ACAS publishes new advice on getting Coronavirus vaccines for work

THE NHS vaccination programme offers a free Coronavirus Vaccine for everyone in the UK. All over 50's and the clinically vulnerable are due to be offered the Vaccine by 15 April 2021, with the rest of the population offered a Vaccine shortly afterwards. Many office based workplaces have successfully adapted to home working during the Pandemic. However, this has not been possible for many non office based workplaces and some employers have expressed a desire for their staff to be vaccinated as a workplace condition.

ACAS Chief Executive, Susan Clews, said:- "The UK has a world leading Coronavirus vaccination programme and recent projections suggest that everyone in the country may get offered the Vaccine by the end of July 2021. This is great news which has given hope to many businesses and staff that have been impacted by the Pandemic. Some employers have already indicated a wish for their employees to get vaccinated once it is their turn, but this is a tricky area of employment law as Vaccine s have always been voluntary. Our new advice aims to help employers support staff to get the Vaccine , maintain good workplace relations and avoid unnecessary conflict."

ACAS advice is that employers should support staff in getting the Coronavirus Vaccine once it is offered to them. This support can include paid time off for staff to attend vaccination appointments or if they are off sick with Vaccine side effects for a few days.

It can also help to speak to staff or their representatives about the Vaccine and the benefits of being vaccinated. Talking points could include:-

► The Government's latest Vaccine health information.

► When staff might be offered the Vaccine.

► If staff will need time off work for Vaccine reasons.

► If staff might need the Vaccine to be able carry out their work.

Employers that are having open discussions with their staff about the Vaccine can support them to protect their health, maintain good working relationships, avoid disputes in the future and agree a Vaccine policy that's appropriate for staff and their organisation. ACAS advice is that it is best to support staff to get the Vaccine without making it a requirement. If an employer feels that vaccination is a necessary requirement for someone to do their job then they should work with staff or the workplace's recognised trade union to agree this. This should ideally be set out in a workplace policy that's also in line with the organisation's existing disciplinary and grievance policy. If someone does not want to be vaccinated then the employer should listen to their concerns, be sensitive to individual circumstances and keep any concerns confidential. Some people may have legitimate reasons for not taking the Vaccine or they could be protected from discrimination under equality legislation. For example, someone who is pregnant is exempt from vaccination. Staff should talk to their Doctor if they're concerned about their health and getting the Vaccine. To see ACAS's full advice, please see:- ACAS.Org.UK/CoronaVirusVaccine.

Mecca Southport highlights the importance of community spirit

WITH the easing of restrictions on the horizon, the future is looking brighter as the UK heads towards spring and the hope of this being the final lockdown. Over the last 12 months, community spirit has soared as the nation felt a bigger need for a sense of togetherness. And whilst times have been tough, across the UK many local communities have come together to provide invaluable support to each other; from community kitchens to picking up prescriptions, or welfare calls to those feeling isolated and alone.

Now Mecca Bingo, whose 76 clubs have been at the heart of UK's towns and cities for 60 years, is launching a campaign to encourage the UK to keep helping their neighbours and communities post lockdown. With a recent survey showing 25% of UK residents have an improved relationship with their neighbours since the start of the Pandemic, Mecca wants to ensure that support networks continue to grow by offering their help to a handful of incredible individuals.

To aid local efforts, Mecca is asking residents of the local area to help them find people whose community spirit has gone above and beyond, so that they can give them additional support to continue their good work.

To find these extraordinary people, Mecca is asking for nominations via the Mecca Bingo blog, where UK residents can tell Mecca about their chosen person, and how they have spread positivity locally during the lockdown. In recognition for their hard work, Mecca will champion up to eight individuals, and give them the support they require in order to continue being a beacon of light for their community.

Jonathon Swaine, Managing Director at Mecca Bingo, said:- "We are all in this together! Despite being closed at the moment we have, and always will be, a central part of our communities; somewhere you'll always find a friendly face. We are really proud to support the amazing work that people in our local area have been giving up their time for through lockdown, and we want to make sure that people are able to continue offering that support. We may be coming out of lockdown, but we need strong community spirit more than ever."

Throughout the Pandemic, Mecca has continued to play an active role in the lives of customers and their communities. From weekly personal phone calls to check in on people, as well as cooking and delivering thousands of hot meals a week to vulnerable people; all with the help of local charities and communities.

For more information about the campaign, including how to nominate, please visit:- Blog.MeccaBingo.Com.

