Businesses warned of COVID 19 secure inspection scam
SEFTON Council is
warning the Borough’s businesses to be vigilant after reports of
a possible COVID-19 inspection scam. The Council’s Trading
Standards has reports saying of businesses being contacted by
someone claiming to be from the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The
caller has requested permission to undertake a COVID 19 secure
inspection of their premises, but has also claimed the business
could receive a reward up to ₤2,000 if they score highly in the
inspection.
These calls could be related to a scam because no law
enforcement agency would offer a financial inducement.
Additionally, the FSA does not inspect local businesses as this
is the responsibility of the Local Authority and COVID-19 is not
a food matter, but a Health and Safety one. Throughout the
pandemic, the Council has received reports of scams and
businesses are urged to stay Safe and Savvy. Any business that
is concerned they may have been targeted by a scam should report
it to Sefton Trading Standards by emailing:-
ETSContact@Sefton.Gov.UK,
by calling:- 03454040506 or visiting Sefton Trading
Standards For members
of the public, you can report scams via:-
CitizensAdvice.Org.UK.
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for
Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services, said:-
"This type of behaviour is both shocking and disgraceful and has
an impact on businesses that have already been badly affected by
COVID 19 during Lockdown. We advise businesses to take extra
vigilant and be aware of these new scams that can take many
forms. The general rule of scams applies; if it seems too good
to be true, then it probably is. In the meantime, businesses
should follow the official government advice, and take all
necessary precautions."
Sefton Council backs Royal British Legion’s campaign to get
veterans on the census
SEFTON Council is
delighted that the Government has announced the 2021 census will
now include a question on whether someone has served in the
Armed Forces. For the 1st time in the history of the census, it
will now include a question on previous service in HM Armed
Forces, providing a detailed snapshot of the number, profile and
potential needs of military veterans living in England and
Wales. It has been estimated that there are 2.4m veterans
currently living in the UK, who make up part of a wider
ex-service community which includes their spouses, partners,
dependent children and widow(er)s. However, little is currently
known about the exact numbers, location and needs of this
significant group. Including an Armed Forces question in the
next census will provide public bodies, charities and Local
Authorities such as Sefton Council with valuable information to
ensure they are able to deliver the best services they can for
our Armed Forces community, whether they are still serving,
veterans, and their family members. The Royal British Legion,
which led the campaign, is at the heart of a national network
offering a range of support and services to the Armed Forces
community.
Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council said:- "I’m
delighted that the 2021 census will now include this vitally
important question and will significantly improve our
understanding of the Armed Forces in our local community. As a
council will be able to use this new information to help shape
our services, ensuring that we can deliver the best possible
service to servicemen and women when it is needed. We are also
delighted and are extremely grateful to have supported The Royal
British Legion who have campaigned to make this happen.”
Vets offer reassurance
after pet cat tests positive for Covid-19 in the UK
THE British Veterinary
Association (BVA) has issued advice for pet owners after it
emerged that the virus responsible for Covid-19 had been
detected in a pet cat in England, in the first such known case
in the UK. A statement issued by Defra, on 27 July 2020 said
that the infection was confirmed following tests at the Animal
Plant Health Agency (APHA) laboratory, in Weybridge, on 22 July
2020. A Private Vet diagnosed the pet with feline herpes, a
common respiratory infection in cats, but the sample was also
tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus as part of a research programme.
Follow up tests at the APHA laboratory confirmed that the cat
was simultaneously infected with this virus. The UK Government
has emphasised that all available evidence suggests that the cat
contracted the Coronavirus from its owners, who had previously
tested positive for Covid-19. The cat and its owners have since
made a full recovery and no other animals or people in the
household were affected. Staff at the Veterinary Practice, where
the cat was treated, were aware of the household’s Covid-19
status and were not impacted by the virus.
Responding to the news, BVA President Daniella Dos Santos said:-
"While pet owners may be worried by this news, we’d like
to emphasise that there continues to be no evidence that
infected pets can pass Covid-19 to their owners. There have been
a tiny number of cases of Covid-19 in domestic animals worldwide
and in all cases, it appears likely that the transmission was
from infected humans to animals. We have been in touch with vets
in Government and the local Veterinary Practice for information
and have been informed that the cat only showed mild clinical
signs and has since made a full recovery. Our advice to pet
owners who have Covid-19 or who are self isolating with symptoms
remains to restrict contact with their pets as a precautionary
measure and to practise good hygiene, including regular hand
washing. We also recommend that owners who are confirmed or
suspected to have Covid-19 should keep their cat indoors if
possible, but only if the cat is happy to be kept indoors. Some
cats cannot stay indoors due to stress related medical reasons.
It is also the case that animals may act as fomites, as the
virus could be on their fur in the same way it is on other
surfaces, such as tables and doorknobs. That’s why good hand
hygiene remains important."
BVA has issued the following advice for pet owners confirmed or
suspected to have Covid-19:-
► Restrict contact with pets as a
precautionary measure.
► If your pet requires care, wash your
hands before and after any interaction with them and wear a face
mask if possible.
► Keep cats indoors if possible, and
only if they are happy to be indoors. Try to arrange for someone
else to exercise dogs, taking care to restrict any contact with
the person walking your dog and making sure they practise good
hand hygiene. This is to reduce the likelihood of your pet
spreading the disease through environmental contamination on
their fur; there is no evidence that pet animals can pass
Covid-19 to humans.
► If your pet shows clinical signs,
please do not take it to the vet but call the practice for
advice first and alert them to the household’s status.
► If your pet requires essential
treatment, call the practice for further advice. Do not take
your pet to the surgery unless the vet instructs you to. You may
need to arrange for someone else to transport your pet for
treatment.
More BVA guidance for pet owners is available at:-
BVA.Co.UK/Coronavirus. The
latest Government guidance on how to continue to care for pet
animals during the Coronavirus pandemic can be viewed at:-
Gov.UK/Guidance/.
Total UK cases COVID-19 cases - update for Liverpool City Region
and surroundings
THE total number of UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections that have been laboratory
confirmed, within the UK, has risen by 685 cases and the total
number now stand at 300,111, that includes tests carried out by
commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National
totals.
Daily number of COVID-19 associated UK fatalities added to the
total, was sadly reported to be 7 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 45,759.
In England, there are a total of 258,475 confirmed cases. North
West - total of 45,360 confirmed cases. The number of laboratory
confirmed cases within the following Local Authorities, in and
around the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-
► Liverpool, 2,510 confirmed cases.
► Sefton, 1,562 confirmed cases.
► Wirral, 2,061 confirmed cases.
► St. Helens, 1,205 confirmed cases
► Halton, 700 confirmed cases.
► Blackpool, 1,042 confirmed cases.
► Blackburn with Darwen,
1,314 confirmed cases.
.
Under local lockdown
warning
Numbers up by 17 cases.
► Bolton, 1,948 confirmed cases.
► Bury, 1,322 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire West and Chester, 2,029 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire East, 2,230 confirmed cases.
► Lancashire, 7,026 confirmed cases.
► Manchester, 3,158 confirmed cases.
► Oldham, 2,036 confirmed cases.
► Rochdale, 1,830 confirmed cases.
► Stockport, 1,704 confirmed cases.
► Tameside, 1,583 confirmed cases.
► Trafford, 1,370 confirmed cases.
► Wigan, 2,169 confirmed cases..
An urgent warning has
also been issued to residents in Pendle...