Swindon has seen 916 new COVID-19 cases in the last seven days, down from 1,427 new cases last Friday (8 January).

Swindon's current seven-day rolling average case rate is 412.3 per 100,000, down from 642.2 per 100,000 last Friday (8 January). The national case rate is 550.8 per 100,000 and 369.2 per 100,000 in the South West.

This week, 13 people have sadly passed away within 28 days of a positive test for COVID-19 bringing the total number of deaths in Swindon to 156.

"I'm aware that some people have suggested that hospitals are not that busy and that COVID-19 is not such a bad illness. I'm here to tell you that this is not true.”

Our COVID-19 case rate is high in Swindon and staff like Mark Juniper, Respiratory Consultant at the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, are treating more patients than at any point in the pandemic. Now more than ever, they need our support to stop the spread of the virus in Swindon and help reduce the pressure on our hospital.

Your face covering should:

• cover your nose and mouth 
• fit comfortably but securely against the side of your face
• be secured to your head with ties or ear loops
• ideally include at least two layers of fabric

A guide for wearing your face covering:

• before putting your face covering on, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser 
• avoid wearing on your neck or forehead
• avoid touching your face covering 
• change your face covering if it becomes damp or if you’ve touched it

When removing your face covering:

• before removing your mask, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser, repeat this step again once you have removed your mask
• only handle the straps, ties or clips
• do not give it to someone else to use
• if single-use, dispose of it carefully in a residual waste bin and do not recycle
• if reusable, wash it in line with the manufacturer’s instructions at a high temperature

Face covering exemptions apply. Find out more.

The COVID-19 vaccination programme is underway in Swindon and is currently being offered to those most at risk from coronavirus, including:

• people aged 80 and over, who have a hospital appointment in the next few weeks
• people who live or work in care homes
• health and social care workers at high risk

If you have a question about the vaccination, please refer to the local Clinical Commissioning Group’s Q&As on their website.

When it is your turn to get your coronavirus vaccination you will be contacted directly by the NHS. You should not contact your GP or turn up at a vaccination site without an appointment.

Unfortunately scammers are using the vaccine rollout as a way of targeting and defrauding vulnerable residents. Remember:

• the NHS will never request that you pay for the vaccine
• the NHS will never ask for your bank details, pin number or credit card details
• the NHS will not turn up to your house unannounced to administer your vaccine

 Find out more about the COVID-19 vaccination.

Our Public Health team has written to over 30 supermarkets across Swindon this week to thank them for the work they have done to keep essential services available during the pandemic, and to offer advice to reduce the risk of transmission in their stores. 

Our Environmental Health team will continue to visit and contact certain supermarkets to raise some of the issues that residents have been reporting, including overcrowding in stores. Supermarkets are amongst the most frequent common exposure settings for catching coronavirus.

Remember it’s not solely the responsibility of supermarkets to keep us safe. When entering a store you must wear a mask that covers both your nose and mouth, unless you are exempt, and you must keep a safe distance between yourself and other shoppers. If an aisle is busy, avoid it and return when it is safe to do so. Further guidance is available on the Government website. 

If your child is born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017, please remember to submit their primary school application online by 11.59pm tonight (15 January). Applications received after the deadline has passed will be treated as ‘late’ and will be considered after all ‘on-time’ applicants have been allocated their school places.

As coronavirus case rates across the country remain high, the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme will now be extended until 31 March 2021. Over the past three months, we’ve distributed 324 payments, totalling over £162,000, to local residents on low incomes, who faced losing earnings because of self-isolation.

If you’re on a low income, unable to work from home and will lose income because of self-isolation, you may be eligible for a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment. Visit our website for more information, to see if you are eligible and to apply, or click here to find out what other support is available to residents whose income has been affected by coronavirus.

With England in a national lockdown, it's crucial we all know and understand how to keep ourselves and others safe. Find the answers to frequently asked questions here:

• What should I do if someone in my household has COVID-19, or has symptoms?
• What do I need to do if I have COVID-19 symptoms?
• How and where can I get tested for COVID-19?
• What do I need to do if I receive a negative COVID-19 test result?
• What do I need to do if I receive a positive COVID-19 test result?
• How can I reduce the spread of COVID-19 in my household?