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:  

• From Monday 13 December, those who can will be advised to work from home. Employers should use the rest of this week to discuss working arrangements with their employees 
• From Friday 10 December, the government will further extend the legal requirement to wear a face mask to most public indoor venues, including theatres and cinemas. There will be exemptions in venues where it is not practical to wear one, such as when you are eating, drinking or exercising. 
• From Wednesday 15 December, and subject to parliamentary approval, the NHS Covid Pass on the NHS App will become mandatory for entry into nightclubs and settings where large crowds gather – including unseated indoor events with 500 or more attendees, unseated outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees and any event with 10,000 or more attendees. 
• People will be able to demonstrate proof of two vaccine doses via the app. Having considered the evidence since the emergence of Omicron, proof of a negative lateral flow test will also be accepted. 
• As Omicron spreads in the community, the government also intends to introduce daily contact tests for contacts of confirmed positive Omicron cases instead of the ten-day self-isolation period. 

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:

• All limits on social contact will be removed (currently groups of 6 people or 2 households indoors, or 30 people outdoors).
• Music concerts, sporting events, singing and dancing can resume without any limits on attendance or social distancing requirements.
• All restrictions on life events will be removed such as weddings, funerals, and baptisms.
• The legal requirements to wear a face covering will be lifted in all settings. Guidance will advise that wearing a face covering will reduce your risk and the risk to others, where you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet in enclosed and crowded spaces, so
• use of face coverings will remain advisable in confined spaces such as toilets, kitchens and corridors and at more crowded events.
• Social distancing rules will be lifted (2 metres or 1 metre with additional mitigations). However, the risks of close contact with others should be considered, particularly if clinically extremely vulnerable or not yet fully vaccinated.
• Test and Trace will be retained and continued display of QR codes will be advised.
• People no longer need to work from home.

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:

• You must stay at home, except for a legally permitted reason. This includes activities such as essential shopping, education and childcare, work which cannot be done from home, medical needs, exercise, and communal worship.
• If you do leave home for a permitted reason, you should stay local in the village, town or part of the city where you live.
• You must not meet socially with family or friends, unless they are part of your household or support bubble.
• You can leave your home to exercise once a day. You can exercise in a public outdoor place with members of your household or support bubble or, when you are on your own, with one person from another household.
• Primary, secondary and special schools will remain open for vulnerable children and children of critical workers. Remote working will take place for all other children until February half term. End of year exams will not take place this summer.
• Early years settings such as childminders and nurseries can stay open.
• Higher education provision will remain online until mid-February for all courses, except those for future critical workers such as medicine and dentistry.
• Pubs, restaurants, and non-essential shops and businesses must close, although hospitality venues can provide delivery and takeaway services – but not takeaway alcohol.
• People who are clinically extremely vulnerable should only go out for medical appointments, exercise or if it is essential. They should not attend work.

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:

• Not to contact their GP or another NHS service to seek a vaccine - the NHS will contact you
• When the NHS does contact you, please attend your booked appointments
• Please continue to follow all the public health guidance to control the spread of the virus and save lives”

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?

• There should be no mixing of households indoors apart from support bubbles.
• A maximum of six people are allowed to meet outdoors.
• Hospitality venues with COVID-secure measures in place.will be allowed to stay open until 11pm – with last orders at 10pm. Only those that serve substantial meals can operate and alcohol can only be served with substantial meals.
• All essential and non-essential retail can now open, provided they have COVID-secure measures in place.
• Personal care services, such as hairdressers, can reopen.
• Indoor leisure activities can resume, with restrictions in place.
• Accommodation can reopen, but in all cases overnight stays are only permitted with your own household or support bubble.
• Weddings and funerals can continue to take place, with restrictions in place.
• Entertainment can reopen, with restrictions in place.
• Places of worship can open, but individuals cannot interact with anyone outside the household or support bubble.
• Residential care visits can resume, with restrictions in place.
• Large events can resume, with capacity limited to 50% or 2,000 people outdoors, and 50% or 1,000 people indoors - whichever is lower.

• There is more support and advice on what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones online.

4 November 2020

The national restrictions  in place from 0001 Thursday 5th November mean: 

• You must work from home if you can 
• You should not socialise with people who are not from your household, indoors. 
• You may only meet with one person from another household and must stay outdoors 
• All non-essential shops to close, but may offer click and collect or delivery services.  
• Food stores, supermarkets and pharmacies will stay open 
• Hospitality businesses to close, but may offer take-away deliveries or click and collect 
• Gyms, leisure centres and leisure venues like cinemas and museums to close 
• Schools, colleges and universities remain open 

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

Latest guidance here

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 

• Avoid busy gatherings 
• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water 
• Use hand sanitiser if soap and water are not available 
• Wear a face covering where appropriate (see 23 July information below)
• If you have symptoms, self-isolate and call 119 to arrange a test 

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:

• public transport
• indoor transport hubs (airports, rail and tram stations and terminals, maritime ports and terminals, bus and coach stations and terminals)
• shops and supermarkets (places which are open to the public and that wholly or mainly offer goods or services for retail sale or hire)
• indoor shopping centres
• banks, building societies, and post offices (including credit unions, short-term loan providers, savings clubs and money service businesses)

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

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

• We have worked with the shop to create some guidelines for shop users which are on display outside the shop. Adhering to this guidance will allow the shop to continue operating whilst doing their best, given the layout, to observe social distancing.
• We are currently investigating whether screens can be erected on the counters to distance shop staff from customers whilst paying for goods.
• The shop will be closing 1hr earlier (at 5pm) until further notice to allow more time for restocking etc without customers being present.

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.

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.