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Warning to Marine FC fans ahead of this weekends game

SEFTON Council are reminding Marine FC fans not to head to the football ground, on Merseyside, this weekend. A spokesperson for Sefton Council said:- "There are many residents across the borough who are, understandably, extremely excited for Marine FC's FA Cup 3rd Round game against Tottenham Hotspur this Sunday. However, we must remind people about the current National Lockdown Restrictions to 'Stay At Home' and we warn fans not gather around the Marine Travel Arena area immediately before, during or after the game. Residents are also reminded that they are forbidden from socialising indoors or in private gardens with anyone who is not in your household or support bubble. We have been working closely with Merseyside Police in the planning and preparation for the game and residents should know that there will be police offers patrolling the area. Anyone wishing to show their support for Marine FC can do so by taking part in their virtual match ticket raffle which will help to replace lost revenue. Tickets cost:- ₤10 and can be purchased at:- MarineFC.KTCKTS.Com."

Test centres to be targeted at the frontline

LIVERPOOL'S Testing Centres for people without Coronavirus symptoms are to be targeted at frontline workers during the lockdown. The sites will be available to be used by those such as NHS and care workers, school staff, supermarket employees and delivery drivers; who cannot work from home and have to have physical contact with others because of the nature of their roles. Unpaid carers are also included. Find your nearest centre, opening hours and how busy it currently is at:- Liverpool.Gov.UK/SmartTesting . Anyone who had Coronavirus symptoms:- a high temperature, new continuous cough or loss of taste and smell;� should not go to one of the centres but should self isolate immediately and book a test at a PCR site by calling:- 119 or visiting:- Gov.UK/get-Coronavirus-Test.

Director of Public Health, Matthew Ashton, said:- "Our lateral flow Testing Centres have proved hugely popular over the Christmas and New Year period, with over 31,500 tests carried out in the last week of December 2020. However, in the light of the new lockdown which means most people should be working from home and strictly limiting their trips outside, we are now asking that the centres are used by people who are on the frontline in essential roles. This will give them some reassurance that they are clear of the virus, and an early indication if they have contracted it before they develop symptoms. Those who do test positive should have it confirmed with a follow up PCR test."

RMT announces dispute with Stena Line over Pandemic sick pay

FERRIES Union RMT have confirmed that it was in dispute with Stena Line over the company's failure to address seafarers' and dockers' long standing concerns over sick pay which have been ongoing since the start of the Pandemic. RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash, has said:- "RMT members on Stena Line Ferries and ports are among the key workers who will once again be straining every sinew to keep our maritime supply lines running as the resurgent Coronavirus threatens our National Health Service, schools and jobs. At the start of March 2020 lockdown Stena Line cut the sick pay scheme agreed with unions and our members are tired of Stena's excuses which continue to put crews, dockers and Customer Service staff in an unacceptable position. In December there was an outbreak of Covid19 amongst crew on the Stena Edda between Birkenhead and Belfast, yet the company continues to deny our members' demands over sick pay. RMT remains available for talks, but we are clear that our members should no longer be forced to choose between poverty or going to work when they might have Coronavirus."

LGA responds to latest test and trace figures

RESPONDING to the publication of the latest NHS Test and Trace and Coronavirus testing figures for the week ending 30 December 2020, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association's Community Wellbeing Board, said:- "With daily infection rates and deaths from coronavirus at their highest ever level, we urgently need to be picking up as many contacts of people who test positive, as quickly as possible. Councils know their communities best, with nearly 9 in 10 setting up contact tracing teams across the country to work with the national system and successfully find many hard to reach cases, while also helping to ensure as many people as possible can get vaccinated. But they continue to need greater support with testing and tracing, including on communication, capacity and workforce, alongside better and faster information on who they should be trying to contact, if we are to finally get on top of this surge."

Local health protection teams reached 99.8% of contacts of cases managed by them in the week to 30 December 2020, while 92.3% of close contacts of those managed online or by call centres were also reached and asked to self isolate.

Financial support for workers in new lockdown essential, says Bill Esterson MP

DUE to forecasted adverse weather conditions affecting the railway, Merseyrail is not expecting to be able to run a train service on Friday, 8 January 2020. People should stay at home and work from home if they can. Customers who do need to travel, for example key workers, are strongly advised to make alternative travel arrangements. Rail replacement buses will not be in operation due to the scale of disruption, however season tickets will be accepted on Arriva, Stagecoach and Mersey Ferries. If conditions improve, attempts will be made to run services if possible and passengers are advised to check @merseyrail on Twitter and the website regularly before travelling to a Station.

Andy Heath, Managing Director at Merseyrail, said:- "We have been working hard over the last few weeks, to prepare the network for adverse winter weather conditions, covering the rail with anti ice and running trains throughout the night to keep the lines clear. Through previous experiences when, following the anti icing, we incur a combination of snow, sleet and rain fall on our electrified third rail as is forecasted, this can result in a new layer of ice which electricity cannot pass through and trains are unable to operate. As a result of this, we believe it is highly likely that trains will not operate on Friday. We hope that this advance notice will give passengers enough time to make alternative travel arrangements. We will be continuously working with Network Rail to run services as soon as is safely possible and apologise for any inconvenience this will cause our passengers."

