Liverpool City Region COVID-19 Updates

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Merseyrail increases services in response to changes in national Covid19 restrictions

FOLLOWING the Government's announcement that the Liverpool City Region will be placed in Tier 2 restrictions, from 2 December 2020, Merseyrail will be increasing its services on parts of the network, from Saturday, 5 December 2020. From Saturday, 5 December 2020, services between Liverpool Central and Southport will be increased to a 15 minute frequency, from Monday to Saturday, with trains continuing to operate every 30 minutes, on Sundays.

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.

► Hunts Cross 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)

► West Kirby and New Brighton lines, every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday (15 minute service between Birkenhead North and Liverpool)

Services between Southport and Hunts Cross will terminate at Liverpool Central, meaning passengers will not be able to travel directly between the Stations and will have to change at Liverpool Central. Ormskirk trains will start and terminate at Hunts Cross.

From Wednesday, 2 December 2020, Government issued travel advice is that passengers can travel with confidence by following the advice below:-

► Avoid peak travel if you can (between:- 7am to 9:30am and 4pm to 6:30pm)

► Allow extra time for your journey.

► Face coverings must be worn at all times at Stations or on trains, unless exempt. Maximum fines of �6,400 can be issued by British Transport Police for those refusing to comply.

► Use contactless payments where possible.

► Wash or sanitise hands as soon as possible before and after travel.

► Remain seated where you can.

► Maintain social distancing where possible.

► Follow advice from staff and be considerate to other passengers.

► Do not use public transport if you, or a member of your household, has Covid19 symptoms or you have been instructed to self isolate.

► Aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible.

Andy Heath, Managing Director at Merseyrail, said:- "As we prepare to move out of the 2nd period of National Lockdown restrictions, we are pleased to be able to increase services on the Merseyrail network to help our passengers begin to travel around the Liverpool City Region again in the run up to Christmas. From next week, we anticipate more people will begin to travel on the network and these changes aim to meet that increase in demand, whilst ensuring we continue to be able to offer a safe, reliable and sustainable service for our passengers. Anyone travelling with us can do so with confidence by following the clear travel advice provided. I'd particularly like to remind passengers that it is mandatory to wear a face covering on public transport unless exempt."

Full timetable information and Covid19 travel advice can be found here:- Merseyrail.Org/COVIDAdvice. Further information on Government guidance and restrictions can be found at:- Gov.UK. Passengers who would prefer to travel on 6 car carriages can visit this webpage to check which services are operating as 6 cars in advance:- Merseyrail.Org/6cars. There may be further amendments and the timetable will be reviewed in line with Government public health advice as the national restrictions progress. Merseyrail encourages all customers to check before you travel. This can be done by visiting the website or the Merseyrail Twitter account @Merseyrail for the latest information.

UK Government is examining the link between Covid19 and Vitamin D and giving out free Vitamin D Supplements to venerable people

WHILE there's currently no cure for Covid19, preventive measures like physical distancing and proper hygiene can protect you from contracting the virus. But now, with a vaccination program looming ever closer, UK's Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has ordered a re-review to examine the link between Covid19 and vitamin D and the findings are expected to be published at the end of the year.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that plays a number of critical roles in your body. The Vitamin is known to have both anti inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties. Vitamin D is known to enhance the function of immune cells and plays a critical role in promoting immune response. It is also crucial for the activation of immune system defences. Back in 2017 a report published in the BMJ found:- "Show that people who are very deficient in vitamin D and those receiving daily or weekly supplementation without additional bolus doses experienced particular benefit." This and other studies have found that vitamin D helps with recovery of many other respiratory infections, so it stands to reason that it will help with Covid19. While the early research on vitamin D and Covid19 is just starting, research has already found that vitamin D supplements might help reduce the risk of adverse outcomes and death.

