Liverpool City Region COVID-19 Updates

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Get ready for Blue Monday 2021

ALTHOUGH, on Monday, 3 January, has been dubbed 2021's Blue Monday, Sefton Council is highlighting a few way people can beat the blues. Blue Monday is rumoured to have got its name owing to the combination of post-Christmas blues, cold weather, dark nights and the arrival of the month's bills. Others claim it was a stunt by a travel company to encourage people to look ahead and book a holiday. Whatever its origins, ongoing national lockdown restrictions means this year's Blue Monday could be seen as bluer than usual, which is why Sefton Council wants to remind people across the Borough of some things that will help cheer them up. Keeping active can have a positive effect on our physical and mental wellbeing and Active Sefton is promoting the free:- 'MOVE IT' programme.

Consisting of up to 6 sessions:- 'MOVE IT' is designed to help families to adopt a healthy lifestyle through offering healthy eating advice along with ideas and ways to increase physical activity targeted at children in different age groups, from 5 to 16. More information is available at:- ActiveLifestyles-Sefton.Co.UK/Move-It.

Active Sefton is also supporting a range of activities such as free, games and circuits YouTube workouts to help children. And for those adults who are looking to get healthy, there's also 10 minute Abs workout, plus yoga, kettlebell and HIIT workouts led by the Active Sefton Team. Details are at:- ActiveSeftonFitness.Co.UK.

People can find about these and other activities by following Active Sefton on social media or visiting:- Sefton.Gov.UK/Sport-Leisure.

The Council's Green Sefton teams is also reminding people across the Borough that they have some incredible spaces on their doorsteps where they can get outdoors for their daily local exercise and fresh air. Sefton residents can find out more about what their Borough has to offer at:- Sefton.Gov.UK/Around-Sefton.

Additionally, if people find that Monday is blue because they are frustrated or lonely or are worried about their health finances and other aspect of their lives, the Council has pulled together a directory of services available to residents during the Covid19 Pandemic. These can be found at:- Sefton.Gov.UK/HealthAndWellBeing.

For those people who want to help take the blues out of others' Mondays and every day, Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) is currently supporting the recruitment of volunteers for the NHS Covid19 Vaccine Team. Roles include welcoming patients, marshalling at test venues, logistical support and help in recovery areas. To find out what they can do, people should visit:- VolunteeringSefton.Org.UK.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said:- "This is a time of year when some people can feel at a low point and the lockdown isn't helping but we want to ensure people know that the Council is there to provide support as well as inspiration for things we can all do to boost our physical and mental health while following the restrictions. And, looking to the future, if we all stick to the requirements to minimise transmission of the Covid19 virus and we take the opportunity to get vaccinated when we're offered it, we will hopefully be seeing some aspects of all our lives returning to some level of normality over the coming weeks and months. By looking after ourselves and each other, we can get from a Blue Monday to Terrific Tuesdays, Wonderful Wednesdays, Thrilling Thursdays Fab Fridays and Super Saturdays and Sundays."

"NO ONE BELIEVES the Government" says MP

SEFTON Central MP Bill Esterson says:- "no 1 believes" the Government will protect workers' rights after reports of employment protections being scrapped. Mr Esterson said Labour would fight:- "tooth and nail" against any plans to water down rights such as the maximum 48 hour working week. According to the Financial Times, ministers in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy were considering scrapping the measures in the Working Time Directive designed to protect employees from long hours. Also, in the firing line are the rights of workers to have overtime and commission included in holiday pay, and rules around rest breaks.

Mr Esterson said:- "Labour will oppose any and all attempts to lower workers' rights. We will fight tooth and nail against scrapping laws that protect employees' pay and conditions. We are on the side of workers and always will be. We have seen trade unions win important victories for employees and we don't want to see them overturned."

In response to a tweet from the new Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng which said:- "We are not going to lower the standards of workers' rights The UK has 1 of the best workers' rights records in the world; going further than the EU in many areas. We want to protect and enhance workers' rights going forward, not row back on them," Mr Esterson responded:- "No 1 believes you."

