DAILY EMERGENCY COVID-19 NEWS
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AS This page is to place quick update important notices that are being sent to us from Government and other organisations over the Coronavirus Emergency affecting our country (UK)...  Please remember that the information changes quickly, so always check to see what time and when the last post was made.  We will update as and when we can...  Users of our Formby Reporter's Free Email Service will get most updates 1st and then they will be added on here as soon as we can...  If you have any updates to send in or any views on the posts on here, please email us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

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This page last updated on 17 April 2020 - Easter

84.6% of workers in Liverpool believe virtual meetings are a waste of time

A new study from the UK's leading independent job board, CV Library, reveals that 84.6% of workers in Liverpool think virtual work meetings are a waste of time; with 1 in 5 (20.8%) admitting that they excuse themselves from online meetings that they get bored of.

The study surveyed 2,000 working professionals and reveals that men were most likely to see them as a waste of time (81.3% of men v 67.8% of women), and were also more likely to abandon an online meeting altogether (40.7% of men v 26.8% of women).

Alongside this, a staggering 95.5% of professionals in Liverpool currently have up to four virtual meetings a day, with each of these lasting around an hour. Worse still, 13.6% said they spend around 6.5 hours in virtual meetings every day.

Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CV-Library, comments:- "We know that more people are working from home right now than ever before and it's definitely taking some getting used to. While it's great to keep the momentum going and connect with colleagues via conference calls or video chats, there is an argument that these can sometimes be counter productive; especially if they're filling up your entire day or nothing positive ever comes out of them. Try to get a good balance of personal and professional chat. It doesn't need to be business all the time! For some people, virtual meetings may be all the interaction they have with others right now, so be sensitive of everyone's situations. If you're worried that you're not getting much out of the meetings you're attending, why not suggest that you shake them up a bit by introducing presentations or setting a clear agenda."

In addition to the above, 39.1% of respondents in Liverpool say their most productive meetings are under 30 minutes long, while 17.4% said 45 minutes, 26.1% an hour, 13% an hour and a half and 4.3% 2 hours plus.

Biggins continues:- "Research from a few years back found that the average person's attention span is just 14 minutes; so think about this when scheduling in your next virtual meeting. Often, shorter, more frequent, meetings can be a lot more productive."

Covid-19 bereavement:- 'How to help children cope'

AS the Coronavirus death toll continues to rise, more and more youngsters are having to cope with the loss of a loved 1. Former Primary School Teacher Catherine Lynch of education resources and lesson plan experts PlanBee has step by step advice for parents

The daily announcement that yet again hundreds of loved ones have died from Covid-19 continues to shock us; as it should. But for young children, most of whom are stuck at home without the distraction of School and socialising with friends, talk of death can be extremely disturbing and overwhelming.

As the number of victims continues to rise; and with age identified as one of the key risk factors; those lost may include grandparents, elderly neighbours, or relatives of their friends. And increasingly, as the virus takes hold, children are mourning parents, uncles and aunts.

And for those whose parents and loved ones are key workers in, for example, the NHS, supermarkets or transport, there may be special worries that their relatives are particularly vulnerable.

If a relative or friend does succumb to the virus, here is some advice as to how best to discuss it with your child, who may be feeling bewildered as well as extremely sad. The challenge is to be honest and truthful while making your dialogue age appropriate and reassuring.

Don't shy away from difficult information...

Talking about illness and bereavement are incredibly challenging conversations to have. It can be tempting to try and shield children from difficult information, but they are likely to overhear conversations and pick up on adults' emotions. This makes it highly likely they will become frightened and confused about the unknown. Where possible be honest with children in an age appropriate way.

Tell them if a relative is unwell...

Talk to them about what is happening and tell them if someone they know is unwell. Answer their questions as best you can. Talk about how you are feeling, if you are able to. Don't be shocked or worried if your child doesn't seem to engage with the conversation. Follow their lead, give them time to process the news and be ready to talk to them when they approach you.

Use direct language...

