As the current situation regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) evolves, both globally and in our county of Northumberland, with it comes many questions that need answers. Where possible, we have provided the answers to your questions here.

This information was last updated on 10 July 2020.

 

Latest information and advice:

• What you can and can't do during the pandemic
• Testing

Latest Government announcements:

• Lockdown restrictions to be eased from 4 July - Published 23 June 2020
• Plans to ease guidance for over 2 million shielding - Published 22 June 2020
• UK COVID-19 alert is lowered to risk level 3 - Published 19 June 2020
• See all government announcements

Your questions answered:

• Communication
• Education and school closures
• Financial support for businesses
• Financial support for residents
• Health and wellbeing
• Housing
• Questions about COVID-19
• Safeguarding
• Social care
• Travelling overseas

The government have created a helpful FAQs webpage so you can clearly see the rules we should be following during the coronavirus pandemic.

We can all help control the virus if we all stay alert. This means you must:

• stay at home as much as possible
• work from home if you can
• limit contact with other people
• keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible)
• wash your hands regularly

Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.

 

Latest Government FAQs:

• What you can and can't do until 4 July
• What you can and cannot do from 4 July
• Which businesses are starting to reopen?

The links above will open in a new tab, and will take you to the gov.uk website.

The information in this section was last updated on 10 July 2020

The government have put together expert guidance on travelling overseas during the coronavirus pandemic.

Please click here for travel advice. This link will open in a new tab, and will take you to the gov.uk website.

We are aware that the Department for Health and Social Care are setting up a number of rotating COVID-19 mobile testing sites across Northumberland, supported by the military.

This information was last updated on 10 July 2020.

 

NHS Test and Trace

If you test positive for coronavirus, the NHS Test and Trace system will ask you to share your most recent contacts with them. This allows your contacts to be 'traced' via this service, and they will be informed that they have recently been in contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus. They can then self-isolate for 14 days to stop the spread.

Please click here for more information from the gov.uk site.

Please click here for NHS Test and Trace.
 

 

Testing

The council is not involved in the set-up or operation of tests, including their locations.

This section provides information regarding financial support for Northumberland residents during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

 

Assistance for Northumberland Residents

 

Council Tax Support, Housing Benefit, and Universal Credit

• Council Tax Support or Housing Benefit
• Universal Credit

• Telephone: 01670 522779
• Northumberland Community Bank

 

The Hardship Fund

This section provides information regarding financial support for Northumberland businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Assistance for Northumberland Businesses

Please visit our dedicated Northumberland business hub section of our website to access all of the support available. 

• Visit the Northumberland business hub here.

This section provides Northumberland residents with some of the answers to their COVID-19 questions. These questions relate to the virus itself.

What is coronavirus?

A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new coronavirus. Public Health England (PHE) have a comprehensive guide on what COVID-19 is and this is available, together with their associated professional advice.

• Click here to view Public Health England's guide to COVID-19.

Is coronavirus the same as COVID-19?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses which cause a range of diseases. COVID-19 is the name given to the disease caused by a new coronavirus which had not previously been identified.

I'm worried about coronavirus, where can I get help and support?

Click here to access the range of information sources on COVID-19 provided by Public Health England and the government.

This section provides Northumberland residents with some of the answers to their education and school related questions, in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Please click here for all the latest information and frequently asked questions regarding schools and COVID-19.

This section provides Northumberland residents with some answers to their questions in relation to safeguarding and how it is impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19).

Click here for Safeguarding Adults information & advice regarding coronavrius (COVID-19).

Click here for Safeguarding Children information & advice regarding coronavirus (COVID-19).

A number of online groups are appearing, suggesting that people contact them if they require assisstance. Whilst we are sure the intentions of people setting these up is genuine, how do we ensure that the safeguarding of vulnerable people is not compromised?

We have made contact with key groups to ensure that support is provided in a co-ordinated way, and that the vulnerability of our communities is protected wherever possible. We are aware that some individuals may not have good natured intentions and if we become aware of these we will notify the police accordingly.

This section provides Northumberland residents with some answers to their health and wellbeing questions, in relation to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Where can I get general advice about my health and wellbeing at this time?

We recommend that you seek general advice online from NHS.uk and NHS 111 online.

• NHS.uk
• NHS 111 Online
• Health and Wellbeing Policy

This section provides Northumberland residents with some answers to their social care questions, in relation to coronavirus (COVID-19).

How do we provide home care to residents, including those we do not yet know about, without compromising the health of residents and staff?

A robust plan is in place to ensure that those residents that need support receive it.

We are working with partner agencies to ensure that we minimise visits to each individual (i.e 1 visit instead of 3 separate agencies) and have met with carer providers to identify people they are working with that were not known to our service, so we can provide advice and support. 

What provisions are in place to protect the most vulnerable of our residents in residential care homes and sheltered accomodation?

Public Health, Adult and Children's social care, and Housing colleagues are working closely to ensure that there is strong communication, resources, and support available across the county, promoting good public health messages and ensuring that workers and residents are aware of the current resources available to them. 

• Click here for government guidance on residential care, supported living and home care during a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

How are we going to support families of those in 'at-risk' age and medical groups to care for their relatives, stay safe themselves and continue in their employment?

The Council has a lead role in providing support to those residents who are 'shielding'. Click here for information about how to access national support. 

• Click here for government guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK, and for protecting older people and vulnerable adults

What is going to happen with community outreach programmes, particularly for those with physical and mental disabilities?

Senior managers reviewed all our services to assess which should be temporarily suspended or delivered differently within communities. Critical services will be maintained at all times, although these may need to be delivered differently.

Are there any plans to close the day centres that vulnerable and disabled adults go to?

As a result of Public Health advice about social distancing, many of the people who usually attend day services told us that they did not want to continue going during the crisis. Most of the organisations providing day services have decided as a result to suspend their operations, and the Council has also suspended operation of its own day services. 

This page provides Northumberland residents with some answers to their communication related questions during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Does the council have any social media pages that I should follow, which may be useful during this period?

The council's public Facebook and Twitter pages will provide comprehensive updates as they are known. The staff Facebook page will also have useful information. 

• Northumberland County Council Facebook
• Northumberland Alerts Facebook
• Northumberland County Council Twitter
• Northumberland Alerts Twitter

This section providers Northumberland residents with the answers to some of their housing questions in relation to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Are there any plans to give tenants a rent and council tax holiday if they are unable to work?

There currently no plans to give tenants a rent and council tax holiday, but this will be reviewed in line with any national guidance recieved, and the council will carefully consider how they communicate with residents over any outstanding rent/council tax at this time.

Will there be a guarantee that tenants will not face eviction if they are unable to pay their rent due to illness, self-isolation, or unpaid leave?

We would like to reassure tenants that we will not be evicting people who are in rent arrears as a direct result of the coronavirus.

What support are we offering house owners and private landlords?

We are currently reviewing the infromation available to house owners and private landlords, but directing residents to the nationally available guidance.

• Click here to visit gov.uk

The Private Sector Housing Team has identified key services which we will aim to deliver for as long as possible, in order to support private landlords and their tenants. Click here to view these key services.

The above document includes links to important information for Private Landlords in relation to keeping themselves and their tenants safe, as well as information regarding new emergency legislation for eviction proceedings. The Private Sector Housing Team's contact details are also included for customers who have specific questions about how we may be able to help. 

What measures are we putting in place to ensure that residents know what benefits they are entitled to and how to claim them? For instance, Universal Credit claimants can also claim Housing Benefit. 

Our teams are well placed to advise residents over the phone on the the potential benefits they be entitled to and to conduct a claim on their behalf.