Mr Esterson said:- "The Government must rule out these changes immediately. A roll back of workers' rights at a time of such economic crisis and difficulties is the absolute opposite of what we need. If we are to build our economy post Covid, we need to protect and nurture workers who are the backbone of the country. The scrapping of the 48 hour working week cap could seriously risk the safety of key workers including hauliers and delivery drivers, who currently have the right not to work more than 48 hours. It could also mean NHS staff feel pressured to work excessive hours. With the UK having had the worst recession of major economies, Labour believes strongly that the Government's priority should be protecting jobs and family incomes, securing our economy and rebuilding the country; not cutting workers' rights. Time and again the Government promised not to row back workers' rights, but now it's clear this is being considered, just weeks after the transition period for leaving the EU ended. These proposals should not even be up for discussion. This also comes hot on the heels of the inadequate school meal food parcels that families have had delivered, which it turns out were what the Government's own guidance had stipulated. Universal credit working tax credits will soon be cut by ₤20 per week, The Government's priorities are not aligned with those of the British people. The divide here is stark. Conservatives as usual attack working people and their families but as we have seen working people will rise up against injustice and will fight it all the way. They will fight for a better future, not worse. What kind of a country do we want to be?"

Mr Esterson and his Labour colleagues had previously proposed protecting workers' rights in the Trade Bill, which is currently working its way through Parliament. Mr Esterson said:- "Throughout the Trade Bill process Labour pushed for future trade agreements to include mandatory clauses that protected labour rights. We can see now why the Government resisted that at every stage. The Pandemic has imposed huge hardship on workers and families. We need to build on workers' hard won rights, not take a wrecking ball to them."

Mr Esterson and his Labour colleagues have tried to protect workers' rights in the Trade Bill, which is currently working its way through Parliament. At Report Stage in July 2020, Mr Esterson said the bill had:- "profound implications for workers' rights."

At Committee Stage of the bill in June 2020, Mr Esterson said:- "We want to ensure that companies that fulfil their obligations to their workers, treat workers well and meet their commitments to working with trade unions in a productive manner are not undercut by companies that do not. This is about rewarding responsible businesses, as well as supporting workers. The danger with trade agreements which don't include protection of workers rights is that they allow abuse and exploitation of workers abroad and in this country. If trade agreements allow goods to be imported which have been produced using cheap labour, UK companies are put in a position where they are encouraged to drop their standards too. That means pay cuts, longer hours, less holiday and sick pay and less safe working conditions."

Labour proposed an amendment (Amendment 24) that would have forced the Secretary of State to enter into negotiations to secure greater labour rights in procurement contracts. A clause proposed by Labour at that stage (new Clause 6) proposed that impact assessments be published on any future trade agreement with regards the agreement's impact on workers' rights. A further amendment (Amendment 10) proposed that all trade agreements entered into must not conflict with, and must be consistent with, workers' rights. All of Labour's amendments and new clauses were voted down.

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:- 41,346 cases and the total number now stand at:- 3,357,361 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:- 1,295, 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:- 89,243, within 28 days of positive test.

The number of Covid19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 37,475. The current number of Covid19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 3,789 Daily number of Covid19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 4,532.

In England, there are a total of:- 2,885,082 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 4466,629 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, 38,259 confirmed cases.
508

► Halton, 9,086 confirmed cases.
142

► Knowsley, 13,190 confirmed cases. 197

► Sefton, 18,298 confirmed cases.
254

► St. Helens, 12,219 confirmed cases.
215

► Wirral, 18,810 confirmed cases.

286

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, 14,201 confirmed cases.

► Blackpool, 7,290 confirmed cases.

► Bolton, 19,666 confirmed cases.

► Bury, 13,599 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire East, 15,858 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire West and Chester, 16,284 confirmed cases.

► Lancashire, 74,696 confirmed cases.

► Manchester, 41,613 confirmed cases.

► Oldham, 18,691 confirmed cases.

► Preston, 10,147 confirmed cases.

► Rochdale, 16,780 confirmed cases.

► Salford, 17,915 confirmed cases.

► Stockport, 15,618 confirmed cases.

► Tameside, 13,804 confirmed cases.

► Trafford, 12,957 confirmed cases.

► Warrington, 13,793 confirmed cases.

► Wigan, 22,746 confirmed cases.

Total UK people who have received vaccination

1st Dose 2nd Dose

3,559,179 447,261

Jab Stats correct as of 12 January 2021

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:- 1.2 to 1.3 with a daily infection growth rate range of:- +2% to +5%, as of 15 January 2021.