Talk to your child in simple, direct language to explain when someone dies. Avoid comparing dying with falling to sleep. This can make children incredibly anxious about going to sleep themselves. Also avoid euphemisms like:- 'we have lost…' This can be confusing for children. You may want to read a picture book about bereavement together. Stories are excellent for sharing difficult concepts with children in an accessible way. They give people the language to discuss this type of event. You may find a child will request a book about bereavement rather than directly ask to discuss it. Books can seem much less threatening than having a deep and meaningful conversation.

Anger is OK as well as sadness...

Acknowledge all feelings after a bereavement. This includes, but is not limited to:- sadness, loss, anger, worry, relief, guilt, happiness, numbness. Feeling any of these emotions is normal; none of them makes someone a bad person. Most people experience a mixture.

Adults are suffering, too...

Expect everyone in your household (this includes adults) to have times where everything feels overwhelming. For children, this may present in more challenging behaviour as they struggle to regulate their emotions. They may also start acting as if they are much younger than they are, seeking lots of cuddles, wanting to be spoon fed at mealtimes, demanding they are given something unrealistically expensive, and being completely devastated when something small doesn't work out as they hoped.

Accept their feelings of anger...

While it can feel frustrating when your child loses the plot over their brick tower falling down, remember that they are processing a lot of complicated emotions. It is much easier to express anger and upset over something specific and tangible than to explain feelings around something as big and sometimes abstract as the death of a loved one. If they are seeking much more attention than usual it may feel smothering, especially while our support networks are so different from usual. Arrange video calls with friends and family and don't feel guilty about extra cuddles on the sofa. Try to engage your support network as best you can remotely and be kind to yourself.

Remember your loved one...

Share memories of the person who has died. This is especially important at the moment when only a small number of family members are permitted to attend wakes and funerals. You may want to plan a memorial service for when restrictions have been lifted. This is an opportunity for separated families to work together and may provide a useful thing to focus on.

Say your own goodbye...

Holding your own, personal ritual as a household is a lovely, gentle way to say goodbye. You could all share a memory of the person. Encourage your child to draw pictures or write messages to put in a memory box; think about what is most fitting for you and your family.

Possibly most importantly look after yourself. Don't be hard on yourself. You will probably feel a wide range of emotions and regulating your own emotions while holding your child's is incredibly difficult. Give yourself time to process the loss.

Visit:- Winston's Wish or:- Child Bereavement UK to access more support for children and families.

Government takes further action to support bus and lorry drivers who are keeping the country moving

THE UK Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, on Friday, 17 April 2020, announced that it will be easier for bus and lorry drivers to renew their expiring driving licences. This latest action taken by the Government and DVLA will ensure that bus and lorry drivers can continue their vital work and keep the country moving. As NHS staff rightly focus on the nationwide response to Coronavirus, the Government has temporarily relaxed the requirement for bus and lorry drivers to provide a Doctor's medical report in order to renew their licence. Under the scheme, drivers will be able to receive a temporary 1 year licence, providing they do not have any medical conditions that affect their driving and their current licence expires in 2020. This temporary change will not only keep 30,000 drivers on the road each month, but will also relieve pressure on NHS staff who are working hard on the frontline to tackle Coronavirus and help parts of the emergency services to deliver their critical role. Drivers with health issues will still need to declare these, and those with health issues that prevent them from driving safely will not have their licence renewed.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:- "With our NHS staff working around the clock to combat Coronavirus, we are determined to help vital bus and lorry drivers support our incredible industry and keep Britain moving. By temporarily relaxing the requirement to provide a doctor's medical report as part of the bus and lorry driving licence renewal process we will ensure that those who are fit to drive can continue delivering critical goods around the country and getting workers to the front line. This will also help to ensure doctors and nurses can continue their crucial efforts to fight Coronavirus."

This temporary change will only apply to those drivers whose licences are due to expire or have expired since 1 January 2020. The licence will only be valid for one year and then the driver will need to submit a completed D4 when the licence is next due for renewal.

Sky lantern campaign halted after CLA lobbying

A company selling sky lanterns to raise funds for the NHS has stopped its campaign after concerns were raised over the damage they would inflict on the countryside. Night Sky Lanterns were selling Union Jack lanterns for ₤6 and encouraging people to release them every Sunday night during COVID-19. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) where among those who quickly reacted to this misguided sentiment, contacting all rural MPs and asking them to raise awareness to the dangers of sky lanterns. Subsequently, the company has stopped this initiative and refunded all orders.

