SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL COVID-19 UPDATE – 14TH April 2020

• There has been a total of 3,500 reported cases in the South West to date

• In Somerset to date there have been 35 deaths, and a total of 187 NHS reported cases, of which there are 46 hospitalised confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 7 people requiring ventilation

• Total Somerset hospital bed occupancy is at 45% at present

• Across the county there are 17 care homes with suspected Covid-19 cases. SCC are in daily contact with all care homes. It is difficult to establish the exact cause of death outside hospital admissions

• Up until now government guidance on PPE for care homes has been that only those dealing with Covid-19 cases are required to wear face masks = 26,000 masks required per week. Guidance is now changing, whereby care home staff are advised to wear face masks at all times = 150,000 a week required now, a huge jump

• SCC are unable to predict the timing of the next delivery of PPE, so SCC has ordered £700k of PPE equipment independently. The provision PPE deliveries is being prioritised to care homes with suspected/confirmed Covid-19 cases and staff have volunteered to do this

• SCC is in daily contact with care homes, and temporary staff are being provided where necessary, including the provision of food parcels

• Covid-19 testing in care home remains on a case by case basis

• Some concern has been raised about the possibility of elderly patients with Covid-19 symptoms being released into care homes

• The two re-commissioned care homes mentioned previously are ready to be become operational, with 40 staff having offered to be re-deployed to staff the Yeovil centre

• The Easter weekend was quiet across the county, with the police reporting good levels of compliance

• Overall staffing levels remain high and morale good

• Schools remained open over the Easter holiday to support critical workers and vulnerable children

• The low take-up of childcare provision at school from vulnerable families is of concern; there remains a stigma for some families in need, in relation to sending children to school when their peers are not required to attend

• 50% of early years providers are operating at present, which compares well with the rest of the country (33%)

• Free school meal provision – this should be provided through schools, or via online vouchers. In addition to this, food parcels can be delivered directly to the family home if necessary

• Young Carers – have either an allocated support worker or social worker in place and schools have a duty to provide support as necessary

• Courts are now holding necessary court hearings virtually

• Domestic violence – there has been some increase but not significantly at present. It is expected that the longer lockdown is in place the more this is likely to increase. There has been an increase in out of hours calls from families seeking support, and the government is providing additional support for voluntary groups working with troubled families

• Staff re-deployment – 1,500 responses have been received from staff (out of 3,500+) indicating areas in which they are willing to work. Adult social care and the registration service are areas most requiring additional resources at present

• A Somerset GP surgery which said autistic adults should have plans to prevent them being resuscitated if they become critically ill has been heavily criticised. I am investigating this

• Chinese lanterns – concern has been raised about the of suggestion of celebrating the NHS by releasing Chinese lanterns, which are considered a severe risk to livestock

THE PITFALLS OF VIRTUAL MEETINGS

We are certainly living in extraordinary times. As local authorities get to grips with the new technology that will enable them to hold virtual meetings, there are many who have raised concern about public participation, and quite rightly so.

Whilst a small number of meetings are held in closed session the majority are open to the public and there are fears that this move towards online participation will exclude some of the most vulnerable in our society. What is often particularly contentious at a local level are matters relating to planning. I would argue that in the current climate, it is all the more important for local elected members to ensure that that the voices of those they represent are heard. This can only be achieved by close, regular, communication to attain a comprehensive awareness of the issues of the day. Whilst we may not be able to hold public meetings at present there are many ways in which we can stay informed.

Although not a member of South Somerset District Council’s Area South Committee I chose to observe proceedings today by logging onto their virtual Zoom meeting; and what an eye opener it was, highlighting all too well the challenges we face.

The public were of course entitled to participate and have their say, but if the behaviour of some members of the public during today’s meeting is anything to go by then they are putting forward a very strong case for the public to be excluded. Their behaviour was truly disgusting. Not only was there offensive language (and as someone who usually swears like a trooper, I am not easily shocked) but offensive ‘made up’ names were used, and inappropriate images appeared on the video screen. I fail to see what point these individuals were trying to make; all it achieved was to make them look foolish and immature, and unlikely to have their opinions, whatever they might be, taken seriously. Yes, the public do have a right to be heard but this kind of behaviour is damaging to our democracy. It is doubtful that had the meeting been held in a traditional public forum any one of them would have had the guts to indulge in such egocentric conduct. They should be ashamed of themselves. I know that I would certainly not want to represent such people. 

