Liverpool City Region COVID-19 Updates

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Southport Comedy Festival 2020 cancelled as Region goes into Tier 3 measures

SOUTHPORT Comedy Festival 2020 has sadly been cancelled by Covid, organisers said today. But they have promised to return with a vengeance for Southport Comedy Festival 2021. The hugely popular event brings some of the biggest names in comedy to Southport every year.

Jason Manford, Russell Kane, Rich Hall, Jo Caulfield, Reginald D Hunter, Ed Byrne, Paul Zerdin, Paul Sinha and Andy Parsons were among the names on this year's bill, which was sponsored by Southport firm Anthony James Estate Agents.

The 2020 event was initially due to be held in theatres, restaurants and bars around Southport, but was cancelled after the Covid19 Pandemic hit the UK, back in March 2020. In August, after cases had subsided, event organisers Bren and Val Brady planned a special Covid Secure Southport Comedy Festival in a specially constructed marquee at Victoria Park in Southport with a huge array of safety measures in place.

The shows were due to take place between 1 October and 18 October 2020. But despite a number of the shows being sold out, the organisers noted the rising Covid cases in the region and took the sensible decision to postpone the Festival until the end of November in the hope that cases might be brought back under control. But following the news this week that both the Liverpool City Region and Lancashire are being put into Tier 3 Covid restrictions, the decision has now regretfully been made to cancel this year's event. Everyone who has bought tickets will get their money returned through the Skiddle ticket booking operator.

Festival Director Brendan Riley and Val Brady said:- "It is with huge regret that we announce the cancellation of this year's Southport Comedy Festival. Due to the ongoing Covid19 Coronavirus Pandemic and the movement of Sefton and other nearby boroughs into Tier 3 Covid Alert Levels, it has now become clear that it is just not possible for this year's event to go ahead We are extremely disappointed to have to make this decision. The amount of work we have put in planning this year's Festival and trying to make it work in the current climate is difficult to quantify. The support we have received from the public and our fantastic sponsors has been overwhelming. We would like to say a huge thank you to this year's headline sponsor, Mark and Lyn Cunningham from Anthony James Estate Agents, along with all our other sponsors and supporters, including Alan Adams and his team from Southport Flower Show and Victoria Park Events, Mark Dilley from Elite Marquees, Mark Catherall and the Sefton Council Tourism Team and all our other supporters for trying to make this year's Festival happen. We would also like to thank everyone who has bought tickets for your support, for your patience and your understanding. It just wasn't meant to be this year. We feel that everyone's safety has to come first and we hope you understand. We will be working closely with our ticketing partners and they will be in touch by email very soon to process refunds for tickets already purchased. We will be back when this nightmare has passed. Until then keep safe, and we will get through this together."

Please visit the Southport Comedy Festival website for updates on next year's event, and please Like the Southport Comedy Festival page on Facebook.

Joint statement from Metro Mayor, City Mayor and Leaders of the six Liverpool City Region Local Authorities

IN a joint statement from Metro Mayor, City Mayor and Leaders of the 6 Liverpool City Region Local Authorities said:- "This week the Government imposed Tier 3 restrictions on Liverpool City Region. We are very conscious of the high rates of Coronavirus in our region and the pressure this causes on our NHS, and have therefore always understood the need for some action to bring the virus under control and protect our residents. However, we have always been clear that we were given no choice about the specific package of measures that would be applied to us, or the scientific evidence to support them. We note the decision to move Lancashire into Tier 3 today, while also being concerned that there appear to be differences between the two packages of measures, particularly the opening of gyms. We therefore require Government to explain, with evidence, why they believe gyms in the Liverpool City Region are a greater risk for COVID transmission, than those elsewhere. We simply will not accept our region being treated differently to other Tier 3 areas, without robust scientific evidence. These inconsistencies in restrictions between areas within the same tier risk undermining the new system from the beginning. So, today we are once again demanding that government urgently supplies us with the scientific evidence behind their decision to close gyms in our area, while allowing them to stay open in other areas. In the meantime, we are doing everything we can to support hospitality and leisure businesses that are affected by the new restrictions via our own ₤40m emergency fund, using local funds that have been repurposed to support our economy. The fund has opened for applications today, and we are continuing to press the Government for a wider economic support package, including increased funding for furlough and self employed people."

Steve Rotheram Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region	Joe Anderson OBE Mayor of Liverpool	Cllr Rob Polhill Leader of Halton Council

Cllr Graham Morgan Leader of Knowsley Council	Cllr Ian Maher Leader of Sefton Council	Cllr David Baines Leader of St Helens Council

Cllr Janette Williamson Leader of Wirral Council

Damien Moore MP Comment on Gyms in the Liverpool City Region

CONSERVATIVE MP Damien Moore, commented:- "Gyms in Southport and the wider Merseyside region must be allowed to reopen immediately. People living here should be no worse off than those living in Lancashire. We need fairness and parity in these restrictions; not a tier system within a tier system. Today's announcement shows that the decision on gyms was down to local leaders; it was not a red line set by the Government. The Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has failed to represent people living on Merseyside. He didn't fight hard enough for a better deal from the government and he failed to keep gyms open when leaders in Lancashire did. He could have kept gyms open when we went into Tier 3 status. I have written to the Secretary of State for Health this morning calling for the immediate reopening of gyms across our Region as an integral part of improving people's physical and mental health."

