Covid-19 recent updates and important information

Welcome to the weekly Covid-19 information round up.

There is lots of information about Covid-19 coming from several different channels such as the Government and the NHS.

This bulletin aims to give you a summary about COVID-19 related information that is new or has changed recently.

Government announcement (from 22 Feb 2021)

The Government has announced that from 8 March, people in England will see restrictions start to lift. They have published details of a four-step road map which details the route back to a more normal life.

The first step will be split into two parts:

Step 1 (part one) – March 8

All schools and colleges will reopen, as well as after school clubs
One plus one recreation will be allowed; for example, people will be permitted to meet one other person from outside their household to socialise
Stay at home order will remain

Step 1 (part two) – March 29, at the earliest

Rule of six to return for outdoor meetings, including private gardens as will two-household rule
Outdoor sports facilities to reopen
Stay at home order to end

Before proceeding to each next step, the government will examine the data to assess the impact of previous changes.

Details on the each step can be found on the Government website.

Covid vaccine questions and concerns from young people

Young people from Bradford District have worked with doctors and health professionals to produce a short film that will answer people’s questions on the COVID-19 vaccine.

The film was devised and produced by the district’s Young COVID Ambassadors, a group of young people brought together as part of the district’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ambassadors worked with other young people to pull together the most common questions about the vaccine and put these to local health professionals.

Some of the questions the health experts took on were: How does the vaccine work? Does the vaccine contain a microchip? How long does immunity last after having the vaccine? Can you still transmit the virus after being vaccinated? And will there always be different variants of the virus?

The film will be used by many organisations across the Bradford District including schools, NHS services, youth and voluntary services as well as through the Council’s social media platforms. You can watch the YouTube video here.

Additional groups to shield until 31st March 2021

The government has announced an expansion to the list of people classed as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) who should now be shielding in the district, which is an addition to those that are already shielding. Those who should now be shielding should receive a letter from their GP explaining why they have been asked to shield, which should be commence from now up until the 31 March 2021.

How to get support

If you need support or advice please call 01274 431000 where the Council’s contact centre team will refer you to the right team. Support includes:

Access to a priority shopping slot so that you can have food delivered. There is also a guide on our website that provides information on places where you can get food delivered from, along with contact details
Referral to a food bank. We are supporting food banks to do deliveries for those in acute financial need
Befriending services. We know that loneliness will be an issue for all of us this winter and have organisations in the voluntary sector working with us who can link you to a listening ear. If you would like to volunteer to be a befriender you can also contact 01274 431000
Dog walking, if you are unable to leave your house

The Government information about shielding is here

What is a Support Bubble?

A support bubble is a support network which links 2 households. You have to meet certain eligibility rules to form a support bubble. This means not everyone will be able to form a support bubble.

You should not form a support bubble with a household that is part of another support bubble. To keep everyone safe, you can only be in one support bubble.

Once you’re in a support bubble, you can think of yourself as being in one ‘household’. It means you can have close contact with the other household in your bubble as if they were members of your own household. This means you do not need to maintain social distance with people in your support bubble.

You should continue to follow social distancing guidance with people outside of your household or support bubble. This is critical to keeping you, your family and friends as safe as possible.

You can form a support bubble with another household of any size if:

you live by yourself – even if carers visit you to provide support
you are the only adult in your household who does not need continuous care as a result of a disability
your household includes a child who is under the age of one
your household includes a child with a disability who requires continuous care and is under the age of 5
you are aged 16 or 17 living with others of the same age and without any adults
you are a single adult living with one or more children who are under the age of 18

Full details on forming support bubbles are here.

No Child Cold

Thank you to everyone who has given to the No Child Campaign so far.

Every penny is going towards helping families in need to pay towards heating their homes during lockdown, supporting children learning at home because no child should have to learn in the cold. The fund is still open for donations and grants are available for anyone who needs to claim.

Please don’t suffer this winter get in touch for help or to make a donation.

Coronavirus testing in Bradford District

If you live or work in the Bradford District there are now several different ways you can get a test for COVID-19 including mobile testing units, home testing and lateral flow testing.

Find out more about where you can go to get tested and where are home-testing teams will be visiting in over the next week.

Maintain 2 metres social distancing from people you do not live with
Wear a face covering over your nose and mouth in public places and where you can’t keep 2 metres apart from others.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water when leaving the house and returning and regularly throughout the day. When soap and water is not available outside of your home use hand sanitiser.

Do you need help or support?

If you need help or have a particular need please ring and talk to one of our friendly team who will take some details and pass them onto the relevant service. Call 01274 431000 or for BSL text 07790 347389.

See our website for more information about local support and volunteering to help others.

COVID-19 Vaccine information

The NHS have provided partners with information on the latest COVID-19 vaccines including a list of FAQs. This page will be updated as and when more information is made available.

Are you concerned about someone’s safety?

If you have a concern about the safety of a child or a vulnerable adult, do not keep it to yourself. Report your concern on the Safer Bradford website. We’re available 24/7, 365 days a year.

Or call: