Glastonbury

SCC & NHS Advice in Somerset. For the latest information and advice on Coronavirus (COVID-19) from Somerset County Council and the NHS in Somerset see the website

BVA statement on cats and Covid-19. The British Veterinary Association has clarified its position in light of a report on the BBC news website relating to cats and coronavirus. The headline of the article suggested that veterinary advice was to keep all cats indoors, but BVA has explained this advice is only in relation to cats in infected households or where people are self-isolating. “It is very important that people don’t panic about their pets. There is no evidence that animals can pass the disease to humans.” Full BVA statement here

Health Connections Mendip Newsletter. In this issue of our newsletter, we’re providing latest Government guidance and information on Covid-19, and sharing details on the new community support networks across Mendip, which can help people with shopping and picking up medication. There are also links to mental health and emotional support, healthy lifestyle advice, community food projects and resources for people running mutual aid groups and community volunteer networks. Read the Newsletter

 

 

National

• The UK saw a record daily rise in the number of patients who died in hospital after testing positive for Covid-19, which increased by 938 to 7,097.
• The prime minister’s condition was said to be improving, with Boris Johnson “sitting up in bed” and “engaging positively” with the clinical team as his intensive care continues at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
• Larry the Downing Street cat is “absolutely fine and going about his business in the usual way” despite the British Veterinary Association’s call for animals from infected households to be
  quarantined as well. The government says there is no evidence that pets can pass on coronavirus to owners.
• The deputy chief government scientific adviser, Angela McLean, said the spread of coronavirus is not accelerating and the UK seems to get towards a flat curve, as the lockdown begins to bear fruit. Due to lags in reporting, the number of deaths can be expected to continue to increase, however.
• The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a £750m package for the charity sector across the UK.
• Schools across the UK are not expected to reopen after the Easter break and will instead remain closed for the foreseeable future,
• Improvements are being made to the coronavirus business loan scheme after reports that hardly any companies are getting them.
• The second NHS Nightingale hospital, which was built at the NEC in Birmingham, will open on Friday. It will have 500 beds to treat patients with coronavirus, with the capacity to expand to 2,000.
• In response to the Donald Trump saying the UK has asked for 200 ventilators No 10 said the US president’s comments relate to an order from US companies that have already been placed.
• No 10 is still refusing to say exactly when decision on extending lockdown will be taken but it is likely to be early next week – around three weeks after it began.
• Johnson’s spokesman had no knowledge of the Welsh government’s confirmation that the lockdown will continue next week
• Total numbers of NHS staff and their family members tested is over 20,000 across at least 13 testing sites.
• The daily testing number is now up to 14,000.

National updates from https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/apr/08/uk-coronavirus-london–enough-intensive-care-beds-says-sadiq-khan-live-news-boris-johnson