23 February 2022
The Prime Minister announced the cessation of all Covid measures in England and TfL announced the cessation of measures on all London transport. Individuals are still encouraged to take their own precautions, especially mask wearing, in situations where they feel the risk is higher than they are prepared to accept. There is more detailed guidance on teh Government website as to how to reduce the spread of infection if someone you live with has Covid-19. Please also see the image below if someone you live with has Covid-19.
9 December 2021
The Prime Minister has given a statement on COVID-19 and the Omicron variant.
In his statement, he set out the latest data and said there is evidence that the doubling time of Omicron in the UK could currently be between two and three days.
He confirmed that the government will move to Plan B in England. As part of this, the Prime Minister announced the following measures:
6 December 2021
The OCC public health team is working closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to identify any further cases through targeted testing.
Our key message to Oxfordshire residents is to continue to take sensible precautions: get a PCR test if you have symptoms, self-isolate when asked, wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces (follow govt guidelines), ventilate rooms, and get your vaccine and booster as soon as you can. We are also asking people to follow instructions about testing and self-isolating if they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
19 July 2021
The Government finally (delayed from 21 June) moved to Step 4 of the 4 steps towards the ending of lockdown announced by the Prime Minister on 22 February and which commenced on 8 March 2021. Whilst social distancing and the wearing of masks is no longer mandatory, people are being encouraged to observe these where they feel there is additional risk - such as on public transport and in enclosed spaces. A summary of the rules is:
21 June 2021
The Government delayed the moved to Step 4 of the 4 steps towards the ending of lockdown announced by the Prime Minister on 22 February and which commenced on 8 March 2021. The revised date, subject 'to the data' is expected and hoped to be 19 July.
17 May 2021
The Government moved to Step 3 of the 4 steps towrds the ending of lockdown announced by the Prime Minister on 22 February and which commenced on 8 March 2021.
12 April 2021
The Government moved to Step 2 of the 4 steps towrds the ending of lockdown announced by the Prime Minister on 22 February and which commenced on 8 March 2021.
29 March 2021
The Government moved to Step 1b of the 4 steps towrds the ending of lockdown announced by the Prime Minister on 22 February and which commenced on 8 March 2021.
11 March 2021
Collection of tests for parents/carers of primary school aged children
There’s been some confusion about how parents and carers of primary school aged children can access lateral flow testing. The national messaging signposts people to three options but in Oxfordshire there’s currently only two options – ordering tests directly from the government or collecting them from the symptomatic testing centre at Osney Lane, Oxford (Car Park at Former Contractors Compound, Osney Lane, Oxford City Centre OX1 1NY).
This confusion has meant a number of parents/carers have incorrectly turned up to our symptom-free testing sites to collect test kits
This service is not yet available at our symptom-free centres, however, we are putting plans in place and hope to have more news on this soon.
For anybody that’s not able to get to a testing centre to collect the kits once they become available can now order to have them delivered on the government website.
8 March 2021
The Government moved to Step 1a of the 4 steps towrds the ending of lockdown announced by the Prime Minister on 22 February.
Elmtree surgery Shrivenham issued an update on their Covid vaccination programme. The full detials are in the document here.
24 February 2021
On 22 February the Prime Minister announced the roadmap to get to the end of lockdown. Whilst we must still remember Hands – Face – Space mantra for now, the government has created some handy graphics to make it easier to digest the 4 different steps starting from 8 March. It should be remembered that these are 'data driven' rather than simply calendar 'date driven' meaning that if the actual data tells us that things are not changing in accordance with the modelling on which the 4 steps are based, then the dates for moving from one step to another may need to be adjusted. Full details of the roadmap and the four steps on the government website.
The 4 steps are shown graphically here
23 February
Symptom-free testing centre – The Beacon
The symptom-free testing centre at The Beacon in Wantage for public facing workers is up and running well. As of yesterday, testing at the centre has expanded to include all public-facing workers in the public sector, and volunteers.
