Liverpool City Region COVID-19 statistics
... & Important Emergency Notices ...

RESPONDING to the latest ONS figures on Coronavirus deaths, which show that deaths involving COVID-19 as a percentage of all deaths in Care Homes decreased to 17.3% in the week to 12 June 2020, compared with 23.4% in the previous week, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:- "Our thoughts go out to those family and friends who have lost loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. Each of these figures represents another life tragically lost to this dreadful disease. While the total number of deaths due to Coronavirus continues to thankfully go down, it is seriously concerning that nearly a 3rd of these still happen in Care Homes. Social care remains on the frontline in the fight against Coronavirus and excess deaths in Care Homes continues to be higher than the 5 year average, compared to Hospitals which have seen a decline, leaving our older people and most vulnerable at risk. Councils are doing all they can to protect those in Care Homes, as well as those receiving care in their own homes. Every Council in England has prepared plans on how to support all Care Homes in their areas to control and prevent future infection outbreaks, working alongside the NHS locally and with Public Health England. The Government needs to ensure that Councils and social care services have all the resources they need for the weeks and months ahead. The LGA is working closely with the new National COVID-19 Social Care Support Taskforce to tackle these issues and help guide social care through this current crisis and beyond."

THE Register of Play Inspectors International (RPII) is the UK body for examining, accrediting, and certificating inflatable, indoor and outdoor playground inspectors to ensure that playground safety standards are adhered to and is endorsed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The RPII said that:- "While we are pleased that the Government has finally announced the date for the reopening of outdoor playgrounds in England, we are aware that some owners and operators of playground facilities have halted safety inspections of playgrounds altogether during the lockdown period. The Register of Play Inspectors International (RPII) is therefore today calling for all playground owners to carry out an in depth inspection prior to the reopening of any facility and ensure that all inspection schedules are brought fully up to date. The RPII is expecting playgrounds to be very heavily used, especially with the warm weather that we are currently experiencing and the eagerness of the public to start using them again, so it is vital that playgrounds are thoroughly inspected to ensure a satisfactory level of safety is in place. Owners and operators of playground facilities also have a responsibility to open playgrounds safely and remove any temporary barriers that may have been put up during lockdown which may also be hazardous."

The RPII is providing the following guidance for families that plan to visit a playground safely:-

► If the playground facility you visit has not yet officially been opened, please do not attempt to use, or access the equipment or area.

► Do not remove any temporary barriers to the playground or plastic fencing or unravel any swing seats or cables that may have been secured to put them out of use; this must be done safely by the owner or operator of the facility.

► Follow the current social distance guidelines when visiting and encourage your children to do the same.

► If the playground is busy, consider coming back at a later time. Talk to your children about this possibility before visiting.

► Wash your and your children's hands before and after visiting. Take hand sanitiser with you and consider taking a bottle of water for if your children's hands get covered in mud. Ensure your children are using hand sanitiser frequently.

► Follow and adhere to all current Government advice in addition to the above guidance.

THE sting in the tail of Covid-19 for those who have recovered after being in Hospital could well be long term lung damage. This comes after NHS England said Doctors following up on those affected had found those treated since Covid-19 say they suffer from shortness of breath, coughing, and fatigue. This has lead to the worry many who had recovered could now be suffering from pulmonary fibrosis (lung scarring) and tens of thousands of people being recalled to the Hospital so that they can get scanned to see if they have had permanent lung damage. This serious side effect of the virus, which could have long term implications on those affected, came as the Government said restrictions in England will be eased again. The 2 metre rule will become "where possible," but will now be "1 metre plus" from 4 July 2020. Also, 2 households, in England, will also be able to meet indoors and stay overnight, with social distancing being observed, from that date. But, the Prime Minister has warned that all steps were "reversible."

THE Prime Minister announced on 23 July 2020 that:- pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants can re-open, with restrictions, on Saturday, 4 July 2020; something that allows some pubs to open, which is welcome, but many others will struggle and require ongoing support from the Government and sector.

