All our help and information is now available in a single place on the SCC website https://www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus/covid-19-latest-advice/
This page is refreshed through the day so please check in regularly to keep across developments and news.
Public Health dashboard: Detailed Public Health information dashboards are available on our website www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus just scroll down to ‘Covid-19 dashboard’. These are updated daily.
Top stories today:
Call for people aged 70 and over to contact NHS for Covid jab
People aged 70 and over who have not yet been vaccinated against Covid and who would like to be are today being asked to contact the NHS to arrange a jab.
Until now the NHS has asked people to wait until they are contacted to help ensure that those who are most vulnerable are protected first – and that remains the case for most people. However, to ensure absolutely everyone is offered the vaccine, people aged 70 and over can now contact the NHS so they can be vaccinated by the middle of this month.
The easiest way to arrange a vaccination is through the national booking service which can be accessed at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination.
Anyone unable to book online can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.
If a suitable and convenient slot is not available people can also call their GP practice.
Council staff joining Somerset’s army of vaccinators
Public health staff from Somerset County Council are rolling up their sleeves – and those of others – to join the army of vaccinators in the county.
Jo Smith, Head of Service for Public Health Operational Teams, is the first fully trained Somerset County Council vaccinator. Working in the Burnham-on-Sea vaccination site, Jo is combining her new role with her day job by working shifts outside her normal working hours – evenings and weekends.
She will soon be joined by other members of the Council’s public health nursing team who will be offering vaccination shifts outside normal working hours to make sure delivery of their vital day-to-day work is not affected.
The importance of fresh air in controlling the spread of Covid-19
Covid-19 (coronavirus) is spread through the air, especially in indoor spaces. What steps can we take to reduce the spread?
Reducing the time/duration of contact indoors: It is clear that the risk of infection drops to below one when the group uses face masks, shortens the length of contact and ventilates the space. People should not spend long periods of time in poorly ventilated spaces with other people.
Let plenty of fresh air into your home or room without getting uncomfortably cold if you have people working in or visiting you (only where permitted). You should do this during their visit and after they leave.
Avoid coming into contact with people in spaces with limited flow of fresh air such as rooms with windows that are never opened.
For more information on how ventilation can help the spread of covid-19, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-film-shows-importance-of-ventilation-to-reduce-spread-of-covid-19
Food support for February half-term
A reminder that Somerset County Council is continuing to provide food support for families during the upcoming February half-term.
The Council has used funding from the Winter Covid Grant Scheme to ensure families with children eligible for Free School Meals will receive food or vouchers during the holiday and has asked schools to help deliver this targeted food support.
Somerset County Council has also provided additional funding so that more families and children needing support over half-term can receive help.