Month: October 2020

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Community Reassurance Update from Shropshire Council – Oct 2020

Update from Shropshire Council:

As the pandemic continues, we find ourselves continually adapting and innovating in order to manage the situation, always mindful of the uncertainty ahead. Since the lockdown lifted, our businesses and organisations have gone to great lengths to provide Covid-secure measures for the community, yet the infection rates are sadly rising once again.

We had set out in the previous guidance that the 7-day infection rates of 15-20 per 100,000 are considered an early warning signal, and rates of more than 20 per 100,000 are likely to trigger visiting restrictions. Our area has now reached over 20 cases per 100,000. For more detailed information about your area of Shropshire, please visit the following websites:

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/cases?areaType=ltla&areaName=Shropshire

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=47574f7a6e454dc6a42c5f6912ed7076

There is understandable fatigue, fear and anxiety at the prospect of further lockdown restrictions, but at this time we must step-up, repeat and refresh the crucial public health messages and urge a renewed vigilance amongst our friends, families and organisations.

In order to renew our efforts, Shropshire Council have launched a new campaign. Step-Up Shropshire aims to encouraging everyone who lives, works and plays in our county to do their bit. You can help to promote this by sharing our social media posts and posters

We are also developing a video where we plan to film people talking about how and why they are ‘Stepping up for Shropshire’, and we would like to invite all our community groups to join in. If you’re interested in contributing towards this then please email CommunityReassurance@shropshire.gov.uk

Along with this campaign, our Community Reassurance Team have been visiting Shropshire’s towns to provide guidance and advice to residents and businesses.

So far, we have had a gloriously sunny day in Oswestry, a freezing day in Shrewsbury, a wet day in Bridgnorth and fortunately a very clement day in Whitchurch last Friday.

Warning over test and trace scam 

We have been made aware of a new telephone scam whereby callers claiming to be from the NHS Test and Trace service are asking for payment for tests. Those being called are advised that they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for Coronavirus and are then told they must purchase a test over the phone. For clarity:

The NHS Test and Trace Service will:

  • Call from 0300 013 5000
  • Send text messages from ‘NHS’
  • Ask people to sign into the NHS test and trace contact-tracing website 
  • Ask for full name and date of birth to confirm identity, and postcode to offer support while self-isolating
  • Ask about the Coronavirus symptoms
  • Ask people to provide the name, telephone number and/or email address of anyone they have had close contact with in the two days prior to symptoms starting (as with your own details these will be held in strict confidence and will be kept and used only in line with data protection laws)

 The NHS Test and Trace service will NOT:

  • Ask you for payment
  • Ask you for details of card or bank account numbers
  • Ask you to set up a password or PIN number over the phone
  • Ask you to provide or fill in social media login details
  • Ask you to download anything
  • Ask you to call a premium rate number, such as those starting 09 or         087

If you have any concerns about trading practices relating to COVID-19 or any other issue, you should please report these to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.

Covid-19 Helpline and on-line information

For non-medical support and enquires call direct Covid-19 Helpline 0345 6789028  or email customerfirst@shropshire.gov.uk. On the Shropshire Council website, there is a wide range of information available to help you support people. Find the full range of information here: https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/information-for-the-public/. This includes the three directories on: food provision, community support and community social networks. Please check that your support group’s details are correctly recorded on the relevant directories. Please email me as soon as possible if you would like changes to be made.