Liverpool City Region COVID-19 Updates

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Statement from Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, on Merseyside watch list status

ON 11 September 2020 Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, has responded to the inclusion of the Merseyside Local Authorities on Public Health England's watch list of areas with increasing numbers of Covid19 cases. (Halton is not included on the watch list.) He said:- "Over the past week we have seen a rapid increase in Coronavirus cases across the Liverpool City Region. We are not yet at the stage of having extra restrictions imposed on us; as other areas have, but, if we continue on our current trajectory, it will become a case of when, not if this happens. There is still time for us to stop that happening, but doing so depends on us and what we choose to do. I am working hard with our local Councils and other partners to do everything in our power to keep the spread of the virus under control, but we cannot do that without your help. Every day I am exceptionally proud to lead a region as kind, friendly and community spirited as ours. We now need to stick to those principles and make sure that we look out for one another. Washing your hands, wearing a face covering and keeping to social distancing has never been more important. So please follow the advice and act responsibly to help keep yourself and others safe, and help us slow the spread of this disease."

Sefton Council Leader responds to Merseyside being added to Government's COVID19 watch list

RESPONDING to the announcement that Merseyside has been identified by the Government as 1 of 2 new areas of concern owing to rising number of Covid19 cases, Sefton Council Leader Cllr Ian Maher said:- "In the light of this news, it's essential that every single one of Sefton's residents and businesses continue the great efforts they have made already to prevent us going into lockdown. The willingness and efforts of local people and the vast majority of the Borough's businesses to follow the guidelines and implement the measures required have been impressive and were reflected in low numbers of cases recently. However, this current rise is a cause for concern. Infections in Sefton are spread across the Borough through people's familiar social networks, whether at home, at work or out and about and while we are seeing cases being reported in people of all ages, those in the working age group from 20 to 60 are prevalent. Those people may be only mildly affected by Covid19 and some are asymptomatic, but our real concern is how these people can still spread the infection, including to their loved ones at home who may be vulnerable and far more seriously affected. It's vital that local people continue with social distancing and follow the Government's recently revised guidelines restricting indoor meetings to members of two different households and keeping numbers at outdoor gatherings to a maximum of 6. Wearing masks and face coverings where required and frequent, thorough hand washing are also crucial. Sefton's businesses need to ensure they are protecting their customers and staff by having all the required measures in place, including Test and Trace arrangements for:- pubs, bars and restaurants, distancing and cleaning procedures and face coverings where required. Also, we need those people who develop the Coronavirus symptoms of a high temperature, or a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste, to get a test immediately, for their own safety and the safety of others. They just need to visit:- NHS.UK or call:- 119 to make an appointment at their nearest available Test Centre. Home testing kits are also available on request. And finally, it is vitally important that if any Sefton residents are contacted by the Test and Trace programme that they comply with the requests of the contact tracers and stay home if they are asked to do so. We really appreciate the huge efforts and sacrifices Sefton's population and business have made to work with us to protect vulnerable people across our communities. Now we need them to continue those efforts and prevent tighter restrictions being re-introduced."

Workers are facing a furlough cliff edge, says MP

SEFTON Central MP Bill Esterson has urged the Government to "look again" at plans to end the furlough scheme protecting thousands of jobs in the constituency. The MP said a sudden end to the Coronavirus job retention scheme and the self employed income support scheme risked putting millions of people out of work and harming the economic recovery. Mr Esterson voted in favour of a motion calling for targeted income support to businesses and self employed people in those sectors of the economy that have been hardest hit by the virus and are most in need of continuing assistance. He also welcomed a report from the cross party Treasury Select Committee that called for targeted extensions to the Coronavirus job retention scheme and other measures to support workers and the economic recovery. Labour's motion in favour of a targeted extension of the support schemes for workers was defeated after the Government whipped its Conservative MPs to vote against. Mr Esterson said:- "A cliff edge is facing hundreds of businesses and thousands of workers in my constituency alone. The Government must look again at plans to end this support schemes. The Coronavirus pandemic has caused untold economic damage through no fault of the hard working business owners and workers here and across the UK. The whole economy has yet to open up again. It is the wrong time to withdraw this financial support for industries such as the arts and hospitality, which are unable to go back to normal for reasons of public health. The Government is putting the public health response to the virus at risk through withdrawing support and potentially encouraging people to take risks with their own health and the health of others. People who can't afford to put food on the table or pay the mortgage or other bills will be put in an impossible position. We saw earlier in the pandemic that far too many low paid workers were forced to take risks with the health of other people and their own health because of financial concerns. The Chancellor is ploughing ahead with this 1 size fits all withdrawal of the furlough scheme without, as far as we can see, any assessment of the impact it is going to have on unemployment and the economic recovery. This could put millions of people out of work. Even the Treasury Select Committee, which is headed up by a Conservative MP, Mel Stride, supports a targeted extension to the support on offer. Labour, trade unions, businesses, think tanks, backbench Tory MPs and now the Treasury Select Committee are all sounding the alarm. What will it take to make this stubborn Chancellor listen?"

