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Letter to Editor:- "GMB London Region Schools Briefing"

"GMB London last week shared with you our serious concerns about daily testing being offered as an alternative to the self isolation period for School staff and pupils. We are pleased to be able to report that, on 20 January 2021, Public Health England issued updated guidance stating daily testing will now be paused and this means that the 10 day period of self isolation for close contacts is reinstated. This is welcome news as GMB London was most concerned at the risk being posed to members by the use of daily testing for close contacts.

GMB is campaigning for School support staff to be included in the occupational prioritisation for vaccinations, which currently only mentions teachers. It is more evident than ever that Schools cannot function without support staff and GMB London is continuing to raise the lack of recognition for the invaluable work carried out by support staff, as well as challenging the inequality and unfairness experienced by our members in Schools.

As the end of the tax year approaches, we wanted to remind you that if you are working from home (even if it's only 1 day a week) because of the pandemic, you are entitled to claim ₤6 per week from your Employer to cover increased costs such as heating, electricity, and Wi-Fi. If you have not done so already, we have prepared a letter you may wish to send to your Head Teacher, asking for this payment to be paid and backdated where applicable. If your employer is not willing to pay this then you can ask HMRC for Tax Relief on this amount (which equates to ₤1.20 per week for 20% taxpayers and can be backdated) by following this link Claim Tax Relief for your job expenses: Working from home.

On Tuesday, 26 January 2021, at 5pm, GMB London is holding an online meeting for all Schools based members. If you have not already registered for this, there is still time. This:- "Questions and Answers" meeting will also look at how health and safety issues surrounding Covid19 can be addressed in Schools. If you wish to attend please use the link to register:- GMB-Org-UK.Zoom.US.

For those of you who are currently required to attend School, ventilation is a key factor in keeping you safe at work and here is a guide to ensuring good ventilation. Also, we are now receiving replies to our letters sent to Directors of Education, about what is being expected from support staff, and it is clear that being required to attend School to carry out duties not directly related to the provision of education for vulnerable children and the children of key workers, for example, to clean and tidy displays and cupboards, is not acceptable and should not be happening.

We hope you have been able to complete our survey, if you haven't the closing date is 22 January 2021 and we would like to hear from you about your experience and your School. . The results of the survey will be shared next week.

If you have any colleagues who are not in a Trade Union, they can join GMB online. The more members we have in a workplace, the stronger we are and together we can make a difference. We hope to see you on Tuesday and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at:- SchoolSteamLondon@GMB.Org.UK." - Lisa Bangs, GMB London Region Organiser - Schools and Academies - Keith Williams, GMB London Region Senior Organiserm.

Total UK cases Covid19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region

THE total number of UK Coronavirus (Covid19) infections that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK, has risen by:- 498,669 cases and the total number now stand at:- 3,617,459 that includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National totals.

The total number of Covid19 associated UK fatalities added to the total, was sadly reported to be:-1,401, 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:- 95,981, within 28 days of positive test. Deaths with Covid19 on the death certificate:- 95,829.

The number of Covid19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 38,562. The current number of Covid19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 3,960 Daily number of Covid19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 4,034.

In England, there are a total of:- 3,159,652 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 494,287 confirmed cases.

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

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

Liverpool City Region

Nation Lockdown

National UK Restrictions

► Liverpool, 41,342 confirmed cases.
421

► Halton, 9,965 confirmed cases.
102

► Knowsley, 14,586 confirmed cases. 186

► Sefton, 19,952 confirmed cases.
214

► St. Helens, 13,507 confirmed cases.
183

► Wirral, 20,749 confirmed cases.

292

Colour Key:- 0 1 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to 100 100 to 199 200 & over

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

► Backburn with Darwen, 15,060 confirmed cases.

► Blackpool, 7,687 confirmed cases.

► Bolton, 20,705 confirmed cases.

► Bury, 14,263 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire East, 16,948 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire West and Chester, 17,573 confirmed cases.

► Lancashire, 80,200 confirmed cases.

► Manchester, 43,721 confirmed cases.

► Oldham, 19,317 confirmed cases.

► Preston, 10,854 confirmed cases.

► Rochdale, 17,509 confirmed cases.

► Salford, 18,841 confirmed cases.

► Stockport, 16,507 confirmed cases.

► Tameside, 14,561 confirmed cases.

► Trafford, 13,705 confirmed cases.

► Warrington, 14,777 confirmed cases

► Wigan, 23,917 confirmed cases..

Total UK people who have received vaccination

1st Dose 2nd Dose

5,861,351 468,617

Jab Stats correct as of 22 January 2021

The vaccination programme began on 8 December 2020 with people receiving the vaccine developed by Pfizer / BioNTech, and people began receiving the Oxford University / AstraZeneca vaccine from 4 January 2021. Both vaccines are given as 2 doses, at least 21 days apart, for a full vaccination course.

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.

The latest R number is estimated at:- 0.8 to 1 with a daily infection growth rate range of:- -4% to -1%, as of 22 January 2021.