Liverpool City Region COVID-19 Updates

YOU can get daily major and interesting news updates for the Liverpool City Region on our free email news service, via signing up on:- Formby Reporter. If you have any updates to send in or any views on the posts on here, please email us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

Sefton Council Leader welcomes introduction of new Covid19 Testing for people without symptoms

SEFTON Borough Council Leader Cllr Ian Maher has welcomed the news that Sefton is 1 of the Local Authorities where mass Coronavirus testing for people without symptoms is to be rolled out.

Cllr Maher said:- "I am delighted that people across our Borough are going to benefit from the new Lateral flow tests, have a turnaround time of under an hour. Although we have been limited with the number of tests and will only be able to test 10% of the population it�s another way of identifying people who have Coronavirus before they show symptoms. This will help reduce the number of people they might spread it to and in turn the overall the transmission rate. Sefton residents and people who work here who don�t have Coronavirus symptoms will be able to go and get a test. They will quickly receive a result, which hopefully confirms they don�t have COVID-19 and are not infectious. Those people who don�t have symptoms but who receive a positive test result, meaning they are infectious and could prevent a risk to any of their family, friends and colleagues who may be vulnerable, will then be able to isolate for the required period. By taking the tests regularly, people across the Borough will be able to monitor their condition, which will help to reduce infections rates and help pave the way back to some kind of normality in the future. Lateral flow tests have been available since Friday for people who live or are employed in Liverpool, including Sefton residents who work in the City."

Cllr Maher added:- "We have already secured significant Walk Through and Drive Through testing facilities in Sefton. Over the coming days we will learn lessons from Liverpool and decide how we deploy the tests. In the meantime, I would urge anyone who feels any of the symptoms of Coronavirus coming on, whether that�s a high temperature, a new cough or they lose their sense of smell or taste, it�s time to get a test straight away. The sooner people do this, the quicker they can find out if they are COVID positive and the more quickly they can start taking measures to isolate and protect the people around them.�

To make an appointment for a test people can call:- 119 or visit:- NHS.UK/Coronavirus.

Sefton has 4 Walk Through Test Centres for people who are showing Coronavirus symptoms, at:- Bootle Town Hall, Crosby Library, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall. And now, extra Mobile Coronavirus Testing Units are being deployed across the Borough.

Mobile Units are on site at Southport Esplanade Coach Park and in Litherland Sports Park and Aintree Race Course until:- Friday. 20 November 2020, apart from on Saturday, 14 November and Sunday, 15 November, and also at Maghull Town Hall, on Saturday, 14 November and Sunday, 15 November 2020.

Call for Coronavirus home testing kits to be returned quickly

THOUSANDS of home testing kits are being sent to people in Liverpool as part of the City�s mass Coronavirus testing pilot. Around 40,000 households across the City will be sent a kit with 3 PCR swab tests. So far 2,500 homes in L16 and 11,000 in L25 have been issued with kits.

Residents are asked to:-

► Register the kit by following the instructions.

► Choose up to three people in the household to take the test.

► Take it to the designated drop off point detailed in the package between 9am and 5pm, within 2 days of receiving it.

If they have already had a test at a mass Testing Centre, they can use the kit for their repeat test, but should leave at least 5 days between their 1st test and the 2nd. If they are shielding or cannot get to the collection point, they can arrange for a home collection by following the instructions in the pack.

They do not have to self isolate while they await a result unless:-

► They have any symptoms of Coronavirus (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)

► They�ve tested positive for Coronavirus.

► They live with someone who has symptoms or tested positive.

► Someone in their support bubble has symptoms or tested positive.

► They�re told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID19 app.

► They have arrived in the UK from a country with a high Coronavirus risk.

More information on the mass testing pilot is available at:- Liverpool.Gov.UK/Coronavirus.

Sharma smirk "appalling" says Bill Esterson MP

SEFTON Central MP Bill Esterson described as:- �appalling� a Cabinet Minister�s reaction to a question he posed in the House of Commons, branding the response the �Sharma smirk.� Mr Esterson asked a question in Parliament about the lack of financial support for the 3 million workers and businesses who have been excluded from all current and previous Coronavirus schemes. The question was answered by the Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi MP, but Secretary of State Alok Sharma sat nearby and appeared to smile and laugh when his colleague mentioned the extension of the self employed support grant scheme in his answer.

Mr Esterson asked in the debate on Tuesday (November 10):- �Many working people have been excluded since March 2020. They don�t qualify for furlough, they don�t qualify for the self employed scheme and their businesses don�t qualify for the grants. It�s no good the Government giving the mantra about Universal Credit. It won�t wash, because most people who have been excluded don�t qualify for universal credit either. The Government was right to U-turn over the injustice facing hungry children. So when is it going to fix the growing injustice faced by millions of excluded people in this country who just want to put food on the table for their children?�

Mr Zahawi, from the dispatch box, responded:- �I think the Government has put forward a comprehensive package of support, as we heard from the Secretary of State, for both individuals and businesses, and of course the self employed income support has been extended, but the support packages are not only about the welfare system, which has had an additional 9 billion actually put in to help people, but the bounce back loans, the tax deferrals, the rental support are all important parts, as well as mortgage holidays and other Business Support Grants through local Government.�

It was when Mr Zahawi mentioned the self employed support scheme being extended that the Business Secretary Mr Sharma appeared to smirk. In a series of tweets, Mr Esterson later wrote:- �A smirk is the only response the Business Secretary could muster when I asked him to fix the injustice facing millions of people who have not qualified for financial support since March.

�Many working people who have had no financial support since March, just want to put food on the table for their children. All they got today from the Business Secretary was a smirk. Alok Sharma's smirk says it all. It's his response to my question about the injustice faced by people who don't qualify for furlough, self employed scheme, Business Grants or Universal Credit @ExcludedUK @ForgottenLtd @ForgottenPAYE #SharmaSmirk�

And in a reference to the Manchester United footballer who this week secured free meals for children throughout the Christmas holiday period, Mr Esterson tweeted:- �Does @MarcusRashford need to become involved in this injustice too?� and �The Government u-turned on the injustice facing hungry children. When are they going to fix the injustice facing @ExcludedUK who want to put food on the table for their children?�

Mr Esterson said it was an insult to people who are struggling:- �What an appalling response from the Business Secretary. There are millions of people in the UK who have had no support at all from the Government since March; no work, no furlough, no grants, no Universal Credit. The only reason many have missed out is because they were between jobs in March, or because they are company directors paid via dividends, were newly self employed with no history of tax returns, or have savings above a certain limit. These people have bills to pay too. If PAYE workers need 80% of their normal pay, if the self employed are deemed to need 80% of their normal pay, then why does the Government judge it to be reasonable that these workers get zero?�

Debate on future of Small Breweries Relief sees cross party calls for Government to change course

IN what was an unusually lengthy and impassioned adjournment debate in Parliament last night, the Government faced heavy pressure on its proposed new policy which would hit many small independent breweries across the UK. The debate was led by Liz Saville Roberts MP, the Plaid Cymru Member of Parliament for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, who rallied cross-party calls for the Government to change course on Small Breweries Relief. Under Government proposals around 150 small independent breweries would see their tax bill rise and those not immediately effected may see their tax relief eroded over time, as the Government move to an annually reviewed:- �cash basis� for Small Breweries� Relief.

�I would like to thank Liz Saville Roberts MP for leading what was a very well attended and impassioned debate on this important issue, with a total of 16 MPs including the Minister speaking. Small breweries in the UK are suffering worse than most due to Covid lockdown measures and have not received the Government�s much lauded support for the hospitality industry, had access to hospitality grants, or had the business rates holiday extended to them; to now announce tax rises for some of the worst affected businesses shows a disregard for small business in the UK. MPs from across the UK and both sides of the House spoke about the small independent breweries� in their constituencies who will suffer under this policy, and I would urge the Government to reconsider its position and commit to no reduction in small breweries relief for those under 5,000hl; the current upper threshold for the full relief rate.� James Calder, SIBA Chief Executive.

"It's great to see MPs from across the political spectrum speak out about the harmful impact that these changes will have on our small brewers, and on choice for consumers. The strength of feeling on this matter is clear, and CAMRA stands with by the 50,000 concerned consumers who have already signed a petition to Parliament opposing the changes. This is a terrible time to plan to raise taxes for small brewers, and the effects will be disastrous for local and independent brewers, ultimately allowing global brands to further dominate bars across the UK." Tom Stainer, CAMRA Chief Executive. The Minister now has the chance to bolster our small breweries, to guarantee their future and to ensure that they can continue to serve their communities, create jobs and support the economy. I urge her to alter course and not to make changes to relief for any brewers below 5,000 hectolitres and not to introduce the cash basis, and by doing so to give hope to all our small breweries, in my constituency and beyond.� Liz Saville Roberts MP, speaking in the House of Commons last night.

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) have been working closely on this issue and are fully aligned in their agreement that any changes to:- �smooth the curve� of Small Breweries� Relief cannot come at the expense of breweries under the current 5,000hl threshold.

