Next Steps Andy Street

Summary

Businesses & Employment • National Government has introduced a lot of changes in the last two weeks. The Economic Impact Group has been meeting regularly to stay on top of the developments. • WM REDI’s intelligence reveals that in a worst-case scenario, 1 in 3 businesses may be forced to shut as a result of the outbreak. The WMCA is working with local authorities and LEPs to prevent this from happening, improving resilience across the economy. • Local authorities are also working to accelerate access to grants and funds for local businesses, including redeploying staff to make this process as quick as possible. • The Government will continue to help pay all workers’ wages. The Economic Contingency Group is aware that there are still some self-employed people who are not getting specific support, and the Mayor has been championing this cause with National Government. • The WMCA Covid-19 Support micro-site provides guidance and resources to support with a whole range of issues: https://beta.wmca.org.uk/what-we-do/covid-19-support/

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Charities & Communities • Thousands of people have been mobilised to assist and support through community, charity and faith channels. • The WMCA Community Support Hub showcases a range of organisations working to tackle the Coronavirus crisis, from micro-local Whatsapp groups to national charities: https://beta.wmca.org.uk/the-mayor/community-support-hub/ • Voluntary Sector organisations like BVSC are working to match individual volunteers with volunteering opportunities. The WMCA is developing a ‘dating agency’ to help match volunteers and prioritise need across the region. • Practising good neighbourliness is also valuable community action. It’s important we stand in solidarity to make sure we are all there to support each other. • There are several sectors in our economy that are particularly vulnerable during the Covid- 19 outbreak, and this includes voluntary and community organisations. The WMCA and local authorities are working with organisations like BVSC to support voluntary groups across the region. • Charities are encouraged to repurpose funds to focus on essential spending. It’s also important to record minutes correctly when it has not been possible to hold essential meetings such as AGMs in the usual way.

Faith Groups • Faith groups have a role as community leaders to share the correct information, to promote the practice of social distancing and to manage anxiety and panic. • Faith groups also have an active role to play with the Local Resilience Forums, through conversations and conferences. • The WMCA has worked with faith leaders and local police on a united response to fake news. Please see and share the statement here: https://www.wmca.org.uk/news/west- midlands-religious-groups-keep-the-faith-during-coronavirus-crisis/ • Religions for Peace has also issued a statement on the importance of unity and the work of faith groups: https://rfp.org/a-joint-statement-urgent-action-needed-to-prevent-covid-19/

Medical Advice • We are currently seeing an increasing number of cases and deaths. This is to be expected – we still need a few weeks to see if social distancing is working as anticipated. Please continue to promote social distancing: this is the surest way to help the NHS. • The latest scientific modelling shows that up to 80% of the population may catch the virus, and up to 1% of those may die. This means 80% of the population over the cause of the outbreak, not at any one time – and that is why it is key to practice social distancing to protect the NHS. • Around 900,000 people are on the Chief Medical Officer’s list of the most vulnerable. The vast majority of those people have now been contacted. However, if you think you should be on that list but have not yet received a letter, contact your GP and ask for confirmation. • The recommended period for self-isolation is 7 days as you are most infectious for the first 7 days after you get symptoms. 4 out of 5 people won’t develop severe symptoms and start to recover after 4 or 5 days. It is important to practice social distancing and maintain the 2m rule at all times. • There is no evidence whatsoever of coronavirus being linked to 5G.

The NHS & Testing • GPs and Hospitals are amalgamating outpatient resources and converting to telephone and video appointments where possible to protect the most vulnerable patients. • Distributing PPE gear to NHS staff is a huge logistical task but supplies of PPE are now getting out to where they are needed.

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• The national Government is working to increase testing capacity in the UK. Testing will first be rolled out to NHS workers, then key workers (e.g. social care and the police) and then the general public. The first local testing station is being set up in Edgbaston for UHB staff.

West Midlands Resilience • The Strategic Coordination Group (SCG)is linking key agencies with the voluntary sector to enable critical services to continue. In addition to this, the National NHS volunteer service is working to provide support across the region where needed. • Local authorities and third-sector organisations are working in partnership to support the most vulnerable, including helping homeless people into accommodation. • The most vulnerable groups are now receiving food drops directly to their homes, supported by local government and the faith and voluntary sector. • Local authorities are working to improve the distribution of PPE gear to social care providers. The WMCA and SCG are in conversation with national Government to speed up this process. • In the West Midlands, authorities are using encouragement via social media to reinforce messages about social distancing and enforcement powers to close non-essential businesses. • There is going to be a temporary mortuary facility at Birmingham Airport, and work has begun on the Nightingale hospital at the NEC. The NEC is an ideal location, and work is progressing quickly with the involvement of colleagues across the health sector.

Follow Up We are keen to hold these Covid-19 Faith webinars more often. The next conference will be held on Wednesday 8 April – please look out for a diary invitation with more details.

The WMCA Community Support Hub

The WMCA has launched an online Community Support Hub. With information about all the brilliant charity, faith and community organisations across the West Midlands, it’s a helpful starting point for those looking for support and those looking for somewhere to offer their help during the Coronavirus outbreak: https://beta.wmca.org.uk/the-mayor/community-support-hub/

If you know of an organisation that should be added to the Hub, please submit your details via email to: [email protected] Community Champions

Alongside the Support Hub, the WMCA has launched a Community Champions blog. This blog will showcase some inspiring stories, tips and best practice ideas for community and faith groups helping to tackle the Coronavirus crisis: https://beta.wmca.org.uk/the-mayor/community-support- hub/community-champions/ If you have a story that you’d like to be featured, please get in touch: [email protected] Covid-19 Faith & Community Web Hubs

The WMCA wants to connect faith groups in small web hubs to share ideas and inspiration and forge links with community leaders. If you are interested in being a part of the scheme, please complete the form attached and send to: [email protected]

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