30 October 2020 Global situation Globally the rate of growth in detection of Covid-19 has increased with around 500,000 cases identified each day, this recent growth is driven largely by an increase in new cases identified in Europe. The total number of infections now exceeds 44 million. Around 6,000 Covid-19 deaths are reported each day, this has increased over the last two weeks. There have been 1,180,000 deaths associated with COVID-19 reported across the world. With the USA, Europe and South America hardest hit. National situation The UK has reported another 153,050 confirmed cases in the last week and now exceeds 942,000 in total, with deaths rising this week by 1,517 bringing the total figure to date of 45,675. The number of daily reported deaths is increasing. Over 300 deaths have been reported in each of the last two days, these are the highest numbers since the end of May. This is however lower than the peak of over 1,000 per day. Covid-19 positive rates are increasing across the country with the England rate moving from 176 per 100,000 in the week ending the 19 October to 213 in the week ending 26 October. The North West of England continues to see an increase from a rate of 381 to a rate of 415 per 100,000 in the last week. There is an increase in the number of people being admitted to hospital, with the daily 7-day average increasing from 923 to 1,060 in the last week. Local situation Cases have been confirmed across all age groups with most cases between the ages of 18 and 60, with a particular peak in the 18-21 age group in Warrington. Covid-19 cases in the BAME population are proportionate in relation to overall population. Cases are distributed proportionately across different areas of deprivation in both Warrington and Halton. Geographically, the cases are concentrated in the centre and west of Warrington and in the areas of greatest population density in Runcorn and Widnes. Halton Brook in Runcorn has a particularly high rate of new cases this is linked to an outbreak at a care home in the area. Actions being taken locally NHS Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Halton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Halton Borough Council and Warrington Borough Council are working closely with local NHS providers, Public Health England (PHE), NHS England and other partner organisations, and are well prepared to deal with any outbreak. In response to the increasing numbers of confirmed cases locally the system Health Protection Board has reconvened the fortnightly meetings, led by the respective Local Authority Directors of Public Health for Halton and Warrington. The membership of the group includes senior representatives from NHS Warrington CCG, NHS Halton CCG, Warrington Borough Council, Halton Borough Council, Public Health, the main health providers and Health Watch. The local incident control structures are stepping back up appropriately in order to oversee and co-ordinate the response. Our priority is on protecting the most vulnerable living the community and those who are at most risk, whilst at the same time continue to ensure that local services continue to run and provide those essential services to our communities. New confirmed cases of coronavirus Current date Previous situation Halton 27 October • 20 October - 436 confirmed • There have been 402 cases. confirmed cases of COVID-19 • 13 October - 441 confirmed in Halton residents in the last 7 cases days (to 27 October). • 6 October - 475 confirmed • The 7 day rate is 311 per cases 100,000 population (to 27 • 29 September – 285 October). confirmed cases • The weekly rate of positive • 18 September - 134 cases has remained high in the confirmed cases last week, as we have seen across all local authorities in Cheshire & Merseyside. However, we have seen a slight decrease in the Halton numbers during the past week. • In total there have been 3,461 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Halton residents (as of 30 October). • The percentage of people testing positive has remained high during the past week. [i] Data for the last 4 days may not be complete. Source: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/cases [ii] Source: Office for National Statistics Warrington 25 October • 10 October - 717 new confirmed cases of • In the seven days to 25 October, coronavirus. Warrington had 892 new cases, • 3 October - 516 confirmed equating to a seven day cases incidence rate of 424.7 per • 25 September - 396 100,000. This is well above the confirmed cases PHE threshold of 50 per 100,000. • 18 September - 214 confirmed cases Hospitals Current situation Previous situation Warrington 29 October 2020 22 October 2020 and Halton Teaching There are currently 145 inpatients • 111 Covid positive inpatients at Hospitals that tested positive for Covid-19 at the Trust, of which 14 are in NHS any time during their ICU admission*. At the peak of the Foundation • To date we have tested first wave this number was 124 (12 29,189 inpatients/community Trust April 2020) of which 1,809 have tested • Of these, there are positive (cumulative) currently 17 are in ICU • We have discharged • To date we have tested 540 patients 31,389 (cumulative) inpatients/community of • Sadly 168 patients have which 2,054 have tested died (cumulative) positive (cumulative) • We have discharged 584 patients (cumulative) • Sadly 188 patients have died (cumulative) *From 29 October 2020 we are reporting this data to enable exact comparison with position reported during the first wave. St Helens and As of 29 October, the Trust has 22 October - 113 positive COVID -19 Knowsley 117 positive COVID -19 inpatients. inpatients - 9 patients in ICU. Hospitals 8 patients are in ICU. NHS Trust Sadly, the total number of patients that Sadly, the total number of patients tested positive for COVID-19 and have that tested positive for COVID-19 died since the beginning of the outbreak and have died since the beginning is 254. of the outbreak is 278. Halton Borough Council New testing site The new Regional Testing Centre in Runcorn is expected to open on Wednesday, November 4. It will be open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, located at the Heath Business Park, Heath Road South Car Park, Runcorn, WA7 4QQ. People can book appointments, if they have symptoms, through www.gov.uk or by calling 119. In addition to this, the network of new Local Testing Sites gives Directors of Public Health in each of the nine boroughs in Cheshire and Merseyside, one or more semi- permanent facilities on their doorstep to get local people tested when they need to. There is also a fleet of nine Mobile Testing Sites which are deployed across Cheshire and Merseyside to help in priority areas and where there are specific outbreaks. As the Liverpool City Region moved into Tier 3 restrictions the prevalence of the virus meant that more people are experiencing symptoms need to be tested. More capacity across the national laboratories has also come on-line meaning it is much easier to book an appointment for a test than ever before. The new Regional Testing Site in Runcorn is in addition to the existing regional centres at Haydock Park in Newton-le-Willows, and John Lennon Airport in Liverpool. Remembrance Sunday With Halton on the ‘very high’ Covid alert level, outdoor commemoration events planned for Remembrance Sunday on 8 November have been cancelled to help to reduce the spread of coronavirus in our community. Instead of the traditional parade and commemoration at the war memorials in Runcorn and Widnes, residents are instead being asked to pay their respects from their homes by pausing at home on Sunday 8 November at 11am to reflect and remember those who lost their lives to secure and protect our freedom. The Council will also be observing a two-minute silence on Armistice Day, at 11am on 11 November. Although the decision to cancel services applies to all outdoor commemorations, some local church services may still go ahead on the day in line with current social distancing protocols. In Halton, the Mersey Gateway Bridge will be lit in red to mark the day and a poppy flag will fly from civic buildings. The Council has also created a remembrance poster that residents may choose to display in their window at home and colour-in version for children. Free school meals Halton Borough Council ensured that anyone entitled to a free school meal and requested one could receive one over the half term school holiday. The Council provided picnic boxes of food sufficient for packed lunches for one child for a week. Funding support for taxi drivers Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which includes Halton, is to provide a fund of up to £1.5 million to the six local authorities in the city region to enable them to help cover the costs of licences for taxi drivers who have been severely impacted by COVID-19. The funding will be allocated proportionately to each local authority, according to the number of licenced taxi drivers in their area. The fund will enable local authorities to introduce schemes which benefit local taxi drivers in addition to what is available to them through national support schemes. The details of how the funding will be issued to taxi drivers are currently being finalised and further information will be available shortly on each local authority website. It is expected that payments will be made before Christmas. Warrington Borough Council It was announced over the weekend that there will be new national restrictions in place from Thursday 5 November.