On a more humorous note, I have learnt that when we are all working from home it does well to pay attention to where you are videoing from; today I observed a wine-rack in the background, sadly empty, and could easily observe my fellow councillors’ choice of home furnishings, literature and artwork. We may all begin to learn much more about each other; more than we bargained for!

SHOULD CHARITY BEGIN AT HOME?

The Coronavirus has brought about huge changes for many of us, in many ways, some of which may be permanent. I have been pretty much self-isolating for the best part of three weeks now and whilst I do appreciate the crisis situation we are in, for me it has been something of a mixed blessing. At the last count I was actively involved with 23 different organisations; something that I enjoy but find very time consuming and at times tiring.

Many of these organisations are charities and it will be of no surprise to learn that in the current climate charities are suffering terribly as we all focus on other aspects of our lives, which at the present time, naturally take priority; staying safe and well and ensuring that our loved ones do likewise. As someone living in a relatively wealthy western nation, I have always believed that where we can, we should give to those in less fortunate circumstances. However, given the current emergency it is natural that we should want to draw in our horns and take care of ourselves. This is of course the right approach; we cannot take care of others if we do not attend to our own needs first. There are many who will now begin to struggle financially, suffer the impact of being cooped up at home, perhaps in an abusive environment, unable to feed their families, becoming isolated and experiencing increasingly distressing mental health issues. There is much evidence that this is already happening on a huge scale.

Whilst the health service is deluged with Covid-19 issues, working at full capacity, and beyond, there will be little slack to take up the extra work in other areas that will undoubtedly result, for the time being at least. This is where each one of us, those enjoying healthy minds and bodies at present, can really be a big help. We may not have the financial resources to be able to donate funds to charities at present, but we can help in other ways, by volunteering our time and talents to support those in need.

Many of our local communities have set up self-help groups, and that aside, whilst people are social distancing, in addition to offering to man a helpline, making a ‘phone call, sending an email, letter or offer of help to shop, collect prescriptions etc. will not only help to avoid these challenges escalating but will ease the pressure on the key workers who are literally working their socks off. Sometimes just saying thank you can do the trick.

The question we should all be asking ourselves is – How can I help you get any help you need?

It is the individual acts of kindness to others that will be remembered long after we get through this.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT – THE NEW REALITY

Here in Somerset, the reality of the impact of the Coronavirus is now beginning to hit home. At local government level significant challenges are being faced to ensure that where possible it is ‘business as usual’. We are fortunate in that the vast majority of the population are compliant with the safety measures being put in place, and in general there is a good understanding and appreciation of the pressure under which key workers are operating.

After an initial pause, as leaders put in place emergency measures, scheduled meetings look all set to go ahead, using technology such as Zoom to enable ‘virtual’ meetings to be held. As I am in self-imposed isolation, I have participated in several of these sessions this week. It has been interesting to see how well most of us have been able to adapt to new ways of working, mainly from our homes.

What has occurred to me though is that I feel there is now no going back to how we have traditionally operated; in many ways this is a really positive outcome. My fuel bills are now almost non-existent, and I relish not having to drive for hours on end either for work or to attend meetings. I predict a sharp fall in road traffic accidents, and shopping is now a relaxed unhurried activity. Am I imagining it, or does the air seem cleaner too?

One key consideration as we will all have to do our bit to meet the enormous bill for handling this crisis, is that we should see a significant drop in elected members’ expense claims. During the last year the combined total for Somerset County Council and South Somerset District Council was in the region of £75,000, and this does not include claims made by officers in carrying out their duties. Perhaps now will also be the time to consider whether or not we still need to operate out of costly office buildings.

