– Update 11, September 2022 –
It’s been quite some time since I sat down to produce a Covid update. There are now no legal Covid regulations for England, and that has been the case for several months. There is still guidance from the government and NHS about how to avoid catching or passing on Covid, but it is only guidance. It’s entirely up to you what decisions you make – whether to travel, whether to go to indoor meetings, and what parties to attend.
But Covid hasn’t gone away, and it’s important to keep that in mind. I keep our Covid Risk Assessment under regular review, and I have decided to stick with the current Covid Risk Assessment.
Essentially this has one main requirements:
- Whilst traveling in the car, a face covering/mask is to be worn by clients and staff.
The NHS was already under tremendous pressure even before Covid, and of course the pressure is substantially worse now. The NHS has done a magnificent job in dealing with Covid, and especially with managing the vaccination programme that has made such a big difference to our lives. The next vaccination programme has just begun. People over 50 and those in at risk groups will be offered a booster vaccine, which should give protection against the Omicron variant as well as the earlier variants of Covid. The booster jab will both reduce the chance of being infected and reduce the likelihood of serious illness if you are infected.
I can’t recommend too strongly that you should help to protect yourself and protect others by taking up the offer of a booster vaccination as soon as it is offered. I will be having my autumn booster in the coming months when I am due.
You can get the latest information from Healthwatch Cheshire East at https://healthwatchcheshireeast.org.uk/coronavirus/
– Update 10, July 2022 –
I am still asking ALL clients to wear a face mask/covering* (I will also be continuing to wear a face covering) to continue to protect everyone, as you can see from the below (statement from Cheshire East Council) COVID19 in CE is on the rise, and according to the WHO is up globally by 20% last week.
*Unless medically exempt.
Covid-19 cases are continuing to rise in Cheshire East
We are urging residents to stay safe and protect themselves and others against rising Covid-19 infection rates.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) infection survey estimates that 4.5 per cent of residents in Cheshire East tested positive between 12 June and 18 June.
Infection rates in Cheshire East are currently 222 cases per 100,000 people, this an increase of 38 per cent against the previous week, and slightly higher than the UK average of 194.4 cases per 100,000 people.
The ONS has said that Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 are likely to be behind the latest surge across the UK. They are thought to be the most dominant strains of the virus.
The rise in positive Covid-19 cases recently not only in Cheshire East but in neighbouring areas, is worrying.
We are also seeing an increase in hospitalisations for people with Covid-19. There are 71 patients being treated with Covid-19 in local hospitals, an increase from 47 the week before.
The recent surge in cases across the borough is shown across all age groups. It is so important to play our part in keeping infection rates down to protect ourselves, our families and other residents.
If you feel unwell and are able to, please work from home, postpone any social events you had planned and don’t send your child to school if they feel unwell. Good hand hygiene is an effective way of preventing the spread of a virus, so remember to wash your hands regularly and use hand sanitiser.
Good ventilation is important so open windows regularly when indoors, consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces and keep your distance from others.
These measures will not only reduce our chances of catching or passing on Covid but also reduces our chances of catching or passing on other infections like colds, flu and vomiting bugs.
If you feel unwell, check your symptoms against the latest list of Covid symptoms displayed on the government website.
– Update 9, March 2022 –
Although the legal requirement to self-isolate has now ceased, the advice of Cheshire East Public Health is in line with the UKHSA guidance, recommending that all confirmed cases and those with symptoms stay at home until they are well, which may be up to 10 days.
Following a positive test result, your child/young person can return to CPAS from 5 days after their isolation began if they are symptom free and have 2 negative lateral flow tests on consecutive days, 24 hours apart. If you or your child/young person display symptoms, you should arrange a PCR test.
Please report all results as normal via phone/text 07484142389 or by emailing cheshiredisabilitypaservice@gmail.com
All clients are still being ask (unless exempt) to wear a face covering during car journeys to help protect each-other.
The car seat covers will also continue to be changed after each person. Door handles and seat belts will be cleaned with antibacterial wipes/spray.
Hand sanitizer is also available.
If you have any concerns, questions, or your child/young person is just generally unwell, please phone/text 07484142389 or email cheshiredisabilitypaservice@gmail.com and advice can be given on a case-by-case basis.
– Update 8, January 2022 –
Happy New Year one and all, and many thanks for your on-going support!
The Prime Minister announced that Plan B will be continuing for another 3 weeks. While it is now clear that the Omicron variant is milder than the previous Delta variant, it spreads more easily. The situation will be reviewed once again in 3 weeks.
There was data published this week that shows that the booster vaccine decreases your risk of hospitalisation from the Omicron Variant by 88% compared to being unvaccinated. It is, therefore, advised that you get your booster vaccine, if eligible, as quickly as you can; to protect yourself and others around you. Encourage your friends and family to do the same. Not too late for them to get even their first vaccine dose!
“LFT Test Kits”
You can still order home test kits at: https://crowd.in/GpBFSa. Sometimes you may have to check back later to order.
You can also get test kits at a local pharmacy with collect code from: https://crowd.in/8OAZCn
“Confirmatory PCR Tests”
The need to take a confirmatory PCT test following a positive lateral flow test result has been suspended. You should from now on begin to self-isolate with just a positive lateral flow test.
“Face Coverings”
In England, face coverings are now required by law in most indoor public places and on public transport, including taxis. Therefore, I will (as previously) wear a face mask during car journeys, and all clients will now need to continue wearing a face covering. Anyone with a medical exemption will not need to wear one as was the case previously.