Letter to Editor:- "Local Council Candidate Praises Sefton Council for Acting on Concerns"

LOCAL Council Candidate, Mike Prendergast, standing for the Conservatives, in Dukes Ward, has praised Sefton Council for agreeing to carry out urgently needed road repair works along Westbourne Road. Following a request from Mike Prendergast, Sefton Council had previously stated that they did not believe the potholes and road surface damage along Westbourne Road, Birkdale required repairs. However, following pressure from Mike Prendergast and local residents, Sefton Council have started the repairs that were previously requested with the work due to be completed in the next few days. Mike Prendergast said:- "I am delighted that Sefton Council have listened to the concerns of residents and local campaigners like myself over the condition of large sections of Westbourne Road. We are all acutely aware of the extra challenges that all organisations, including Sefton Council, face during the pandemic and I would like to thank them for their continuing hard work. The route along Westbourne Road has been in a poor state of repair for a while and remains a fairly busy route for motorists and cyclists alike. I hope that the Highways Department will now turn their attention to the poor state of parts of Grosvenor Road which also require repairs. Our local infrastructure needs to be maintained and I want to thank all those involved in helping get these repairs carried out."

"Many farms could go out of business if transition is handled badly..." CLA warns rural MPs

THE Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has written to 200 rural MPs warning that the Government is not ready to begin the transition away from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). The organisation, which represents 30,000 landowners across England and Wales, first argued for a �public money for public goods� scheme over 10 years ago, but warns transitioning from the old system to the new is fraught with dangers, with many farmers fearing they could be put out of business if the transition is handled badly. The bulk of future investment will be through the new Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMS), but it will not be fully available to farmers for four years. Meanwhile, cuts to the old scheme will begin in January 2021. By the time ELMS is fully available, many family farms face losing 50% of the financial support they have previously received. Given even large farming enterprises operate on wafer thin margins, it seems clear many businesses will be put at risk.

Mark Bridgeman, President of the CLA, said:- "The Government�s aims of a more sustainable farming sector are noble; we support them fully. At a time of dramatic change, globally and domestically, this latest threat to farming risks plunging the sector into a new and entirely unnecessary crisis. The farming industry has encouraged the Government to build a bridge between the old and the new schemes and to phase the change carefully. To their credit, Ministers listened, but information on this bridging mechanism is very scarce. The Government�s aims of a more sustainable farming sector are noble; we support them fully. We also understand the Government�s desire to make a clean break from European policy, but in their haste to remove the old system they risk driving out of business the very people who will deliver the environmental benefits they; and the public; wish for."

Read the letter sent to rural MPs here:- CLA.Org.UK.

Total UK cases COVID19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region

THE latest UK R number is estimated at:- 1.1 to 1.3 with a daily infection growth rate range of:- +2% to +4%. The total number of UK Coronavirus (Covid19) infections that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK, has risen by:- 20,412 cases and the total number now stand at:- 1,233,775 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:- 532, 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:- 49,770, within 28 days of positive test. Deaths with Covid19 on the death certificate:- 61,648.

The number of Covid19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 13,617. The current number of Covid19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 1,268 Daily number of Covid19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 1,366.

In England, there are a total of:- 1,053,330 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 253,107 confirmed cases.

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

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

National UK Lockdown

LOCKDOWN

Liverpool City Region

► Liverpool, 21,053 confirmed cases.
165

► Halton, 3,944 confirmed cases.
45

► Knowsley, 7,015 confirmed cases. 70

► Sefton, 9,196 confirmed cases.
118

► St. Helens, 6,564 confirmed cases.
75

► Wirral, 8,973 confirmed cases.

69

Colour Key:- 0 1 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to100 100 over

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

► Blackburn with Darwen, 7,897 confirmed cases.

► Blackpool, 4,364 confirmed cases.

► Bolton, 12,502 confirmed cases.

► Bury, 7,993 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire East, 7,304 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire West and Chester, 7,085 confirmed cases.

► Lancashire, 38,825 confirmed cases.

► Manchester, 23,648 confirmed cases.

► Oldham, 12,043 confirmed cases.

► Preston, 5,872 confirmed cases.

► Rochdale, 10,142 confirmed cases.

► Salford, 10,769 confirmed cases.

► Stockport, 8,738 confirmed cases.

► Tameside, 8,587 confirmed cases.

► Trafford, 7,579 confirmed cases.

► Warrington, 7,085 confirmed cases

► Wigan, 13,528 confirmed cases.

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.