Of course, there are any number of services, which by their very nature will remain dependent upon face-to-face contact, but this situation has demonstrated that much of what we do can now be very effectively handled by telephone or email.

Whilst working from home clearly has its benefits, we must be careful not to erode that all important distinction between work and home life. Those of us who have the space to be able to work in a separate area of our homes are fortunate, but I am concerned about the impact on family life for those living in cramped spaces with others. There is also the issue of confidentiality.

In addition to this, those who are not technologically competent, who do not have access to the necessary tools and are often in a vulnerable situation, will be further disenfranchised from life at large, resulting in social isolation and exclusion. This is the real challenge we face, but if the kindness and thoughtful activities that this dreadful virus have spawned can instil in us that sense of collective regard for others then there is hope for a different, and better, future.

COVID-19 LOOKING FOR THE SILVER LINING

Despite finding ourselves, worldwide, in such an unprecedented vulnerable position, I really do believe that there is an upside to any bad event. 

Setting aside the selfish people who have been swarming like a plague of locusts clearing out our supermarket shelves and refusing to keep their social distance, what has been so inspiring during the last few weeks is the kindness and generosity of others. 

At a time when for the last few years we have seemed to be a divided society, the devastating effects of Covid-19 has brought about real community spirit and collective responsibility. 

In recent weeks my inbox has been filled with offers of support and assistance from local residents eager to help in a variety of ways, including one from someone with a military background in disaster management. Such response, and the individual acts of compassion I have witnessed, is truly heart-warming and restores my faith in human nature. 

As distressing as Coronavirus is, it has provided us with the opportunity to take a step back and focus on the things that really matter in life. 

With countless meetings and work commitments on hold for the foreseeable future I shall be using the rare luxury of time to take stock and re-evaluate my own priorities, which can only be a good thing. It is easy to become embroiled in the blame game, but we are where we are and those of us in a position to help, in any way, have a moral obligation to be pro-active in doing so. 

WORDS TO EASE ISOLATION

Now that those of us in an at-risk category are likely to be housebound for the foreseeable future (for which in many ways I am very grateful, until boredom sets in at least) I have begun to attempt to put my life in order. Without the demands of attending a constant round of meetings I have had time to sort out the knicker drawer, tidy up kitchen cupboards, and cook a few meals for housebound friends, but what to do with the rest of my waking hours? Well, I am currently studying for a new qualification, and having never been much of a TV fan, apart from a daily dose of quiz programmes and Countdown, my preference leans towards the written word. Although there is the odd novel that captures my attention, I tend to be drawn towards books where I can learn something new. Given my obsession with food and wine, it is hardly surprising to reveal that I have a collection of over 2,500 volumes on the subject, taking up a whopping 200 feet of shelf space. 

However, that does not stop me acquiring more. I very rarely buy new books, and in an effort to support charities during what is a difficult time, I was thrilled with my latest hoard, purchased from Oxfam for just £1 each. Here are my top recommendations to keep you amused and entertained, and to keep the brain cells in good working order.

The Wine Quiz Book (Roddy Button & Mike Oliver) – this is a must have book for anyone wanting to improve their wine knowledge.

Your Wine Questions Answered (Jerry Lockspeiser) – perfect for anyone wanting to know more, answering the 25 things wine drinkers most want to know; really important stuff, such as ‘Which wines have the fewest calories’.

Question Time (Mark Mason) – billed as ‘A journey round Britain’s quizzes’, the notion of reading about someone attending lots of quizzes might not be everyone’s cup of tea but I loved this, could not put it down and learnt lots of quirky facts!   

Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel Quiz Book – a great source of questions, both easy and tough, making it ideal for a family trivia game as we have all been forced to become armchair travellers for the time being.

The Fine Art of Food (Reay Tannahill) – is a classic, and a real find for art lovers;  

full of illustrations showing how artists across the centuries have looked at food in the context of their own times. Hogarth’s ‘Gin Lane’ is one of my favourites.

Captain Bucko’s Galley Slave Cookbook (Roger Paul Huff) – answering the question ‘Why is a vessel’s kitchen called a galley?’, this is a collection of fascinating facts, sea stories and 100 recipes from ports of call around the world.

