DAILY EMERGENCY COVID-19 NEWS
... Important Daily Notices ...

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.

This page is updated on 26 March 2020

Homeless relocated to reduce threat of Coronavirus

HOMELESS people with health conditions and rough sleepers in shared facilities are to be relocated to more appropriate housing to help reduce the spread of Coronavirus in Liverpool.

It means the Council's rough sleeper shelter Labre House will close, with people currently sharing communal spaces and bathrooms transferred instead to places with separate rooms and bathrooms; such as aparthotels; which will enable them to self isolate if necessary.

Homeless households currently in bed and breakfast accommodation will be moved to aparthotels, as will those with health conditions in temporary accommodation where they cannot safely self-isolate. They will continue to be offered support.

In total the Council is securing units for 110 individuals and around 50 households to help keep them safe during the current pandemic, costing around ₤300k for the next 3 months.

In the longer term, the Council is looking at a range of other options that would prove more cost effective solutions.

Outreach teams are continuing to visit the city centre every day to encourage rough sleepers inside and provide them with appropriate medical support if necessary. The Council is working closely with health colleagues to proactively identify anyone with underlying health conditions and ensure they are offered targeted advice, support and a move to alternative accommodation if necessary.

Anyone in Liverpool who is at immediate risk of becoming homeless is being urged to contact the Council's Housing Options Team via phone or online.

Previously, people looking for advice or support were able to call into the team's office in St John's Market for face to face assessments, however to limit the spread of Coronavirus the public counter has now been closed.

People can refer themselves to Housing Options by calling Careline, the Council's 24/7 social care contact centre, on:- 0151 233 3800 (Freephone:- 0800 731 6844). And now a new online form has been launched to make the service even more accessible online.

Professionals who are already supporting residents can still refer people to Housing Options under their Duty to Refer responsibility using the usual online form.

The process for getting support for rough sleepers remains the same; use the 24 hour 'Always Room Inside' number:- 0300 123 2041.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said:- "The homeless are one of our most vulnerable groups and many have underlying health issues, so it is absolutely vital we do all we can to keep them safe and reduce the spread of Coronavirus. Some of the accommodation we use for both rough sleepers and homeless people is temporary in nature which means it is more akin to a hostel and generally works well as a place for people to shelter, with shared facilities, while we find them somewhere more suitable. However, this is an unprecedented situation, which is why we have been working very hard behind the scenes over the last few weeks to come up with alternative provision that provides them with a place to stay that does not leave them exposed to the risk of Coronavirus. At the same time, we are continuing to send our outreach teams out on the streets to speak to rough sleepers who are still outdoors, to encourage them into services and provide them with advice on avoiding Coronavirus, and also getting them medical treatment if they need it."

26/03/2020 - 15:45

Quarrels in Quarantine: 2 in 3 Brits say working from home has already put a strain on their relationship

LET'S talk boundaries… At 1st, the prospect of working at home with your partner can seem exciting as you can spend more time together and sleep in for a few more minutes each morning. However, after a few days of being in one another's space all the time, your relationship dynamic may start getting a little tense.

CherryDigital.co, a London based public relations agency, conducted a survey of 3,800 Brits to find out how self isolation due to Covid-19; or Coronavirus; is affecting people's relationships across the UK. It was found that a large majority; 68% of respondents say working from home every day has already put a strain on their relationship with their partner.

Part of the reason could be that 1 in 10 people surveyed who are working from home now say they do not shower or bathe every day (16% of men compared to 6% of women). Also, 15% of respondents say they do not get dressed out of their sleeping attire each day. Perhaps not the best combination for romance!

Moreover, 63% of Brits who are working from home with their partner say they do not have enough room to both work comfortably. Whether this is due to the lack of space inside your home or the amount of equipment you require for your job, it is difficult to find a comfortable place to work within a space designed for living.

Many of us are aware of the difficulty that could come with self isolation, however, some of us seem to be more prepared than others. The survey asked respondents which person in their relationship has taken the most steps to prepare for self-isolation and 72% of women said it was them. This is compared to 52% of men who said they have prepared the most.