Giving blood at Liverpool Donor Centre remains essential for the NHS during stricter local Covid19 restrictions

BLOOD donors in Liverpool and the surrounding areas are being urged to keep donating as normal if they are fit and healthy. Giving blood is classed as essential travel and Liverpool Donor Centre will stay open with appointments remaining as normal. NHS Blood and Transplant is issuing a reminder of the exemption to donors as the strictest Covid19 restrictions are put into place in the Liverpool City Region (Tier 3).

Peter Baughan, Head of Blood Donation for the North at NHS Blood and Transplant said:- "We have seen a fantastic response from blood donors so far in the Pandemic and blood stocks have remained good. With these updated Covid19 measures coming into effect in the community, it's important for anyone in the area who has an upcoming appointment to donate blood to please stick to it if you can, as blood donation remains essential for NHS and patient care and is exempt from travel restrictions. If you can't get an appointment right away, don't worry. Please donate in a few weeks or a few months' time and your blood will still save lives then. Blood saves lives and donating is something you can do to help the NHS at this time. Extra safety measures are in place on session and our doors are very much open."

Since the Covid19 outbreak, extra safety measures have been introduced across all blood donation sessions. All donors are triaged with a temperature check on arrival as an additional measure to protect staff and donors. If a donor has a temperature of 37.5 or above; which is a Covid19 risk factor; they will not be able to donate or enter the session. When entering, hand gels and hand washing facilities are available, donors are spaced apart and staff are doing extra cleaning. Staff are wearing face masks and donors are required to wear a face covering and keep it on throughout their time on session, removing it only for refreshments. Please follow all relevant Government transport guidance when making a journey into, within or out of any affected areas, and it is a requirement to wear a face covering on public transport and in taxis. Around 5,000 units of blood need to be collected each day. Blood is used for treating trauma, cancer, blood diseases, bleeds in childbirth, and much more. Each donation can save up to three lives.

Liverpool has a permanent Blood Donor Centre at Unit:- 6, 2 Moorfields, 53 Dale Street, Liverpool, L2 2BS. Book appointments and check the latest guidance on Covid19 and giving blood by calling:- 0300 123 23 23, downloading the NHS Give Blood app, or visiting the website.

Total UK cases COVID19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region

THE total number of UK Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK, has risen by:- 15,650 cases and the total number now stand at:- 689,257, that includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National totals.

THE total number of COVID-19 associated UK fatalities added to the total, was sadly reported to be:- 136, within 28 days of positive test, according to the Department of Health. The total number of deaths of people who have had a positive test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS laboratory is:- 43,429, within 28 days of positive test. Deaths with Covid19 on the death certificate:- 57,690.

The number of COVID-19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 5,311. The current number of COVID-19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 580. Daily number of COVID-19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 844.

In England, there are a total of:- 584,843 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 143,636 confirmed cases.

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-

Area and number of confirmed cases:- Risen by:-

ENHANCED RESTRICTIONS

Tier 3

LIVERPOOL CITY REGION

► Liverpool, 13,706 confirmed cases.
922

► Halton, 2,559 confirmed cases.
43

► Knowsley, 4,446 confirmed cases. 130

► Sefton, 5,644 confirmed cases.
124

► St. Helens, 3,929 confirmed cases
84

► Wirral, 6,016 confirmed cases.

103

Colour Key:- 0 1 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to100 100 over

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within Local Authorities around the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-

► Blackburn with Darwen, 4,016 confirmed cases.

► Blackpool, 2,189 confirmed cases.

► Bolton, 6,993 confirmed cases.

► Bury, 4,253 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire East, 4,407 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire West and Chester, 4,112 confirmed cases.

► Lancashire, 21,444 confirmed cases.

► Manchester, 14,338 confirmed cases.

► Oldham, 6,224 confirmed cases.

► Preston, 3,483 confirmed cases.

► Rochdale, 5,432 confirmed cases.

► Salford, 5,391 confirmed cases.

► Stockport, 4,573 confirmed cases.

► Tameside, 4,654 confirmed cases.

► Trafford, 4,120 confirmed cases.

► Warrington, 3,981 confirmed cases

► Wigan, 6,289 confirmed cases.

Daily reported Covid19 deaths are now measured across the UK as deaths that occurred within 28 days of the 1st laboratory confirmed positive Covid19 test. Daily and cumulative numbers of COVID19 patients admitted to Hospital. Data are not updated every day by all 4 nations and the figures are not comparable as Wales include suspected COVID19 patients while the other nations include only confirmed cases.

Liverpool City Region COVID19 Updates ... and Important Emergency Notices ...

Total UK cases COVID19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region

Liverpool City Region COVID19 Updates
... and Important Emergency Notices ...