In an 'Evidence Summery,' of an announcement published by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), on 29 June 2020, said:- "There is no evidence to support taking vitamin D supplements to specifically prevent or treat COVID-19. However, all people should continue to follow UK Government advice on daily vitamin D supplementation to maintain bone and muscle health during the Covid19 Pandemic." This is why Public Health England is to give free vitamin D supplements to more than 2.5 million vulnerable people within England.

As Vitamin D is linked to boosting bone and muscle health and can be naturally produced when the skin when is exposed to sunlight. But for those in isolation, this is a major problem, as vulnerable people, like residents in care homes can't get sunlight, as they are often kept shielded inside. Also, the Winter sunlight within the UK, doesn't contain enough UVB radiation for our skin to be able to make vitamin D and you run the risk of them getting Vitamin D deficiency.

The advice from Public Health England is that those at risk of Vitamin D deficiency should take 10 micrograms (400 IU) of vitamin D, a day, between October and early March to keep bones and muscles healthy. So, a new provision for those individuals deemed clinically extremely vulnerable will receive a letter inviting them to opt into the scheme. The vitamin will be deliver to their homes free of charge, starting in January, and will provide 4 months' supply of supplements to last people through the winter.

This idea is not a new, as it has been looked at anyway by the NHS before Covid19, as shown in the vitamin D supplement guidance for use published by NICE, back in November 2014, and then updated in August 2017, that:- "It aims to prevent vitamin D deficiency among specific population groups including:- infants and children aged under 4, pregnant and breastfeeding women, particularly teenagers and young women, people over 65, people who have low or no exposure to the sun and people with darker skin."

Usually Vitamin D is accompanied by calcium in some form, when taken to strengthen bones and help treat bone diseases, such as Osteoporosis.

It will be very interesting to see if this also helps the fight against Covid19, as vitamin D supplements are cheap to make and easy to distribute. Vitamin D toxicity, also called:- 'hypervitaminosis D,' is a rare, but potentially serious condition that occurs when you have excessive amounts of vitamin D in your body. Please DO NOT take any Vitamin supplements without consulting your Pharmacist, Consultant or GP first.

What are your thoughts on this? Please do email us your views to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

Editors note:- Definition of bolus:-

1. A rounded mass: such as. A) a large pill. B) a soft mass of chewed food.
2. Medical = A dose of a substance (such as a drug) given intravenously.

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:- 12,155 cases and the total number now stand at:- 1,617,327 that includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National totals, since the start of the Pandemic.

The total number of Covid19 associated UK fatalities added to the total, was sadly reported to be:- 215, 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:- 58,245, within 28 days of positive test. Deaths with Covid19 on the death certificate:- 66,713.

The number of Covid19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 15,712. The current number of Covid19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 1,417 Daily number of Covid19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 1,571.

Over the Pandemic, in England, there are a total of:- 1,390,923 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 304,875 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, 23,978 confirmed cases.
60

► Halton, 4,658 confirmed cases.
23

► Knowsley, 7,799 confirmed cases. 26

► Sefton, 10,503 confirmed cases..
30

► St. Helens, 7,591 confirmed case.
39

► Wirral, 9,976 confirmed cases.

19

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, since start of the pandemic, are as follows:-

► Blackburn with Darwen, 9,580 confirmed cases.

► Blackpool, 5,188 confirmed cases.

► Bolton, 15,032 confirmed cases.

► Bury, 9,681 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire East, 8,910 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire West and Chester, 8,924 confirmed cases.

► Lancashire, 47,203 confirmed cases.

► Manchester, 30,927 confirmed cases.

► Oldham, 14,745 confirmed cases.

► Preston, 7,135 confirmed cases.

► Rochdale, 12,572 confirmed cases.

► Salford, 13,302 confirmed cases.

► Stockport, 10,470 confirmed cases.

► Tameside, 10,368 confirmed cases.

► Trafford, 8,674 confirmed cases.

► Warrington, 8,156 confirmed cases

► Wigan, 16,444 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.

The latest R number is estimated at:- 0.9 to 1 with a daily infection growth rate range of:- -2% to 0%, as of 27 November 202.