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MEETING ON WEB: Because of Covid-19 the Winterton-on-Sea Parish Council held its monthly meeting online. Our digest of the meeting comes from the clerk's minutes.

EMERGENCY RESILIENCE GROUP: Cllr Smithson gave an update on the work the volunteers were doing to support the local community through the current pandemic.

PLAYING FIELD MANAGEMENT: Cllr Hartley gave an update on the current situation. An electrical test is due to take place. Grass-cutting is taking place with social distancing in place. Quotes for replacement changing rooms is in progress which will be shared at the next committee meeting for public consultation. A meeting is to be arranged by the clerk.  

Parishioners are invited to ask questions and raise items for consideration for the next agenda by emailing the Parish Clerk: clerkwinterton@gmail.com deadline Monday 27th April, 2020.

Community coronavirus testing in Norfolk and Waveney now available to “key workers” (and/or household members with symptoms).

The NHS in Norfolk and Waveney is offering local coronavirus tests to key workers* such as teachers or food industry staff, to help them remain in work and continue to support their communities. This also applies to members of their household who may have coronavirus symptoms causing the key worker to self-isolate.

Testing will take place at three locations in Norfolk and Waveney:

• The Centrum centre, close to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH)

• The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn (QEHKL)

• The James Paget University Hospital (JPUH) in Gorleston.

(See below if you would rather be tested at Ipswich, Stansted or Peterborough)

To book using the Norfolk and Waveney service:

People on the government key workers* list who need to be tested should ask their employer or line manager to register their organisation by emailing NorfolkRegistercovidtesting@nnuh.nhs.uk with their (employer) name, job title and contact number. The registration team at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital will then contact the employer to register their organisation so they their key workers can then book an appointment. The employer will be given a unique reference number and further instructions.

All applications will be checked to make sure people are well enough to attend a testing centre, and eligible for a test in line with Public Health England guidance.

People will receive their test results within 48 hours or less, either directly or via their employer’s occupational health service, together with initial advice about to what to do next.

Appointments at Ipswich, Stansted and Peterborough or other centres

If you wish to be tested at any of the national drive-through testing centres, such as Ipswich, Stansted, Peterborough and elsewhere, then you must use the national booking service. For self-referrals, this is via https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk.

Who are key workers?

* Key workers include many people working in education, transport, many public services, energy, power and water/sewerage workers, and those working to provide, distribute or sell food. The precise definition is available on this government web page: https://www.gov.uk/.../coronavirus-covid-19-getting....May 2020.

The following is a Police Connect message.

Norfolk’s Chief Constable Simon Bailey has moved to reassure communities the force’s policing stance on the COVID-19 crisis has not changed. It comes after guidance published nationally on what constitutes essential travel during the public health lock down received widespread commentary in news and social media.

Mr Bailey has urged the public to adhere to social distancing, stay at home, to protect the NHS and save lives. He said: "I want to be absolutely clear to the communities of Norfolk that our approach to policing these restrictions has not changed. The guidance was shared by our partners in the criminal justice system with the aim of helping officers in making judgements on what is considered ‘reasonable’ within the new legislation. While the advice can help inform officers in their approach to incidents it is still a decision for officers based on the factors in front of them, to be clear it does not change our policing stance. "The measures in place limiting people’s movements are in place to help stop the spread of this deadly virus and should not be taken lightly, especially as we move into an extended period of lockdown. "Social distancing can only work if everyone works together and follows the advice. Of course it’s tempting to travel further afield for a walk and some fresh air but it is not essential and the one thing we do not want to see is the public thinking it is safe to travel to beaches and beauty spots and enjoying what they have on offer. It is not safe to do this; businesses and shops remain closed and the public need to stay at home. "Our approach to dealing with people who flout these restrictions is fair but firm; officers will continue to follow a four-step escalation process and we will engage, explain and encourage in the first instance. Enforcement will always be a last resort. "I want to reiterate that our police style has not changed and I would urge people in our communities, the overwhelming majority of which have been adhering to the guidelines, to continue with that effort.” Last night the government announced the lockdown would be extended for a further three weeks. These measures mean that people should only leave the house for one of the following four reasons:      

     •     Shopping for basic necessities, such as food or medicine and infrequent as possible

     •     One form of exercise a day, for example a walk, run, or cycle, alone of with members of your household

     •     Any medical need, or to provide care or help to a vulnerable person

     •     Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home

Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner Lorne Green said: "Together we can make a difference. Never before have these six simple words been truer. "With the weekend fast approaching it will be so tempting for people to want to risk leaving the safety of their homes and venture out and about. But the message from the Government and NHS colleagues has never been clearer. Resist temptation and please Stay at Home. "The thought of an extended lockdown may prove to be extremely difficult for so many. But we need to look after one another and above all keep as safe as possible by listening to the guidance. "Your actions this weekend will make a difference. SOS! S-Save our NHS, O-Observe the Government Guidelines, S-Save Lives.”  

