Local Updates
- Spelthorne Borough Council latest updates
- Surrey County Council COVID updates and resources including translations into different languages
- Surrey’s data Dashboard is published each Friday
- National Data on testing, cases, vaccine, deaths is updated daily, now also available in easy-read version
- In the UK to 17 May 4,450,392 people have tested positive, with 127,691 deaths within 28 days of a positive test
- 36,811,405 1st vaccine doses = 67.3% of population
- 20,546,452 2nd vaccine doses = 33.9% of population
- R number 0.8-1.1, daily infection growth rate range of
-3% to +1% (14 May, for England only)
There will be a mobile testing unit at Green Street Car Park, Sunbury Park on 20-23 and 29-31 May, 12-13, 19-21 and 26-30 June.
There will also be a mobile testing unit at Laleham Riverside on 1-2 June. No vehicle access will be available.
The symptom free testing site at Thameside Youth Centre in Staines will be closing on Friday 21 May. Appointments can still be
made at participating pharmacies.
This week’s Key Message: Staying safe as restrictions ease
As restrictions are eased, we must continue to be cautious and vigilant to protect ourselves and everyone around us.
Here are 10 top tips, as recommended by Dr Susan Hopkins from Public Health England:
Variants of Concern
• Public Health England has designated B.1.617.2 (an Indian variant) as a variant of concern (VOC)
• Up to 12 May there are 1,313 UK cases of the Indian variant B.1.617.2 (up by 793 since 5 May), compared
to 242,571 UK cases of the Kent variant, B.1.1.7 (up by 9,141 since 5 May)
• Total case numbers remain low across the South East but there is a higher proportion of VOCs, with many
small separate clusters, mostly linked to international travel or household transmission
• The best thing everyone can do to avoid catching or spreading all variants of COVID is get tested,
get vaccinated and remember Hands, Face, Space, Fresh Air, especially if socialising indoors
• The approach to preventing transmission of all variants is the same: safe behaviours!
Please Share: – The best way to stop the spread of all variants of COVID is “Hands, Face, Space, Fresh Air”, vaccination, and regular testing, especially now we can socialise indoors
Testing
• If you have symptoms, get a free PCR test –
book online or call 119
• If you have no symptoms, there are 3 ways to get a test in Surrey:
- Book online to attend a test site
- Call 020 8865 1952 (Mon-Fri 08.30-18:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-17:00)
- Collect a test kit for home use – no need to book;
click here to find a collection point
• You may also be able to access a test via work or study
• Alternatively, order a test online from the national programme for home delivery
• For a guide on how to do a rapid lateral flow test at home, watch this short video
• Surrey County Council’s website is updated regularly with any changes to test sites and eligibility
Please Share this video: How to do a lateral flow test at home
Vaccination
• People who will turn 34 before 1 July 2021 can now have a COVID-19 vaccination – book via the NHS
• 2nd doses are being brought forward from 12 weeks to 8-9 weeks for the top 9 priority groups –
The NHS or your local GP-led hub will contact you, or book online
• Blood clots and low platelet counts after the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine are extremely rare, but people
aged under 40 with no underlying health conditions will be offered Pfizer or Moderna instead if available
• Myth-busting vaccine videos in 16 languages including Albanian, Polish, Somali, Tagalog and Urdu
• Surrey Heartlands CCG FAQs, updates + vaccination helpline (not booking service):
0300 561 2500 9am-4pm, Mon-Fri / syheartlandsccg.vaccination@nhs.net
Please Share link: People aged 34+ can now get the COVID-19 vaccine. Book your first and/ or second dose online now – it only takes a few minutes
One You Surrey
• World No-Tobacco Day is on 31 May and COVID-19 has prompted many people to consider ways to improve their health
– quitting smoking is the single best thing to do to reduce the risk of disease
• This year more people than ever contacted the One You Surrey stop smoking service, which helped 1,678 people quit
smoking, an increase of 89% on the previous year. Well done to all the quitters!
• During the pandemic, One You Surrey switched to remote appointments and sending nicotine replacement therapy by post.
For support or information, visit their free Specialist Quit Smoking Service
Please Share video: Go smoke-free to stay healthy and protect yourself from COVID-19