We’re expecting an increase in uptake at the centre, but we still need to encourage people who leave home to work or volunteer to get a test as soon as they can. Tests are booked via the county council’s online booking system. Please follow the online instructions to ensure you qualify for these tests.
9 January 2021
From 4 January a new National Lockdown has been declared. Guidance for individuals and families is contained in the attachment below with information on the latest Business Support measures in the 2nd attachment.
National lockdown: Stay at Home
Coronavirus cases are rising rapidly across the country. Find out what you can and cannot do. A summary of the measures, updated on 6 January, is as follows:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Meeting with others safely (social distancing)
Information on social distancing. Updated in line with latest government guidance, 7 January.
Vaccination
update.
A lot of surgeries are now getting ready to roll out the vaccines, but please can I stress
that you will be contacted when they are able to give you a vaccine. Below is a short extract from a recent releaseby the VOWHDC:
“When patients are offered an appointment for the vaccine, it may be at another location and not their normal GP practice building. Patients will be provided with information about where they
will need to go for their appointment and what to expect - this may be via the phone, or through a letter either from their GP or the national booking system.
The NHS will let patients know when it is their turn to have the vaccine. It is important not to contact the NHS for a vaccination before then.
The public have an important part to play to help the NHS to deliver the vaccination programme. People are being asked:
More Government information is here and the NHS guidance is here
26 December 2020
From 26 December, Oxfordshire is in the Tier 4 alert level following the end of the Christmas Day rules. This follows sharp rises in reported infections across the County and also increased numbers of admissions at the hospitals.
For what Tier 4 means for us, see here.
2 December 2020
From Wednesday 2 December, Oxfordshire is in the Tier
2 alert level following the end of the national lockdown. Some existing guidance remains the same in that people should continue to work from home if they can do so, and education and childcare remain open. We’re also being encouraged to
travel only if essential to do so. But remember that when travelling between areas that are in different tiers, you must adopt whichever restrictions are higher to prevent the spread of the
virus.
What are the new tier 2 rules?
4 November 2020
The national restrictions in place from 0001 Thursday 5th November mean:
Here are the New Restrictions in more detail.
2 August 2020
Stay at home guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infectionCOVID-19) infection. Updated 31 July 2020
29 July 2020
Latest Local Guidance
There are early signs of rising COVID-19 cases in Oxfordshire. This is to be expected as we ease out of lockdown, and it is consistent with what is occurring across other parts of the country.
Oxfordshire County Council Public Health Surveillance Unit has picked this up at an early stage.
There are clear systems in place through our Local Outbreak Plans to manage any local hotspots. However, prevention is by far the best way to manage the situation, and the public has a vital role to play in preventing local outbreaks. So please do encourage your constituents to continue to follow these simple steps to keep safe and stop the virus spreading:
Keep your distance
Oxfordshire County Council will be working closely with our district, city and NHS partners to issue general and targeted communications urging people to follow government guidelines and take preventative measures. We would be very grateful if you would help reinforce these #stopthespread messages.
Further information is available at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/stopthespread. The website includes a weekly update of confirmed cases in Oxfordshire, broken down by district.
23 July 2020
Latest Guidance on face coverings
In England, you must wear a face covering by law in the following settings:
You are expected to wear a face covering immediately before entering any of these settings and must keep it on until you leave.
You are also strongly encouraged to wear a face covering in other enclosed public spaces where social distancing may be difficult and where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
Face coverings are also needed in NHS settings, including hospitals and primary or community care settings, such as GP surgeries. They are advised to be worn in care homes. Individual settings may have their own policies and require you to take other measures.
2 July 2020
Latest Guidance
From 4 July, the Government is introducing a further series of measures to ease lockdown, but it is vital we still remain vigilant.
OCC is working with partners across the Oxfordshire system on plans to reduce the spread of coronavirus and to prepare for a response to potential local outbreaks. This will enable them to help return life to as normal as possible for as many people as possible, in a way that is safe, protects our health and care systems and supports our economy.