As we enter the next 3 weeks of lockdown here is a summary of the advice:

1. You MUST NOT leave the house for any reason, but if you have a reason, you can leave the house

2. Masks are useless at protecting you against the virus, but you may have to wear one because it can save lives, but they may not work, but they may be mandatory, but maybe not

3. Shops are closed, except those shops that are open

4. You must not go to work but you can get another job and go to work

5. You should not go to the Drs or to the hospital unless you have to go there, unless you are too poorly to go there

6. This virus can kill people, but don’t be scared of it. It can only kill those people who are vulnerable or those people who are not vulnerable people. It’s possible to contain and control it, sometimes, except that sometimes it actually leads to a global disaster

7. Gloves won't help, but they can still help so wear them sometimes or not

8. STAY HOME, but it's important to go out

9. There is no shortage of groceries in the supermarkets, but there are many things missing. Sometimes you won’t need loo rolls but you should buy some just in case you need some

10. The virus has no effect on children except those children it affects

11. Animals are not affected, but there is still a cat that tested positive in Belgium in February when no one had been tested, plus a few tigers here and there…

12. Stay 2 metres away from tigers (see point 11)

13. You will have many symptoms if your get the virus, but you can also get symptoms without getting the virus, get the virus without having any symptoms or be contagious without having symptoms, or be non contagious with symptoms...

14. To help protect yourself you should eat well and exercise, but eat whatever you have on hand as it's better not to go out shopping

15. It's important to get fresh air but don't go to parks but go for a walk. But don’t sit down, except if you are old, but not for too long or if you are pregnant or if you’re not old or pregnant but need to sit down. If you do sit down don’t eat your picnic

16. Don’t visit old people but you have to take care of the old people and bring them food and medication

17. If you are sick, you can go out when you are better but anyone else in your household can’t go out when you are better unless they need to go out

18. You can get restaurant food delivered to the house. These deliveries are safe. But groceries you bring back to your house have to be decontaminated outside for 3 hours including Pizza...

19. You can't see your older mother or grandmother, but they can take a taxi and meet an older taxi driver

20. You are safe if you maintain the safe social distance when out but you can’t go out with friends or strangers at the safe social distance

21. The virus remains active on different surfaces for two hours ... or four hours... six hours... I mean days, not hours... But it needs a damp environment. Or a cold environment that is warm and dry... in the air, as long as the air is not plastic

22. Schools are closed so you need to home educate your children, unless you can send them to school because you’re not at home. If you are at home you can home educate your children using various portals and virtual class rooms, unless you have poor internet, or more than one child and only one computer, or you are working from home. Baking cakes can be considered maths, science or art. If you are home educating you can include household chores to be education. If you are home educating you can start drinking at 10am

23. If you are not home educating children you can also start drinking at 10am

24. The number of corona related deaths will be announced daily but we don't know how many people are infected as they are only testing those who are almost dead to find out if that's what they will die of… the people who die of corona who aren’t counted won’t be counted

25. You should stay in locked down until the virus stops infecting people but it will only stop infecting people if we all get infected so it’s important we get infected and some don’t get infected

26. You can join your neighbours for a street party and turn your music up for an outside disco and your neighbours won’t call the police. People in another street are allowed to call the police about your music.

27. No business will go under due to Coronavirus except those businesses that will have already gone under.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council hands out £9m in relief grants to local businesses

Tuesday 7th April                    

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is reminding local businesses of the support available to help them during this challenging time, with more than £9m in grants already handed out to eligible businesses and a webpage with lots of information on the new support recently announced by Government.

Last week, the council wrote to the 3,000 businesses in the borough which are eligible for the Government’s relief grants, with businesses able to contact the council directly for any support.

The council are advising that businesses be wary of third-party companies offering to complete their grant form for a fee. It is a simple process requiring information each business should have easy access to. The council is able to help over the phone if needed.

By the end of Friday, April 3, more than £9m had been processed in business grant applications, out of 942 applications received. Over the weekend, a further 122 grant forms were received. Eligible businesses should only submit one form, as duplication of forms is likely to delay processing.

Cllr Carl Smith, leader of the council, said “The council is working closely with New Anglia LEP, other local councils and business groups to ensure our local businesses get the support they are entitled to. I’m pleased we’ve managed to process over nine hundred applications in less than a week and we’re happy to see more applications coming in daily from eligible businesses.

