MESSAGE FROM NOTTINGHAM CITY COUNCIL LEADER, COUNCILLOR DAVID MELLEN
I am very concerned about the Government’s decision to delay introducing extra restrictions in Nottingham. We have seen the number of cases spiral from being below the national average a few weeks ago to now the highest in the country, which is deeply concerning. We are also seeing an increase in Covid patients being admitted to hospital locally. It’s abundantly clear that stricter measures are needed. It makes the Government’s position even more questionable, with them changing from a plan to introduce extra restrictions this week to now not doing so until the middle of next week.
This makes absolutely no sense when the numbers have grown so drastically here in such a short space of time. It’s clear that strict interventions are needed, and they are needed urgently, rather than waiting until some time next week. Worse than that, the delay leaves this weekend open to potential abuse of the existing rules, which could result in yet more Covid cases in our city.
This unnecessarily places a huge burden on our local resources to manage and runs the risk of making a bad situation even worse in terms of infection rates. We need Government to act urgently and decisively or better still, give us the powers to let us get on with taking the action ourselves.
We need people to stop and think for themselves, if the Government isn’t going to take the action they should on behalf of the people of Nottingham. We need them to stay at home and not mix with other households, rather than being tempted to go out one last time before any extra regulations kick in. Everyone has a responsibility to themselves, to those around them and to their loved ones. For goodness sake, please help stop the spread of this virus – if you aren’t taking active steps to be part of the solution, then you are part of the problem that’s facing our city.
We need local people to continue to stick to the existing rules as they have done overwhelmingly so far:
Public Health England have produced a letter for schools to distribute to parents and carers which explains when a person requires a coronavirus test and what the symptoms of coronavirus are.
The intention of the letter is to help prevent children being taken out of school unnecessarily and answer some of the questions parents and carers may have around testing.
You can view the letter hereHaydn Primary School Test Flow Chart
If you have any concerns about family members displaying possible Covid 19 symptoms, please use the flow chart below. There is also information about booking an online test.
Coronavirus/Covid 19: Getting a Test in Nottingham – Message from City Council Leader, Councillor David Mellen
Community testing is the a key way we can control and maintain local outbreaks which in turn enables people in the city to carry on with their day-to-day activities, to go to work and for schools to remain open. Nottingham has both a fixed testing drive-through site and a mobile testing unit that visits different locations at different times. The fixed site is at the Motorpoint Arena car park behind the BBC building in Nottingham.
The mobile testing unit will be at the following locations:
Only try to book a test if you are actually experiencing symptoms or have been advised to by a health professional. You must book in for a test before attending and as locations are drive-through only, you either need to drive or be driven to a site. You can book in for a test at a mobile testing site by calling 119 or via the online government portal.
Test slots are released throughout the day and therefore if there is nothing available when you first look please keep trying. If you have symptoms you must stay at home until you can get a test and only leave home to take the test. The symptoms to look out for are:
You will receive your test result via text or email within 72 hours. If your test is positive, you must self-isolate immediately. For more information on receiving your result, visit the NHS website.
Advice For Preventing Symptomatic Persons Attending School
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Preventing symptomatic persons attending school |
· Staff and pupils who report the following symptoms remain at home for 7 days. Their household members must remain at home for 14 days: o a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) o a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual) |
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· Pupils, parents / carers and any visitors, such as suppliers, are informed not to enter the school if they are displaying any symptoms of coronavirus. |
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· The following information is shared with staff and pupils: All staff and pupils who are attending a school will have access to a test if they display symptoms of coronavirus, they are encouraged to get tested in this scenario. Where the pupil or staff member tests negative, they can return to their setting and the fellow household members can end their self-isolation. Where the pupil tests positive, the rest of their class or group within their childcare or education setting are sent home and advised to self-isolate for 14 days. The other household members of that wider class or group do not need to self-isolate unless the child, young person or staff member they live with in that group subsequently develops symptoms. |
Coronavirus - A Book for Children
This download is a very informative book aimed a children explaining the Coronavirus, lockdown and helpful tips for keeping safe during the pandemic.
The Book of Hopes
Click on the link below to download this free book from The Literacy Trust to share at home.
"Brilliant, moving and inspiring" - just what we need in these times.
"Completely free for all children and families, the extraordinary collection of short stories, poems, essays and pictures has contributions from more than 110 children’s writers and illustrators, including Lauren Child, Anthony Horowitz, Greg James and Chris Smith, Michael Morpurgo, Liz Pichon, Axel Scheffler, Francesca Simon and Jacqueline Wilson.
The collection, published by Bloomsbury, is dedicated to the doctors, nurses, carers, porters, cleaners and everyone currently working in hospitals"
Free School Meal Vouchers
For families in receipt of Free School Meals; we apologise for the delay in getting the vouchers to you, we are still waiting for the delivery from City Catering. As soon as they have arrived we will send them out to you. Thank you.
Applying for Free School Meal Vouchers
Follow the link below and fill in the application form to apply for Free School Meals.
FSM application:- https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/information-for-residents/education-and-schools/benefits-for-school-aged-children/free-school-meals-and-free-milk/
Food banks
The Trussel Trust: https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/eastwestnottingham/
Bestwood and Bulwell Food bank- https://bestwoodbulwell.foodbank.org.uk/covid-19-latest-information/
Doctors of the World are really pleased to be able to share with you Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for patients in 20 languages, which were produced in partnership with the Red Cross, Migrant Help and Clear Voice:
Available now: English, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Farsi, French, Hindi, Kurdish Sorani, Malayalam, Mandarin, Pashto, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese
Coming VERY soon: Polish, Punjabi, Romanian
Please click on the link below to access the information.
https://www.doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/coronavirus-information/
Wellbeing and support
With coronavirus being a concern for grown ups, children might also be worrying. Here's how to talk about COVID-19 with your young children, plus ways to practice healthy habits all year round. Please click on the following links for more information.
https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-coronavirus
Smartians: call 116 123 (24 hours) or visit https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
Childline : call 0800 1111 (24 hours) or visit https://www.childline.org.uk/
Kooth: Free anonymous online support for young people. https://www.kooth.com/
Mindfulness
Free online mindfulness classes for kids- https://www.mindfulschools.org/free-online-mindfulness-class-for-kids/
Headspace- guided imagery https://www.headspace.com/meditation/guided-imagery
Tips on calming anxiety during a difficult time- https://childmind.org/article/how-mindfulness-can-help-during-covid-19/