It can be challenging to continue to work as usual from home as compared to working from your office, especially considering the number of distractions you face; such as TV, children and pets. Despite these distractions, 61% of respondents say working from home actually increases their productivity!

If your partner knows what makes you tick and you're starting to feel like a time bomb waiting to go off, here are some tips on how to deal with the situation in a positive way:

If you find yourselves having to work in close quarters, you can each use a pair of headphones to zone out and forget your significant other is in the room. This will allow you both to get through your to do lists and organise your thoughts without having the other person distract you.

Learn a new hobby together. Now is the perfect time to maximise bonding through activities such as cooking (buy your ingredients online to minimise contact) or learnth a new language.

Spend at least an hour per day on some sort of exercise routine. There are tons of at-home workout videos available online such as yoga, HIIT, dance routines and pilates.

Ease additional stress by keeping your home neat and tidy by splitting up the household chores.

Prohibition notice for pub breaching Coronavirus restrictions

A pub in South Liverpool has been issued with a prohibition order after it was found to be open, in breach of Coronavirus restrictions. Licensing officers were tipped off last weekend that The Orient in Speke was open, in contravention of government orders last Friday night for the entertainment, Hospitality and indoor leisure premises to close. The pub, on Eastern Avenue, was served with a notice to cease trading or face the possibility of an unlimited fine. It is the 1st pub in Liverpool to be issued with a prohibition order since the Coronavirus restrictions were introduced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The action by Liverpool City Council has been supported by Merseyside Police. A full list of premises that have to close due to Coronavirus restrictions can be found here.

City Manager Kevin Johnson said:- "The Government have been really clear that many places, including:- pubs and bars, should close as part of the measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus and save lives.It is really important that landlords understand we will take action against them if we find they are opening in breach of the rules. They are there for good reason: to limit as far as possible the number of people getting the virus. They face the potential of an unlimited fine if we prosecute, as well as the possibility that we will review their licence. Where we receive evidence of premises opening illegally, we will investigate and take action, because they are acting irresponsibly and putting lives at risk."

Liverpool community policing Superintendent Diane Pownall said:- "We would strongly support the local authority in taking action against any licensed, or other, premises which are found to be in breach of government instruction on isolation and social distancing. Some people may think they are doing no harm behind closed doors but in reality they are selfishly putting themselves, their families and their wider community at risk. Department of Health guidance is that the Covid-19 virus is spread by close human contact which is why social distancing and self-isolation has been introduced. We appreciate that business owners are feeling the financial impact of having to temporarily close their businesses but these rules are in place for the protection and benefit of everybody. I would urge anyone who is aware of any business which is in breach of the Government instruction to contact us so that we can take the appropriate action in order to keep everyone safe and healthy."

26/03/2020 - 14:22

Metro Mayor and Leader of Halton announcement on Mersey Tunnel and Mersey Gateway tolls

LIVERPOOL City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has today announced that Mersey Tunnel Tolls have been suspended to help essential frontline key workers battling the Coronavirus across the region to get around and do their jobs more easily. The decision will come into effect from 8pm, Thursday, 26 March 2020, and is designed to support people who have to travel for essential reasons and to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. Collecting the toll during this period is not considered an essential role to facilitate travel. The safety of our customers and staff must be our priority at this time. In line with national advice only key workers should be travelling at this time, and therefore using the Mersey Tunnels, and the Metro Mayor is telling people to stay at home.

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said:- "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures; and that is why, following discussions with our 6 Council leaders, I am today suspending all tolling on the Mersey Tunnels. This is absolutely the right thing to do for our key workers who have to travel and are working tirelessly in our communities day in and day out to provide crucial services to keep us all safe. In light of national advice there should only be key workers using our tunnels and by suspending the tolls we can actively support them in what are extremely challenging circumstances. Please stay at home and only leave the house if absolutely necessary. We must all do this if we are going to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus and ease the pressure on our NHS and other vital services. Our public services are doing their jobs, you need to do yours. Stay home, stay safe and save lives."