“The council will administer and pay out the grants as soon as possible. If you are a business with any immediate concerns, then please get in touch. Lots of information and support about the grants, eligibility criteria and further business advice is available on our website which is being kept updated daily.”

Visit www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support Businesses with any enquiries about the support available should contact the Growth Hub via 0300 333 6536 or www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk.

A message from Winterton Parish Council

Dear Villagers

With the continued escalation and huge concern from all of us during the Covid-19 crisis as I type this I note that 1228 people have died  to date , this number is set to increase dramatically.

We as a parish council continue to try and ensure that our village is safe offering support to all who need it and in particular the most vulnerable of our residents.

It is very much appreciated that extreme concern, worry and in some situations anger are present unfortunately because within Winterton last weekend, we had an influx of visitors who were, what can only be best described as naïve, ignorant & foolish to the seriousness of the situation. Consequently, visitors ignored all the guidelines and still treated the village as a destination for dog walking, exercising and an escape away from their own areas.

At this time in the escalating situation, it would be appropriate to say that by not accepting the government guidelines visitors are being disrespectful to the health and wellbeing of the residents of Winterton-on-Sea. To this end and to deter day-trippers and others the following is as we understand in place until further notice:    

Beach Car park is closed

The Beach toilets are closed

The Village Chip shop is closed

Dunes Café is closed

The Fisherman’s Return is closed

Holiday Let bookings as much as we can determine are cancelled and no new bookings are being taken; the vast majority of 2nd homes in the village are Holiday lets . Police are patrolling the village on a regular basis and it has been witnessed that several people are being stopped, questioned with respect to the reason for being in the village and turned away as appropriate. In discussions with the Police, it is the current situation that they cannot stop home owners turning up in the village, however this may change in the coming days as Government tighten Police powers to act.

Current guidelines are STAY AT HOME SAVE LIVES

The only reasons to leave home are:

To shop for basic necessities or pick up medicine

To travel to work when you absolutely cannot work from home

To exercise once a day, alone or with members of your household

Always stay two meters apart

DO NOT meet others, even friends & family

We as a Parish Council have been active in assembling a support group within the village to assist in helping individuals who are restricted by quarantine or other circumstances. If you are self-isolating, unwell, housebound and need provisions or the collection of a prescription and have no available friends or relatives you should phone the Parish Council. Leaflets  were distributed throughout the village last Saturday explaining and containing contact phone numbers:

01493 394932

01493 393877

01493 393978

The network of volunteers is growing and to all these people we are very grateful.

We as a Parish Council and the friendly residents of our beautiful, welcoming village Winterton-on-Sea are saying during this critical, life threatening time with particular focus on the most vulnerable to  people who against all advice from the UK Government and the World Health Authority still intend visiting, PLEASE stay away at this very difficult time in all our lives we look forward to welcoming you back when we all hopefully return to normal, safe and healthy.

In closing, we all know the rules please remember the following ;

wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds

use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available

wash your hands as soon as you get back home

cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze

put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

Stay In touch with family and friends over the phone or internet

Try to keep yourself busy do light exercise

Be mindful of your mental health  

KEEP SAFE

PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGE

Local health leaders urge people to keep up the fight against coronavirus by staying at home

The NHS in Norfolk and Waveney is encouraging local people to keep up the fight against coronavirus (Covid-19) by following the latest Government advice and staying at home.

A new Government campaign launched this week called Stay Home, Save Lives which reinforces the single most important action we can now all take, in fighting coronavirus – is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.

Dr Anoop Dhesi, a GP at Stalham and Chair of NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We’re asking everyone to help save lives, by staying at home because anyone can spread coronavirus.

“Only leave your home to shop for basic necessities, to pick up medicine or to provide care to those who need it or to exercise once a day, alone or with members of your household.

“Only travel to work when you absolutely cannot work from home.

“If you have to go out for any of these reasons always stay two metres apart.

“Do not meet others outside your household; even friends and family. The message is simple stay home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.”

It comes as letters are sent to vulnerable patients urging them to shield themselves from the virus by staying at home and avoiding face-to-face contact for the next 12 weeks.  

The letters provide information about accessing health and social care during this time and extra support available for them, their families and carers.

All those who receive a letter are encouraged to register now by going to www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable or call 0800 028 8327, the Government’s dedicated helpline.

This will tell whether or not they are in touch with friends, family or a support network in their community who can support them to get food and medicine, and follow the advice in the letter they have received.

NHS Norfolk and Waveney comes into being on Wednesday 1 April 2020, following the planned merger of the current five NHS CCGs.