Thursday 28 May 2020
Due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19), we will now be providing regular email updates for residents to let you know about the latest information we have and any changes to local services that may be affected.
If you do not wish to receive these updates please click on “unsubscribe” at the bottom of the page.
You can check the latest information on our website at any time by going to https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/coronavirus.
New NHS Test and Trace Service is launched
The Government has launched the new NHS Test and Track Service to trace people who may have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
This service will help to reduce the spread of coronavirus and get life back to normal by identifying and containing the virus, limiting the spread of the infection, and saving lives.
What will happen if you have tested positive for coronavirus?
If you have tested positive for coronavirus, you will be contacted within 24 hours by the NHS Test and Trace service either by text, an email alert or a call. You will be asked to share information about people who you have recently come into contact with, such as those you live with and anyone who has been within 2 metres of you for more than 15 minutes.
You will need to share information about these people and any places you have visited through a secure website or over the phone with an NHS contact tracer. Once you have done this, everyone you have identified will be alerted by text or email.
What do I need to do if I am contacted by the NHS Track and Trace Service?
If you are contacted by the NHS Track and Trace Service, you will need to log onto the NHS Test and Trace website to find out what you need to do next. If you don’t have access to the internet, a trained call handler will contact you and go through what you need to do.
Further details can be found on the GOV.UK website:
NHS Test & Trace: How it works
More school places available for children from Monday
The majority of schools in the borough have remained open throughout the coronavirus lockdown, providing valuable in-school education to vulnerable children and the children of key workers. Typically, this has seen more than 800 children attending schools in Rotherham every day.
This provision will continue and the government has today confirmed that it is asking schools to begin to open up further places from Monday 1st June, starting with nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6.
Each school and early years setting has completed its own risk assessment to determine if, how and when it can safely provide these places and how many children in different year groups they can safely accommodate.
The Council cannot overrule the decisions of individual schools and early years settings, it can only advise. The Council has therefore taken the view that our schools and early years settings are in the best position to determine their approach, according to their individual circumstances – and the Council will back their judgement.
Where schools and early years settings decide that taking more children is the right thing for them, the Council is supporting this decision by providing advice and training to staff, PPE starter kits, additional cleaning, transport and other support services to ensure that we are helping schools to be as safe as they can be for pupils and staff alike.
Likewise, where schools decide that they are not able to take more children at this time we will support their decision, and where appropriate we will work with them to facilitate a safe increase in the number of pupils in the future.
The Council also fully supports the rights of parents and families to decide what is right for them and their children. What is right and safe for one family might not be for another.
If a family is not comfortable sending their child to school at this time, or do not feel it would be safe for other family members, we respect their right to make that decision.
To support teachers, other school staff, parents, carers and children we have prepared some useful Frequently Asked Questions about different aspects of school provision from 1st June, which will be available on our website from tomorrow.
Social distancing for the blind and partially sighted
The Royal National Institue for the Blind (RNIB) is raising awareness about the difficulties of social distancing for the blind and people with sight impairment.
A new RNIB video highlights the problems they face when trying to carry out regular tasks like shopping and trying to observe social distancing when they are often unaware what – and who – is around them.
They are appealing for rsupport and extra understanding from the public and retailers.
View the RNIB Video
Be alert to online radicalisation
Safer Rotherham Partnership is raising awareness about radicalisation and how some extremist groups are targeting vulnerable people who may be feeling more isolated due to the coronavirus restrictions.
The Let’s Talk about it website has some useful tips for parents and carers on how to spot the signs of online radicalisation, what you can do and where you can get help.
Visit the Let’s Talk About it website for more information.
Let’s Talk About It website
Getting in touch…
During this challenging time please, where possible and appropriate, use our online services rather than calling via telephone. We’re receiving a high level of calls daily and want to ensure we’re able to answer urgent calls regarding vulnerable residents and our front line services.