The suspension of tolls will remain in place for as long as the current UK restrictions remain in place, which is expected to be 3 weeks, but may be extended in line with any further Government announcements. Halton Council is also taking steps to remove tolls on Mersey Gateway, but to do so requires Government approval.

Cllr Rob Polhill, Leader of Halton Council, said:- "We have put a proposal into Government asking them to agree to remove tolls from Mersey Gateway, as we need Government consent to do this. We are currently waiting for their response. If Government agree our request Halton Council, in conjunction with the Department for Transport (DfT), will be suspending the requirement to pay road user charges (referred to as tolls) on Mersey Gateway with immediate effect and will also be kept under review in line with Government announcements. The Council would encourage those not engaged in key worker roles to comply with Government Guidance to stay at home, work remotely where ever possible and only make journeys that are necessary. For those in key worker roles, such as NHS workers, care workers and others (whether employed or volunteers) engaged in supporting vulnerable people and those most at risk from COVID 19, we want to make it easier and remove the added burden of worrying if they have paid their toll on time, so they can concentrate on helping us keep people safe."

26/03/2020 - 14:04

Survey Results:- '⅓ of independent news providers in the UK at risk of closure due to COVID-19'

A survey of independent news providers in the UK has shown that 75% are at risk of closure due to the COVID-19 crisis.Between 23 March and 26 March 2020, the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) surveyed independent news providers across the UK, in partnership with the Independent and Community News Network (ICNN), Bureau Local and IMPRESS. 53 news providers responded to the survey. They responded:-

► 94% of respondents said that they expect the crisis to have a:- 'negative' or 'very negative' impact on their organisation.

► 75% fear this might result in temporary or permanent closure.

► 80% do not have insurance that covers the challenges they now face.

► 65% do not believe that the Government recognises the role of journalism in responding to the crisis or is doing enough to help the sector right now.

Independent news providers include a wide range of local, hyperlocal and regional newspapers and websites, alongside non-profit investigative journalism organisations and publications that are aimed at BAME groups or communities of interest. This sector is particularly concerned about:-

► The loss of online advertising.

► The suspension of print distribution, with knock-on effects for advertising.

► The loss of income from donations and subscriptions.

► The suspension of complementary business activities, which are a common source of income in this sector.

1 publisher said:- "It's utterly devastating. We are watching the 14 years of hard work and dedication we've put into building this publication and bringing change to news reporting in our area fall apart in front of our eyes in a matter of weeks."

Respondents highlighted the lack of clear or detailed communication from the Government. They are particularly confused about whether they qualify as 'key workers' for the purposes of travel and childcare.

► 42% believe that they do qualify as key workers.

► 29% believe they do not qualify as key workers.

► 29% don't know.

The survey also shows that more than 60% of independent news providers are going beyond traditional journalism in their response to the crisis. For example, they are providing direct support to vulnerable citizens; organising and promoting online events; coordinating volunteering; and working with local businesses to provide online information about home deliveries. The Public Interest News Foundation is now working with independent publishers and other stakeholders to develop plans for a comprehensive support package for the sector.

Assurance for patients from NHS trust during Coronavirus outbreak

DURING what is a worrying and unpredictable time, North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is reassuring its service users, patients, families and carers that its top priority is to continue to deliver safe services wherever possible.

North West Boroughs Healthcare has tried and tested, existing plans to manage pandemics in place and working well. These plans include:- training, upskilling and moving existing staff to different roles as appropriate. The Trust is also recruiting additional temporary staff and has contingency strategies in place to adapt as the situation progresses.

The Trust is doing everything it can to continue providing services as usual but may need to make some temporary changes and deliver some services in a different way. Patients can find out if the service they use is affected using the Trust's website.

Service users who are due to attend an appointment with or are expecting a visit from one of our services, and are experiencing Coronavirus symptoms, including either a new, continuous cough or a high temperature or both, should not attend their appointment. Please contact the service and let them know.

Service users who are not experiencing any symptoms or self isolating, should attend as normal unless they are contacted directly by the service.

The Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak and all the news and conversations surrounding it have potential to cause stress. It's understandable that people feel concerned and it's important to take steps to look after your mental health and wellbeing as well as your physical wellbeing.

For a wide range of tips, advice and information to support mental health and wellbeing, visit:-

• Mental Health Foundation:- MentalHealth.Org.UK.

• Mind:- Mind.Org.UK.

• NHS website:- NHS.UK.

26/03/2020 - 12:02

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Announces Revised Schedule

FOLLOWING the decision of the Isle of Man Government to close its borders to all, but essential workers, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is rescheduling its services effective from 27 March 2020. Sailings affected will be those from 27 March until 16 April 2020

Manannan will no longer be starting her seasonal services as scheduled, on Friday, 27 March 2020. All passengers booked on fast craft sailings to or from Liverpool until Friday, 16 April will be given the option to transfer to the nearest available Ben-my-Chree service to or from Heysham or receive a full refund, including those booked on non-refundable special offers. Refunds will be available within a month.

Customers booked on Irish services during this period will also be offered a refund.

The Ben-my-Chree will continue to operate twice daily services between Douglas and Heysham to maintain lifeline freight services. At this time passengers are still permitted to travel to Heysham, but Government restrictions mean they cannot return during the 21 day period from 27 March 2020.

Any passenger intending to arrive on the Isle of Man after 06:30hrs on Friday 27th March must hold an authorisation issued by the Chief Secretary to confirm that they are required to perform specific essential work on the Island. Authorisation requests must be made 24 hours prior to the intended date and time of travel by contacting iomgexemptions@gov.im

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said:- "We kindly ask for your patience as we work through this period of extremely high demand for our Reservations team. We anticipate there will be a large number of requests via telephone and email to be dealt with by our staff, and will be working through these as efficiently as we can for our customers. We are committed to transporting essential food and goods to the Island and wish to reassure the Island community that our lifeline freight services are secure and will continue."

Steam Packet Company customers with an online account can make amendments or cancellations online directly, with no need to contact the Reservations Team. Passengers that do not have an account can register online and link their booking to the new account, as long as the registered email address is the same as the one used for the initial booking.

Sailings beyond 16 April 2020 will remain under regular review and, depending on Isle of Man Government travel restrictions, may also be revised as necessary. The Company will contact passengers on any future revisions.

Demand for Childline increases as Schools forced to closes

CHILDLINE has experienced an unprecedented demand for its services as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic starts to affect children's lives.

There have been over 900 counselling sessions with children and young people about Coronavirus so far, nearly two thirds of which (597) took place from 16 March to 22 March 2020, as parents started working from home and School closures were announced. The NSPCC's Liverpool Childline base has delivered just over 7% of all counselling sessions across the UK to children and young people concerned about Coronavirus since January.

Support for children worried about Coronavirus hit a peak on Wednesday, 18 March 2020; the day the Prime Minister confirmed UK Schools would shut; with Childline delivering 121 counselling sessions on the issue in just one day. Over half of young people who spoke to Childline last week about Coronavirus were counselled for their mental and emotional health as they struggled to cope with issues like isolation, arguments at home and the removal of professional support from Schools and the NHS.

One teenage girl told a counsellor:- "I feel really anxious, upset and lonely. The news has made my mental health worse but my CAMHS appointment has been cancelled and School has closed. I'm stuck at home having a horrible time because my sisters are bullying me because I'm autistic."

Government has given Childline staff and volunteers key worker status as they battle to keep the vital service running, and continue to support children through this public health emergency. While the service has reduced slightly since some volunteer counsellors have been told to self isolate, it continues to be a lifeline for some of the most vulnerable children

Last week Childline delivered over 50 counselling sessions with children who were having suicidal thoughts, exacerbated by Coronavirus as they felt trapped and isolated. Other issues raised have included School work and family relationships, as children sense the seriousness of the situation through their parent's reactions.