Liverpool City Region leaders have called on the Government to make access to food a legal right

IN a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, Acting Mayor of Liverpool and Local Council Leaders have asked for the Right to Food be incorporated into the Government's National Food Strategy. The 'Right to Food' campaign, launched by Fans Supporting Foodbanks, calls for a change in the law to make access to food a legal right for all in the UK, making Government legally responsible to help people suffering from food poverty.

Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said:- "It is a grotesque injustice that in one of the richest countries in the world, so many people have to rely on foodbanks to feed themselves and their families. We've seen some shocking examples of the same key workers that we clapped for over the summer falling below the poverty line and relying on foodbanks to help. The Government has a real chance to right this wrong through the National Food Strategy. They should offer help to the 10 million people living in food poverty by giving them the Right to Food."

Fans Supporting Foodbanks co-founders Dave Kelly and Ian Byrne MP said:- "We are delighted to have the support of Mayor Rotheram and the leaders of all Councils within the Liverpool City Region to put the Right to Food on a legal footing. A united North West can be a catalyst for the rest of the country to back the campaign and ensure the Government addresses the fact that millions of people are living without the ability to put food on the table. We cannot tinker around the edges of food poverty any longer, we need the systemic change that a Right to Food will bring."

The National Food Strategy is the 1st major review of our food system in 75 years and provides Government with a real opportunity to fundamentally address the growing crisis of food insecurity and set out a plan for a better, fairer food system. It is estimated more than 10 million people in the UK are living in food poverty, with ethnic minorities, disabled and older people among those worst affected. Following the outbreak of Covid19, the Trussell Trust reported an 81% increase in demand for emergency food parcels from food banks during the last 2 weeks of March 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. And over the last 5 years, the Trussell Trust has also seen a 74% increase in the number of 3 day food parcels distributed, with 1 in 7 of those accessing foodbanks in work.

To support the Right to Food campaign, go to:- IanByrne.Org/RightToFood-Campaign.

The 2021 Liverpool International Tennis Tournament

GOOD news for tennis fans on Merseyside, as the organizers of the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament, have said:- "We are so very excited to announce the launch of the 2021 Liverpool International Tennis Tournament from the 23 June to 26 June 2021. It has been a very hard year for everyone and yes we are not out of the woods yet but inline with UK Government guidelines we are hopeful and optimistic that come summertime we can be back on the court with some fantastic tennis! Due to current restrictions we only have 500 general tickets for sale below for the 24th and 25th of June, there will be a full refund minus ticketing charges should the Pandemic continue, secure a corporate table email:- Admin@Northern-Vision.Co.UK - Hope to see you all at The Liverpool Cricket Club in June 2021..."

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:- 9,985 cases and the total number now stand at:- 4,154,562 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:-323 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:- 122,070, within 28 days of positive test. Deaths with Covid19 on the death certificate:- 135,613.

The number of Covid19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 16,059. The current number of Covid19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 2,118 Daily number of Covid19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 1,142.

In England, there are a total of:- 3,639,352 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 572,518 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, 47,056 confirmed cases.
60

► Halton, 11,513 confirmed cases. 17

► Knowsley, 16,912 confirmed cases. 37

► Sefton, 23,041 confirmed cases.
42

► St. Helens, 16,324 confirmed cases.
32

► Wirral, 23,617 confirmed cases.

49

Colour Key:- 0 1 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to 100 100 to 199 200 & 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, 17,058 confirmed cases.

► Blackpool, 8,809 confirmed cases.

► Bolton, 24,092 confirmed cases.

► Bury, 16,239 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire East, 19,611 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire West and Chester, 20,500 confirmed cases.

► Lancashire, 92,255 confirmed cases.

► Manchester, 49,620 confirmed cases.

► Oldham, 21,495 confirmed cases.

► Preston, 12,789 confirmed cases.

► Rochdale, 19,703 confirmed cases.

► Salford, 21,625 confirmed cases.

► Stockport, 19,417 confirmed cases.

► Tameside, 16,853 confirmed cases.

► Trafford, 15,552 confirmed cases.

► Warrington, 16,923 confirmed cases

► Wigan, 27,089 confirmed cases.

Total UK people who have received vaccination

1st Dose 2nd Dose

18,691,835 700,718

Jab Stats correct as of 24 February 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 Vaccine s 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:- 0.6 to 0.9 with a daily infection growth rate range of:- -6% to -3%, as of 19 February 2021.