Covid19 timetable changes announcement, since the introduction of national restrictions within England, from 5 January 2021, Merseyrail will be making changes to its timetables as as follows:-

► From Sunday, 10 January 2020, services on the Southport and Hunts Cross lines will return to a 30 minute frequency Monday to Sunday.

► The West Kirby and New Brighton lines will be running at a 45 minute frequency, on Sundays. These lines will continue to operate every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday, with a 15 minute service between Birkenhead North and Liverpool.

The timetable across the rest of the Merseyrail network continues to operate as follows:-

► Ormskirk line; every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday.

► Kirkby line; every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday.

► Chester and Ellesmere Port lines; every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday (15 minute service between Hooton and Liverpool)

► Trains will be operating as 6 cars wherever possible across the network.

Government issued travel advice is that passengers should only travel if they need to, and if travelling, to do so with confidence by planning ahead, avoiding busy times and routes where possible, and wearing a face covering while travelling (unless exempt). Further information on Government guidance on travel can be found at:- Gov.UK.

It is likely that there will be further amendments to the timetable and we would encourage all customers to check always before they travel. Full timetable information and Covid19 travel advice can be found here:- Merseyrail.Org

Andy Heath, Managing Director at Merseyrail, said:- "This new period of national restrictions means less passengers travelling with us but also a significant impact on the resources we have available to run our services. As a result, we have needed to make the difficult decision to amend our timetables. Whilst we understand these changes may inconvenience some of our passengers, they are essential to ensure that we are able to run a safe, reliable and efficient service for those that need to travel during this challenging time. If you are travelling on the Merseyrail network, I'd urge you to follow Government travel advice and remember to wear a face covering at all times unless exempt to help keep everyone safe."

Total UK cases Covid19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region

THE total number of UK Coronavirus (Covid19) infections that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK, has risen by:- 52,618 cases and the total number now stand at:- 2,889,419 that includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National totals.

The total number of Covid19 associated UK fatalities added to the total, was sadly reported to be:- 1,162, within 28 days of positive test, according to the Department of Health. The total number of deaths of people who have had a positive test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS laboratory is:- 78,508, within 28 days of positive test. Deaths with Covid19 on the death certificate:- 82,624.

The number of Covid19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 30,370. The current number of Covid19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 2,821 Daily number of Covid19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 3,600.

In England, there are a total of:- 2,497,824 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 408,394 confirmed cases.

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-

Area and number of confirmed cases:- Risen by:-

Liverpool City Region

Nation Lockdown

National UK Restrictions

► Liverpool, 31,971 confirmed cases.
854

► Halton, 7,272 confirmed cases.
267

► Knowsley, 10,634 confirmed cases. 361

► Sefton, 14,633 confirmed cases.
483

► St. Helens, 10,132 confirmed cases.
198

► Wirral, 15,027 confirmed cases.

558

Colour Key:- 0 1 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to100 101 over

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within Local Authorities around the Liverpool City Region, since start of the Pandemic, are as follows:-

► Blackburn with Darwen, 12,741 confirmed cases.

► Blackpool, 6,670 confirmed cases.

► Bolton, 18,102 confirmed cases.

► Bury, 12,444 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire East, 13,930 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire West and Chester, 13,990 confirmed cases.

► Lancashire, 65,525 confirmed cases.

► Manchester, 37,931 confirmed cases.

► Oldham, 17,571 confirmed cases.

► Preston, 9,140 confirmed cases.

► Rochdale, 15,566 confirmed cases.

► Salford, 16,314 confirmed cases.

► Stockport, 13,780 confirmed cases.

► Tameside, 12,599 confirmed cases.

► Trafford, 11,521 confirmed cases.

► Warrington, 11,874 confirmed cases

► Wigan, 20,710 confirmed cases.

Total UK people who have received vaccination

1.26 million in England - 113,000 in Scotland
49,000 in Wales - 46,000 in Northern Ireland

1st Dose 2nd Dose

1,296,432 21,313

The vaccination programme began on 8 December 2020 with people receiving the vaccine developed by Pfizer/BioNTech, and people began receiving the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine from 4 January 2021. Both vaccines are given as 2 doses, at least 21 days apart, for a full vaccination course.

Daily reported Covid19 deaths are now measured across the UK as deaths that occurred within 28 days of the 1st laboratory confirmed positive Covid19 test. Daily and cumulative numbers of Covid19 patients admitted to Hospital. Data are not updated every day by all 4 nations and the figures are not comparable as Wales include suspected Covid19 patients while the other nations include only confirmed cases.

The latest R number is estimated at:- 1.1 to 1.3 with a daily infection growth rate range of:- +1% to +6%, as of 23 December 2020.