CLA Director North, Dorothy Fairburn, said:- "Releasing a naked flame, with absolutely no control over where it will land, is a serious threat to:- rural businesses, livestock, wildlife and the environment. There is simply no responsible way of using them. Therefore it's good that the company has seen sense and decided to end the campaign, especially as there are much better ways to show support and appreciation for the invaluable work of the NHS. While this move is positive, we've been campaigning for a number of years for these to be banned on safety and environmental grounds and this now needs to be actioned more than ever."

The CLA has published a dedicated advisory and information page (regularly updated) on the Coronavirus; which can be accessed on the CLA's website.

Man jailed after claiming he had Coronavirus and threatening to spit at officers in Liverpool

A man has been jailed for 16 weeks after claiming he had Coronavirus and threatening to spit at British Transport Police officers in Liverpool. The incident happened at Liverpool Lime Street Station, at around 5.40pm, on Friday, 27 March 2020. Officers approached a closely gathered group at the station's main entrance and intended to advise on the current pandemic. 1 of the group, Robert Carson, reacted aggressively. He later admitted being under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The 54 year old, of Fraser Street in Liverpool, began shouting in the face of an Officer. Carson refused to leave the station multiple times and soon started launching violent threats and insults. He was arrested and continually spat at the dividing glass as he was being driven to custody in a Police Van. He also made more threats, claiming he had Coronavirus and intended to spit in the faces of Officers. Carson was charged with using threatening behaviour and common assault of an emergency worker. He pleaded guilty to both offences and was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison at Liverpool Magistrates Court, on Tuesday, 7 April 2020. TP Chief Inspector David Rams said:- "The national emergency has created challenges for policing in general, and for my officers who day in and day out work hard to ensure the safety and security of the railway network. What doesn't help is threats and abuse while they're trying to ensure the safety of the public. I'm pleased the courts have taken this incident extremely seriously and ensured Carson has been dealt a custodial sentence. I hope this serves as a deterrent to anyone tempted to threaten or spit at Officers."

UK Fire Service to assist NHS with Covid-19 work

FOLLOWING the unprecedented Agreement reached on 26 March 2020, between the:- Fire Service National Employers, National Fire Chiefs Council and Fire Brigades Union, it has been agreed to add a further three areas of work to reflect the scale of the national crisis and the urgency of the response required. Firefighters will be able to assist in:-

► Taking samples for Covid-19 antigen testing,

► Drive Ambulance Transport not on blue lights (excluding known Covid-19 patients) to outpatient appointments or to receive urgent care.

► Provide driving Instruction by FRS driver trainers to deliver training for non Service personnel to drive Ambulances (not on blue lights)

Firefighters will also continue responding to core emergencies, such as fires and road traffic collisions, but under the agreement can now provide additional services specifically related to Covid-19. This adds to the areas of additional work already agreed through this joint process:-

► Ambulance Service assistance:- Ambulance Driving and Patient/Ambulance personnel support, limited to current competence (Not additional FRS First or Co-Responding)

► Vulnerable persons - delivery of essential items.

► Covid-19 - Mass casualty (Movement of bodies)

► Face Fitting for masks to be used by frontline NHS and clinical care staff working with Covid-19 patients.

► Delivery of PPE and other medical supplies to NHS and care facilities.

The 3 organisations will continue to meet weekly, or more frequently if required, to discuss any additional requests for assistance made by Local Resilience Forums and Strategic Coordination Groups.

Cllr Nick Chard, Chair of the National Employers, said:- "We will continue to work at pace to bring an extra resource to the battle against the impact of Covid-19, working collaboratively with the FBU and NFCC for the benefit of local people. Fire and Rescue has always played its role in meeting immense challenges and this crisis is no exception. We have stepped up our assistance to support our over stretched public sector colleagues, especially ambulance services, with our can do attitude and sense of community spirit and will continue to do so."