A girl said to Childline:- "My mum is being very distant with me and I am usually very close to her, it's really upsetting me. My mum and I have a good relationship but she's really obsessed with the news and she won't hug me or get very close to me. It scares me to think this will go on for months. She constantly talks about the Coronavirus and my anxiety is getting worse."

Most of the young people Childline has been supporting on the impact of Coronavirus are 12 to 15 year old girls.

Dame Esther Rantzen, Founder of Childline, said:- "Our dedicated volunteers are on the frontline supporting children through this public health emergency, and we couldn't do it without them. Sometimes young people find it difficult to share their anxieties with their parents, for fear of worrying them further. So, it is important that families talk about their feelings, together. We are hearing from children who have been cut off from vital support networks such as School, and friends, and that has increased their feelings of loneliness and vulnerability. They may have pre-existing mental health issues which are exacerbated by the current crisis. Childline needs your help to let children and young people know that we are still here for them, and if they need someone to turn to, they can contact Childline via our website or on the phone."

Peter Wanless, CEO of NSPCC, said:- "The 24/7 news cycle about Coronavirus is causing huge worry and anxiety in young people; particularly those who are already coping with many other issues in their lives. Childline provides an essential service to vulnerable children, some of whom may be in a life threatening situation, which is why our staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to keep Childline running. While we are all facing events unprecedented in modern time keeping children safe and providing them with a space to talk about their concerns is our number one priority."

24/03/2020 - 16:52

Day Centres close due to Coronavirus restrictions

DAY Care Facilities in Liverpool are closing temporarily due to the impact of Coronavirus restrictions. They include premises for dementia, mental health and learning disabilities. The centres are not being used at the moment because of the limits placed on people's movements by the Government to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The following centres are affected:-

► Crown Street, L7 (mental health) - closed with immediate effect.

► Lime Hub in Kensington (learning disabilities) - closed from Thursday, 25 March 2020.

► Sedgemore Day Centre in Norris Green (dementia) - closed from Friday, 26 March 2020.

► Amethyst, L6 (mental health) - to be closed when alternative accommodation found for a service user

People who use the services are being contacted and individual support will be offered to all of those affected.

26/03/2020 - 11:50

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Announces Revised Schedule

FOLLOWING the decision of the Isle of Man Government to close its borders to all, but essential workers, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is rescheduling its services effective from 27 March 2020. Sailings affected will be those from 27 March until 16 April 2020

Manannan will no longer be starting her seasonal services as scheduled, on Friday, 27 March 2020. All passengers booked on fast craft sailings to or from Liverpool until Friday, 16 April will be given the option to transfer to the nearest available Ben-my-Chree service to or from Heysham or receive a full refund, including those booked on non-refundable special offers. Refunds will be available within a month.

Customers booked on Irish services during this period will also be offered a refund.

The Ben-my-Chree will continue to operate twice daily services between Douglas and Heysham to maintain lifeline freight services. At this time passengers are still permitted to travel to Heysham, but Government restrictions mean they cannot return during the 21 day period from 27 March 2020.

Any passenger intending to arrive on the Isle of Man after 06:30hrs on Friday, 27 March 2020, must hold an authorisation issued by the Chief Secretary to confirm that they are required to perform specific essential work on the Island. Authorisation requests must be made 24 hours prior to the intended date and time of travel by contacting:- IOMGExemptions@Gov.IM.

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said:- "We kindly ask for your patience as we work through this period of extremely high demand for our Reservations team. We anticipate there will be a large number of requests via telephone and email to be dealt with by our staff, and will be working through these as efficiently as we can for our customers. We are committed to transporting essential food and goods to the Island and wish to reassure the Island community that our lifeline freight services are secure and will continue."

Steam Packet Company customers with an online account can make amendments or cancellations online directly, with no need to contact the Reservations Team. Passengers that do not have an account can register online and link their booking to the new account, as long as the registered email address is the same as the one used for the initial booking.

Sailings beyond 16 April 2020 will remain under regular review and, depending on Isle of Man Government travel restrictions, may also be revised as necessary. The Company will contact passengers on any future revisions.