Frank Cooper’s (of marmalade fame) The Great British Breakfast (Jan Read & Maite Manjon) – traces the history of breakfasting from medieval times, giving a vivid account of society and manners through the centuries.

How to Eat Out (Giles Coren) – this former restaurant critic of The Times for 10 years shares his wealth of experience in eating everything from take away pizza to dining in the ‘best restaurant in the world’.

Eating for England (Nigel Slater) – a charming, nostalgic journey of British food, both past and present, with vignettes on our favourite foods from all corners of the country.  

You Aren’t What You Eat (Steven Poole) – a book for those fed up with gastro-culture, providing the perfect antidote to Food Raves and fashion on a fork.

Chateau Monty (Monty Waldin) – I am often wary of these vanity books but this was a good read, highlighting the pitfalls of making biodynamic wine, although it would seem that since moving on from the French Pyrenées to Tuscany his wines are nowhere to be found.

What Einstein Told His Cook (Robert K. Wolke) – for those who want to understand what the food they eat does to them; kitchen science explained, providing answers to such questions as ‘Why does lasagne dissolve metal?’.

Who Put the Beef in Wellington? (James Winter) – I have always been interested in how many of the dishes we enjoy got their names. This considers 50 culinary classics, who invented them, when and why.    

DRINKS TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

As we are beginning to come to terms with the draconian measures being introduced worldwide to try to stem the impact of Covid-19 I have been giving some thought to the types of drinks we can consume in an effort to boost our immune systems.

I must fess up here. Although I am considered to be in a high-risk category, I am not much into health giving juices and suchlike. Try as hard as I might, I fail to understand the joys of drinking dark green vegetable matter, although my best friend swears by her daily dose of aloe vera. However, I can appreciate the benefits of getting those all-important vitamins and minerals on board as we do our best to stay healthy.

At risk of causing a run on supplies (as with loo rolls, paracetamol and sanitiser), if you are not in the mood to juice your own, most supermarkets now offer a range of juice combinations that will help to keep us all healthy in the coming weeks and months.

It is worth mentioning here that for those forced to self-isolate there are a number of individuals and charitable organisations on hand ready and willing to provide support to anyone who needs it. Just ask.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

The stronger your immune system, the less chance you’ll have of falling ill and if you do, the quicker you’ll recover. There are a number of foods that can give your immune system a boost, and when consumed as juices they are easier for your body to digest and absorb. 

Lemon and ginger tea

Both are full of anti-oxidants and vitamins. Ginger helps to increase blood circulation and lemons can help sooth inflammation. Cinnamon sprinkled on top can slow down any bacteria in your system, preventing it from multiplying as rapidly.

Watermelon and mint

Watermelon contains lypocene, an immune boosting food containing powerful anti-oxidants, and if you’ve got a blocked nose the menthol in mint will help you breathe more easily.

Berries

Berries are full of vitamins, and as we all know, blueberries are considered a superfood.  

Citrus fruit juice

Orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, and also tomatoes, provide much needed vitamin C, which helps to fight off infections and protect against viruses, whilst also encouraging the absorption of iron, a key nutrient that keeps cells healthy and strong. Fresh is the best option so to avoid anything that says ‘from concentrate’ as this tends to have added sugar; or squeeze/juice your own!

Kale, broccoli and spinach juice

Good for the immune system as these vegetables are full of vitamins A, K and C, as well as calcium, copper, potassium and magnesium.

Herbal tea

Both chamomile and green tea contain phytochemicals which have protective properties meaning they could help to see off cold and flu viruses. Chamomile also has anti-inflammatory properties.

Carrot juice

This is rich in β-carotene, an antioxidant that is converted into vitamin A in the body, counteracting free radicals in the body which can cause damage to cells, and aiding it in its fight against viruses and allergies.

Water

Last but not least, keep yourself well hydrated to flush out any toxins from the body, enabling the immune system to function as normal. The recommended daily intake is  3- 4 pints. (1.5 – 2litres).

Stay safe and healthy; we are all in this together.