COVID-19
face coverings advice from public health in Liverpool
PEOPLE in Liverpool are
being advised to follow new Government guidance in relation to
wearing face coverings in enclosed public spaces to help prevent
the spread of Coronavirus. New advice published this week by the
government recommends the public consider wearing face coverings
in shops, on Merseyrail trains and on buses to help reduce the
spread of Coronavirus, which has so far led to the death of more
than 400 people in Liverpool's Hospitals. People are being urged
not to buy medical grade masks so they can be saved for
frontline health and care workers, but instead to make their own
face coverings at home using a scarf or other textile items.
They do not need to be worn outdoors, while exercising, in
Schools, in workplaces such as offices and retail, by those who
may find them difficult to wear, such as children under 2 or
primary aged children who cannot use them without assistance, or
those who may have problems breathing while wearing a face
covering. Instead the public is encouraged to make face
coverings at home, using scarves or other textile items that
many will already own. Instructions can be found
here. The most effective
means of preventing the spread of the virus remains following
social distancing rules and washing your hands regularly.
Wearing a face mask does not remove the need to self isolate if
you have symptoms.
Wearing a face
covering...
► A cloth face covering should cover
your mouth and nose while allowing you to breathe comfortably.
It can be as simple as a scarf or bandana that ties behind the
head.
► Wash your hands or use hand
sanitiser before putting it on and after taking it off and after
use. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth at all times and
store used face coverings in a plastic bag until you have an
opportunity to wash them.
► Do not touch the front of the face covering, or the part of
the face covering that has been in contact with your mouth and
nose. Once removed, make sure you clean any surfaces the face
covering has touched.
► You should wash a face covering regularly. It can go in with
other laundry, using your normal detergent.
► When wearing a face covering, take care to tuck away any loose
ends.
Liverpool's Director of Public Health, Matt Ashton, said:-
"It is really important that people understand that this is
just 1 element of the advice we must all follow, and that face
coverings are to protect others from risk of infection from you.
It does not remove the need to follow social distancing
guidelines and stay more than 2 metres away from each other, or
self isolate at home if we have symptoms of COVID19. Please
remember to use the coverings properly, to wash your hands
before putting them on and taking them off, so as to prevent the
virus and other germs spreading in a different way.
Collectively, all of this action will help protect you and your
loved ones from the risks of catching and passing on the virus."
Councillor Paul Brant, Cabinet member for public health, said:-
"As more people start travelling around the City it is
really important we take account of the very latest guidance to
minimise the spread of COVID-19. For those who can't walk or
cycle, we know that usage of public transport and shops is
likely to increase in the coming weeks so it is really important
that we all do our bit and play our part in reducing the risk of
the virus being passed to others. Liverpool has been one of the
places hardest hit by Coronavirus, and hundreds of families are
grieving the loss of loved ones who have gone too soon. It is
incumbent on us all to take responsibility for our own actions
and do our bit in tackling this dreadful illness.".
1 fatality
in house fire
MERSEYSIDE Fire and
Rescue Service (MFRS) attended a house fire in Canterbury Way,
Netherton, on Wednesday, 13 May, 2020. Sadly, we can confirm
that the incident involved 1 fatality. Crews were alerted, at
6.04pm and on the scene, at 6.10pm. Merseyside Police and the
North West Ambulance Service also attended the incident.
Firefighters discovered the body of a man at the property after
being called to the fire, which was well alight, on arrival. The
man was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. 3 fire
engines attended and 6 firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus
extinguished the fire using high pressure hose reels and a main
branch. The fire was fully extinguished by around 7.30pm. The
deceased's next of kin have been informed by Merseyside Police.
Mark Thomas, Group Manager for Prevention at MFRS, said:-
"On arrival, fire crews found a well developed fire at the rear
of the terraced property. The fire had fully engulfed a lean to
in the garden and was spreading inside the property. Crews were
able to bring the fire under control quickly. Sadly, it became
clear very early into the incident that a male had been involved
in the blaze. He died of his injuries at the scene. The cause
and the circumstances have been investigated by the Police and
our Incident Investigation Team. The initial investigation
indicates that this was a tragic accident after a garden fire
has developed out of control. MFRS Prevention staff are planning
follow up activity in the area next week to provide reassurance
to the local community."
Books will celebrate
the lives of NHS staff who have died as a result of
Coronavirus
A Wirral author and
illustrator wants to create 2 special book stop honour,
celebrate and remember the NHS frontline workers who have lost
their lives while serving the community during the Coronavirus
pandemic. Gillian Seale, who runs Tailored Yarn, would like to
incorporate elements of the lives of real NHS workers in the
books. An adult version would be a multi biographical book,
highlighting the lives of individual NHS frontline workers. The
children's book would be a fictionalised story aimed at 5 to 10
year olds with a 'superheroes' theme and would include
references to real people who had lost their lives. She hopes
both books will provide a lasting legacy to those people she
describes as:- 'NHS heroes.'
"We have shown our appreciation to NHS workers by clapping every
week and creating these books would be a way of celebrating the
lives of those who have died as a result of Coronavirus and also
recognising those who have put their lives at risk. These books
will preserve memories by capturing the NHS superheroes' names
and the depths of their heroics, to inspire people in the
future. The non-fiction book will capture real life stories,
including the motivations of the individuals, the personal
perspectives from family and staff and also the patients they
saved. Every affected family and hospital across the United
Kingdom will be offered a free printed copy of the book, subject
to funding. The fictional book will use the roles and jobs of
real NHS workers in a story setting to help communicate to
children what has happened and why these people are heroes. We
hope to print both books if we get enough funding. We have set
up a page on Just Giving to raise money. If this is successful,
we can distribute the books to:- individual supporters,
Libraries, Bookshops, Schools and Hospitals. If we get part
funded then the children's book could be created as a physical
book and perhaps the adult book could be made available free on
Kindle." said Gillian.