Analysis by Labour has revealed that more than 4 million UK jobs across the country were still fully furloughed by their employer in the middle of August 2020. This means nearly half of all workers who were moved onto the Government's Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme (CJRS) in the early phase of the Covid19 crisis remained fully furloughed by their employer over 4 months later. Regional breakdowns show that over 450,000 jobs were at risk in the North West, 9,000 of them in Sefton Central. Over 2,500,000 people had also made claims under the Coronavirus self employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) by the end of July 2020. The final phase of that scheme opened last month. Yet still the Treasury plans to withdraw both schemes in just 6 weeks' time, at the end of October 2020. Mr Esterson added:- "The Government must do everything they can to save jobs and get people the support they need to get through this unprecedented period. This week the Conservatives voted to put those jobs and livelihoods at risk by pushing ahead with a 1 size fits all withdrawal of both the CJRS and SEISS schemes across the entire economy by the end of October. Businesses in the hardest hit sectors are still operating well below capacity and, with Coronavirus cases rising again, it looks highly unlikely that they will be back to normal in just six weeks' time. October's deadline is a cliff edge that could lead to a massive spike in unemployment. Labour is calling for targeted income support to businesses and self employed people in the sectors of the economy hit hardest hit by the virus. But when Labour's proposal was put to a vote, the Tories defeated it. The Chancellor says any deviation from his plan will damage the UK economy. Labour will hold him to that when wage support ends at the end of October. The reality is that millions of workers losing their jobs and businesses going bust will have a devastating impact on the economy for far longer if support is withdrawn too early. Other countries including Germany, France and Spain are continuing their support for jobs and the economy. It is reckless and irresponsible of the Government in this country not to do the same. My Labour colleagues and I will do everything we can to save jobs in the weeks running up to the Chancellor's furlough cliff edge."

LGA responds to the launch of the NHS Covid19 App

THE Local Government Association (LGA) who represents more than 330 Councils have responded to the forthcoming launch of the NHS Covid19 app, which will be used to help businesses meet their legal requirement to record contact details of customers, visitors and staff on their premises. The Chairman of the Local Government Association's Community Wellbeing Board, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, said:- "The launch of the NHS Covid19 app will help residents, visitors and businesses, along with the Councils which support them, to keep track of and isolate future outbreaks. Councils were among those who first piloted the app in their local communities and it is right that they continue to have a pivotal role in managing the local as well as national response. This new tool will complement and work alongside existing local contact tracing efforts. As we, unfortunately, continue to see a rise in infections and the national R rate, we must remain absolutely vigilant and fully prepared to help prevent a possible second wave of Coronavirus. We urge everybody to download the app when it becomes available and for businesses to ready themselves by having their QR code posters in place, so that as many people as possible are able to play their part in the national effort to defeat this disease."

Total UK cases COVID19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region

THE total number of UK Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK, has risen by 3,539 cases and the total number now stand at 361,677, that includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National totals.

The number of COVID-19 associated UK fatalities added to the total, was sadly reported to be 6 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 41,614.

The number of COVID-19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 863. The current number of COVID-19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 78. Daily number of COVID-19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 141.

In England, there are a total of 312,276 confirmed cases. North West - total of 58,837 confirmed cases.

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

► Liverpool, 3,255 confirmed cases.
► Halton, 804 confirmed cases.
► Knowsley, 1,198 confirmed cases.
► Sefton, 1,841 confirmed cases.
► St. Helens, 1,417 confirmed cases
► Wirral, 2,515 confirmed cases.

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

► Blackburn with Darwen, 2,038 confirmed cases.
► Blackpool, 1,143 confirmed cases.
► Bolton, 3,047 confirmed cases.
► Bury, 1,779 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire East, 2,514 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire West and Chester, 2,249 confirmed cases.
► Lancashire, 9,005 confirmed cases.
► Manchester, 4,852 confirmed cases.
► Oldham, 3,199 confirmed cases.
► Preston, 1,618 confirmed cases.
► Rochdale, 2,492 confirmed cases.
► Salford, 2,110 confirmed cases.
► Stockport, 2,114 confirmed cases.
► Tameside, 2,208 confirmed cases.
► Trafford, 1,823 confirmed cases.
► Warrington, 1,612 confirmed cases.
► Wigan, 2,488 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.

Liverpool City Region COVID19 Updates ... and Important Emergency Notices ...

Total UK cases COVID19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region

Liverpool City Region COVID19 Updates
... and Important Emergency Notices ...