If your young person feels unwell, or has any COVID-19 related symptoms, please do not attend the session(s), and contact me directly on 07484142389.
Many thanks for your support as always.
– Update 7, August 2021 –
On Monday 16th August 2021 the UK government changed the rules around self-isolation and if you have been near/in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you can read the latest on the NHS website below.
When to self-isolate and what to do – Coronavirus (COVID-19) – NHS (www.nhs.uk).
I have reviewed CPAS’s risk assessment and currently there will be no changes at this time for the safety of myself and all my clients, which I hope you understand, therefore if you or someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19 or has symptoms of COVID-19 please let me know immediately so we can postpone the session.
Rapid lateral flow testing
I would be grateful if you could complete a rapid lateral flow test on your child/young person on the day or at least the day before each session. You can order them for FREE on the Gov.UK website
Order coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow tests – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Face covering
During car journeys I am still politely asking everyone to continue wearing a face covering whilst in the car (unless medically exempt). I am also still cleaning the car between clients and providing hand sanitizer.
Toilet
The pandemic has seen a closure of a lot of public toilets, please can I ask that your child/young person goes to the toilet just before the pickup as sometimes the journey in the car can be long.
Change to activities/times
As per the nature of my work, most activities are outdoors but this is always weather dependent and sometimes I have to change these at short notice to an alternative indoor activity and sometimes shorten/alter the session time (this is often rare). I appreciate your understanding with this. I will always notify you of this change via text message.
Cancelling your PA support session
Just a reminder if you need to cancel the PA support session for any reason, please do give me as much notice as possible by calling/texting 07484142389. If you need a copy of the cancellation policy, please do let me know.
Google review
Cheshire PA Support is on Google and I would be very grateful if you would write a review of my service on Google, please follow the link https://g.page/r/CQzt56CfkTWlEAg/review and click on “Write a review”, it would be very much appreciated.
– Update 6, July 2021 –
As of Monday 19th July 2021, face coverings are no longer mandatory, I will however continue to wear a mask during car journeys, and I am still asking all my clients to continue wearing a face covering too as per the old policy during car journeys, this is simply to protect everyone.
Cases continue to rise in Cheshire, and during car journeys we are in close distance of each-other and therefore are at increased risk.
Anyone with a medical exemption will not need to wear one as was the case previously.
If your young person feels unwell, or has any COVID-19 related symptoms, please do not attend the session/s, and contact me directly on 07484142389.
As we take this cautious step towards returning to normal, I once again want to say thank you for all your ongoing support to Cheshire PA Support.
Here is to brighter days ahead!
– Update 5, June 2021 –
It is VERY important you inform me if your young person has been told to self-isolate either via school, college, the NHS, or has come into contact with someone with a positive covid-19 result.
If your young person has been told to self-isolate or not attend school or college, (or someone in your household), please do let me know without delay to postpone the PA support session. I support a few young people who are extremely high risk and have a very low immune system. All cancellations, please text or call 07484 142389.
Even though I have now been fully vaccinated, we all still need to follow the government guidelines in relation to self-isolation timeframes and social distancing. I am still asking all clients to continue to wear a face covering in the car whilst travelling, and where face coverings are permitted such as in shops etc.
I hope you understand the need for the above to be followed – thank you to everyone for playing their part in keeping everyone safe and enabling me to continue working during these difficult times.
– Update 4, May 2021 –
Reminder : On Monday 17th May 2021 the government is moving to step 3 on it’s roadmap. The face coverings rule is slightly changing – however I am asking all clients to continue (as before) to wear a face covering in the car whilst travelling from location to location, and where coverings are permitted such as in shops etc.
– Update 3, April 2021 –
It has been a challenging start to the year for us all, but I am happy to see restrictions start to lift and the route to a more normal life begin.
I am delighted to be able to say that as from Tuesday 11th May 2021 CPAS will fully reopen, meaning that I am able to offer all the support services as before lockdown.
I will, of course, only fully reopen if it is safe to do so and dates may change depending on Government guidelines.
I will be in touch with all current clients to start rebooking everyone in and with more information at the end of April 2021.
I would like to thank everyone for their continued support during these difficult times.
If anyone would like more information about joining CPAS (spaces are now available), or to have an informal chat, please call Mike on 07484142389 or email info@cheshirepasupport.co.uk.
More information will be posted in due course.
Keep safe and take care.
– Update 2, March 2021 –
The government have released a new TV advert regarding COVID-19 (posted below). Here at CPAS we continue to have ALL our activities local and outdoors.
We are working hard on planning to open up fully very soon, keep a check on THIS post for updates from us.
If you have any questions, please email info@cheshirepasupport.co.uk.
Thank you for your continued support.
– Update 1, February 2021 –
I’m sure you are all aware that the government in England plans to ease lockdown will be announced around the 22nd of February 2021.
Currently with these restrictions in place, and for the safety of everyone, I am unable to transport people from location to location by car, however I am able to offer walks around your local area (pick up from home, walk with social distancing, and back,) if this would be of any help to you? Please email (info@cheshirepasupport.co.uk) or phone/text (07484 142389) me to arrange this.
I will post any updates on the ‘Cheshire PA Support’ official Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/cheshirepasupport), and here on the website. I’ll be in touch with all parents/carers when the situation changes, and hopefully able to resume to normal.