She now hopes families of NHS frontline workers who have died
from Covid-19 will get in touch with her so she can start a
conversation with them about how to bring their stories to light
in a sensitive way.
"We would talk them through the process and we would also
approach the relevant NHS trust as well. Clearly everyone would
have to be in agreement and happy to go ahead before specific
people and elements of their lives were mentioned in the book.
Any profits and money raised in excess of the book production
costs will go to the selected charities of our NHS Superhero
families." said Gillian.
The concept of the NHS book fits in with the:- 'Bespoke
Bereavement Books' she creates to provide comfort and
healing to young children who are struggling on a journey
through grief.
"Bespoke bereavement books are a unique way of capturing family
memories in a fictional children's story, which are carefully
and individually tailored to each individual. It's similar to
the popular idea of memory boxes, where we store objects
reminding us of a lost loved 1. Each fictional story will
contain characters and places which are familiar and overflow
with family memories, achievements, quirky habits, hopes, and
dreams. Interesting details will be woven together with
colourful threads of each individual's unique family history and
delicately embroidered with parental wisdom. When someone dies,
as adults we have a lifetime's worth of memories to hang on to.
As children we have fewer memories and they tend to fade. If a
child has a book which has real elements of a parent's life
woven into it then conversations with other family members about
the person who has died are more likely to arise naturally."
said Gillian, 37, who lives at West Kirby.
People can choose an existing story and have Gillian adapt it or
can come up with a completely fresh story which Gillian writes
and illustrates with watercolours. A questionnaire is sent out
so people can tell Gillian some personal details of the loved 1
that could be incorporated into the story.
The books are, in effect, created free of charge, funded either
by donations, through Gillian's work as an illustrator and doing
art workshops, in Schools, or through crowd funding initiatives.
Gillian, a single mum with 3 children, was born in Scotland and
moved to the Wirral 15 years ago. She studied mathematics. at St
Andrew's University and spent some years as an accountant. She
is currently studying for a masters in psychology at Chester
University.
Her 1st children's story:- 'Postpixie Missing in Action,'
was inspired by the experiences of a friend who has
muscular dystrophy. The pixie in the story has magical powers
that allow her to move swiftly and deliver the post, but the
magic is fading. The book celebrates the pixie's abilities and
other characters in the book help her work out what she can do
as she acknowledges her disability.
"The idea is that it will help to teach children empathy and
about the importance of confidence and perseverance." said
Gillian.
The book is available through Amazon or Gillian's
website.
Ambulance Service
response to COVID-19 strengthened by 450 frontline recruits
LIVERPOOL'S Mayor, Joe
Anderson, is well known for saying what he thinks and this time
it is being backed by many, including the Teaching unions and
many Liverpool Schools. The UK Government's plan to restart
schooling next month has already been under fire and now Joe
Anderson has said the Council had:- "a safeguarding
responsibility" to children and staff, so he would block
them opening:- "if necessary" unless the Council
was convinced it is safe to do so. So what do you think about
this? P do let us know by
emailing us to:-
News24@SouthportReporter.Com.
Total UK cases
COVID-19 cases - update for Liverpool City Region and
surroundings
AS some people within
England who cannot work from home are returning to their
workplaces, as the Government begins easing some lockdown, a
reminder of the continuing pandemic comes as the latest UK
fatalities show a rise of 494 deaths, Currently that national
total number of COVID-19 recorded deaths stands at 33,186
people. The number of COVID-19 infections has risen by 3,242,
taking the total of laboratory confirmed infections to 229,705,
ac cording to the Department of Health. In England, we have been
told that there are now a total of 139,086 confirmed cases. In
the North West, the total of confirmed cases now stands at
22,853, both past and current. The number of laboratory
confirmed cases within the following Local Authorities, in and
around the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-
► Liverpool, 1,515 confirmed cases.
► Sefton, 874 confirmed cases.
► Wirral, 1,144 confirmed cases.
► St. Helens, 708 confirmed cases.
► Halton, 351 confirmed cases.
► Lancashire, 3,239 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire West and Chester, 943 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire East, 1,050 confirmed cases.
► Manchester, 1,362 confirmed cases.
► Stockport, 978 confirmed cases.
► Trafford, 696 confirmed cases.
► Wigan, 1,033 confirmed cases.
► Bolton, 913 confirmed cases.
► Rochdale, 674 confirmed cases.
► Bury, 651 confirmed cases.
► Tameside, 558 confirmed cases.
► Oldham, 960 confirmed cases.
► Blackburn with Darwen, 372 confirmed cases.
These stats are according to Public Health England as of
13/05/2020. Last updated 4.24pm GMT. UK total includes cases
detected through:- "Pillar 2" testing (tests carried out by
commercial partners) and therefore does not equate to the sum of
the 4 countries' counts, which only include:- "Pillar 1" (tests
carried out by NHS / PHE / Devolved Administration Labs)..
UK total includes cases detected through:- "Pillar 2" testing
(tests carried out by commercial partners) and therefore does
not equate to the sum of the 4 countries' counts, which only
include:- "Pillar 1" (tests carried out by NHS / PHE / Devolved
Administration Labs).
UK Government Coronavirus Press
Conference on 14 May 2020 Video