Coronavirus - Information

The helpline 0800 783 1966 is there to support those at ‘high risk’ and include people over 70 years old, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions who should be protecting themselves by staying at home. The majority of these people will already be receiving support from family, friends or local voluntary groups with tasks like shopping or collection of medicines if they require it. But we know that a small number of people will not have this support. If they have no alternative, these people will now be able to call the Freephone number to request help with getting food, medicines, essential supplies and home deliveries.

Cumbria County Council has been working closely with District Councils, CVS, Cumbria Community Foundation, community and voluntary sector, private sector and military to establish these new arrangements. To support the new helpline every area is coordinating a supply of essential food, medicines and supplies which can only be accessed via the emergency helpline or email. The requests received asking for help will then be matched with local support and supplies being offered by community groups, volunteers, councils and businesses.

Cumbria is already seeing widespread community and voluntary sector support for the response to COVID-19 and informal support, including neighbourhood WhatsApp groups and community Facebook groups, alongside a commitment from existing community emergency planning groups, local churches and faith groups and formal voluntary sector organisations who are working with the county council and partners including District Councils and NHS.

How to avoid catching or spreading coronavirus

Do

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• always wash your hands when you get home or into work
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
• try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell

Don't

• do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

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Easy Read Documents (select to view and download PDF versions)

The team Cumbria, Northumbria, Tyne and Wear have created these resources for people with learning difficulties during the current Covd-19 pandemic you may find them useful.

     
 

Further Resources including information for Disabled Children

• National Autistic Society – guidance and helpline for parents’, young people and staff
• Mencap - Easy Read guide to Coronavirus
• Place2Be – Guide to helping parents answer questions from their children and to support family wellbeing
• Young Minds - Talking to your child about Coronavirus and 10 tips from their Parents Helpline to support family wellbeing
• Carers UK - Guidance for carers
• Covibook – an interactive resource designed to support and reassure children aged 7 and under, designed to help children explain and draw the emotions that they might be experiencing during the pandemic
• Amaze - information pack for parents

Public Health England has also produced an easy read version of their Advice on the coronavirus for places of education. You can download it here.

• "Keep calm and take sensible steps to protect yourself and others urges region’s NHS"
  Regional Press Release from the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System (19 March 2020)
   
• North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Medical Director, Prof Chris Gray, speaking to ITV highlighting that the practice of social distancing is a 'life saving intervention' at this time.

We can get through this together:


Stay calm and support each other:

Using Services Wisely:

The Chief Medical Officer has stated, NHS services are likely to come under intense pressure as the coronavirus spreads, and we need to ensure that we have as many beds available as possible to care for patients with severe respiratory problems when the number of infections peaks. 

Therefore, in line with well-established plans for situations like this, every hospital in England has now been asked to suspend all non-urgent elective operations from 15 April for at least three months, with some other procedures likely to be rescheduled before then so we can train our staff and adapt certain areas.
  
Urgent and emergency cases and cancer treatments will be carrying on as normal, but we know many people waiting for treatment will be disappointed or worried, and we will be contacting everyone affected as soon as possible.