COVID-19 UPDATE: 20.05.2020

See the latest updates we have available on 20 May 2020.

Public Health

Surveillance

Global:

•  The total number of cases has now exceeded 4.7 million.

UK:

•   We have seen a total of around 249,000 confirmed cases and we have identified over 35,000 deaths.

North East:

•   In the North East the total number of confirmed cases has now exceeded 9,600.

Sunderland:

•   Sunderland has seen a total of 1,356 confirmed cases and we have registered 344 deaths involving COVID.

•   Our first Sunderland case was identified on 7th March (at the beginning of week 11 of the year) and our first death involving COVID occurred at the beginning of week 13 of the year.

•   By week 15 of the year (4th-10th April), when the virus was transmitting most readily, we were seeing an average of 48 new confirmed cases and 14 deaths involving COVID each day.

•   In week 19 of the year (2nd-8th May) we saw an average of 12 new confirmed cases and 4 deaths involving COVID each day.

•   In week 20 of the year (9th-15th May) we saw an average of 9 new confirmed cases per day and 1 death involving COVID-19 each day. Whilst this data may not be entirely complete, it is an indication that the rate of transmission of the virus is slowing locally.

•   The surveillance curve showing cumulative totals for cases and deaths is shown below.

National Guidance

This week, the Department of Health and Social Care has added anosmia – loss of or a change in your normal sense of smell, which can also affect your sense of taste – to the list of common symptoms for COVID-19. Individuals will therefore need to self-isolate immediately if they develop a new continuous cough, a fever or a loss or changed sense of normal smell or taste (anosmia). All members of their household must also self-isolate according to current guidelines, unless the symptomatic individual receives a negative test result. Guidance has been updated as a result.

Collection around Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance

Find guidance about coronavirus (COVID-19) for health professionals and other organisations: www.gov.uk/government/collections/

This collection includes:

•   Guidance for the public

18 May 2020 Updated information on symptoms.

•   Guidance for non-clinical settings

15 May 2020 -Added clarification on guidance and legislation.

•   Transport

18 May 2020 Updated information on symptoms.

15 May 2020 Added clarification on guidance and legislation.

Adult Social Care

New information added around: Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes – How to protect care home residents and staff during the coronavirus outbreak, read more here.

Guidance for Health Professionals

New information added around:

COVID-19: investigation and initial clinical management of possible cases. Information on case definitions, and the initial assessment and investigation of possible cases of COVID-19 infection

Initial Investigation

COVID-19: management of exposed staff and patients in health and social care settings. Guidance on the management of staff and patients who have been exposed to COVID-19 here.

Infection Prevention & Control

New information added around:

COVID-19: infection prevention and control (IPC) Guidance on infection prevention and control for COVID-19. Sustained community transmission is occurring across the UK

Infection Prevention & Control

Collection around Coronavirus (COVID-19): Getting Tested

Guidance and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students.

www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings

New information added around:

Claiming for additional costs, providing meals or food parcels through your food provider and ordering vouchers to cover multiple weeks.

15 May 2020 Added ‘Safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care’.

14 May 2020 Added ‘Preparing for the wider opening of schools from 1 June’.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance for Education Settings

Guidance for schools and other educational settings about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

New information added around:

Clarification on guidance and legislation.

Guidance COVID-19: Infection Prevention & Control

Guidance on infection prevention and control for COVID-19. Sustained community transmission is occurring across the UK.

Updated around:

•   Introduction and organisational preparedness

•   Transmission characteristics and principles of infection prevention and control

•   COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE)

•   Explanation of the updates to infection prevention and control guidance

•  Reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the hospital setting

Infection Prevention & Control

Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): Support for Care Homes

Sets out the support package to keep care homes safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

Attached the template for local authorities to return by 29 May as part of local care home support planning. 

Support for Care Homes