The Government’s core message remains the same.
Stay alert - Control the virus - Save lives This means you must:
Remember – you can spread the virus even if you do not have any symptoms.
It is now mandatory to wear a face covering on all public transport or in an enclosed public space where social distancing isn’t possible. The NHS has information on how to prevent the virus spreading at: www.nhs.uk/coronavirus Do not leave home if you or someone you live with has any of the following:
NHS test and trace service Everyone over the age of five presenting coronavirus symptoms should have a test. You can ask for a test online or by calling 119.
Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do
To find the latest advice and information from the Government, go to: GOV.UK/coronavirus |
16 May 2020
Stay Alert Guidance
6 May 2020
Guide to shielding the Extremely Vulnerable
The Givernment has released an updated 'East Guide' to shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable. This can be read or downloaded from the Government website here.
The full range of Government advice on Coronavirus is here
5 April 2020
NHS COVID-19 Monitoring
The NHS has started a COVID-19 monitoring program of as many volunteers from as many different places as possible A new Coronavirus Status Checker will help the NHS coordinate its response and build up additional data on the COVID-19 outbreak. If you would like to provide input (it only takes a couple of minutes or so) to this voluntary program, please complete your details here on the NHS website.
2 April 2020
Data Protection - widening of data sharing
The current crisis has caused the Governemnt and Information Commissioner to re-assess the data protection rules in order to allow those helping to share information to support efforts against coronavirus (COVID-19) - even if some of this data would normally have been too sensitive for wider sharing. This relaxation of the rules will give us access to limited additional data which will assist us in monitoring the local situation and helping to deliver the best support we can.
Use this link to the revised guidance from the Government website. Additional guidance from the Information Commissioner is here in his blog.
28 March 2020
Prescription Deliveries - Tina Monk's team of volunteers has taken on the collection and delivery of all prescriptions. If you require this service please ring her team on 01367 820878 . Note: If you previously asked for help with this by filling in one of the request cards delivered to your house it will have been passed to Tina's team for action.
Shop Safety - The counter screens, to separate staff and customers more effectively, were successfully installed on 27 March due to the sterling work of Mick Dyton of Christian Mobey in Kingston Lisle.
26 March 2020
We are currently investigating the following ideas put forward by villagers:
Prescriptions - we are investigating how it might be able to maintain the prescription deliveries to the village from the Faringdon White Horse Medical Practice and Shrivenham Elm Tree surgeries when/if the surgeries/pharmacies stop their original services.
Newspaper Deliveries - we are asking our volunteer teams to assist with newspaper deliveries from the shop to those who are unable to collect their papers themseves.
Shop Safety
Pet Safety - please see the guidance here, or via the link on the left, on pet safety during the pandemic.
23 March 2020
From today (23 March) we will be distributing the notice attached below to all households in Uffington, Baulking and Woolstone parishes along with the forms to be used to request assistance from the recently established volunteer support group. Paper copies will also be left in the Uffington Shop and the Church. Before sending this notice out we have consulted with the Vicar, Uffington School, Village Hall, Shop, Parish Meetings of Baulking and Woolstone, and the UBW WI.
Uffington: |
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Mike Oldnall |
01367 820369 |
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Baulking: |
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Hilary Deakin |
07802 426822 |
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Woolstone: |
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Sarah Johnson |
07528 965574 |
Please notify your name, e-mail address, telephone number, house number / name and a brief idea of the help you need so that we can get in touch with you. (This data will only be held for the duration of the emergency and not used for any other purpose).
If you are not already on the circulation for the periodic village newsletter e-mail and would like to join this mailing list, please ask Simon Jenkins (simon.jenkins@uffington.net) to add you. This is a reliable way of passing urgent local information quickly to a large number of local residents. Your e-mail address will be needed, and it will be held securely.
Whatever happens, it is important that all residents keep a watchful eye over people who may be vulnerable and report any problems to the authorities or to any of those listed above.