The reopening is subject to a 1 metre social distancing limit plus a ban on bar service. Some pubs will therefore be opening again, which is a great relief where they can do so (for licensees and customers) but others won't or actually can't open under the restrictions, depending on their layout; and face closure as a result. So whilst welcoming the fact that some pubs will be able to trade and serve their communities, the Campaign for Pubs have called for support to save thousands of pubs, until trading gets back to normal post Covid-19. Licensees and brewers are also making clear that 11 days notice is simply not enough – especially with the Government now expecting pubs to collect customer data.

The Prime Minister's announcement also stated that bar service is banned, something that is of course standard in all pubs, and that pubs can only operate table service. The announcement also stated that the Government are expecting pubs to collect customer data, and have pledged to help pubs to do so. The details of this help need to be released very urgently, because with some pubs set to open in just 11 days, the unprecedented task of such data collection and management may prove an insurmountable burden on small businesses that have already had to invest in alterations to allow opening in reduced trade. There is still a lack of clarity over a number of things including whether licensing restrictions will be eased to allow outdoor service and use of all available spaces to make it more possible to trade viably.

The 11 day notice is also unfair to independent brewers, many of whom asked for longer to be able to brew and supply pubs, which puts them at a unfair disadvantage compared to the large and global breweries.

The Campaign for Pubs, the national grassroots campaign to promote, support and protect pubs, published 10 Points to Save Pubs; #10PointstoSavePubs last week; 10 key calls to the Government and the pub sector to help pubs and publicans and to prevent many pub closures. The first 2 calls; for an immediate announcement confirming reopening plans and for the social distancing rule to be dropped to 1 metre from 2 metres has now been met but with no clear guidance on key things such as customer data collection or liability. The Campaign for Pubs are making clear that this guidance is needed now and that a proper package of support is now needed, with pubs facing reduced trade and some unable to trade viably at all.

The 10 Points to Save Pubs calls for a rent free period for all pubs and a statutory right to a rent review for all pub tenants, all of whom will be facing restrictions on their ability to trade. It also calls for 5% VAT for 12 months to help pubs and the hospitality and tourism sectors get back on their feet. Further, it requests the Government to announce hugely overdue business rates reform to commence by April 2021, and for business rate relief for pubs until a new system comes in. In addition, with pubs now facing the very real threat that property owners and large pubcos will look to close and redevelop many pubs at this difficult time, a 12 month moratorium on all change of use for pubs is called for to protect and preserve valued community locals up and down the country. This is especially vital considering the very worrying recent news that the Government is considering moving to a "zonal" planning system where key decisions are taken away from local Councils and handed to development corporations, something which is strongly opposed by the Campaign for Pubs.

Following such a moratorium, the Campaign for Pubs are campaigning for meaningful planning reform to stop viable and wanted pubs being converted, developed or demolished.

The full list of the 10 Points to Save Pubs is:-

1. A definite date for opening; now delivered.

2. Social distancing of 1 metre; now delivered.

3. Clear full guidance for pubs and insurance companies; not yet delivered; pubs need real clarity about any physical infrastructure requirements, and also about specific responsibilities and liability issues, so that they can be properly insured under fair policies which will be honoured.

4. Relaxation of licensing restrictions where extra spaces would help smaller pubs operate more viably and safely; not confirmed.

5. A strong mandatory Covid-19 rent code of conduct including a statutory right to a rent review for all pub tenants; must be delivered.

6. A rent free period for all pubs, and an extended period of protection from landlords if rent cannot be paid; must be urgently delivered.

7. Continued financial support for staff; extended fully paid furlough where pubs are unable to viably/safely trade due to continued Government restrictions; must be delivered.

8. VAT to 5% for at least 12 months; the only sensible way to help with reduced margins, as any price increases would reduce trade even further; must be delivered.

9. Business rates reform; announced now and implemented in April 2021; and rates relief for all pubs until a reformed system comes in; must be announced, then delivered.

10. A 12 month ban on all change of use for pubs; pubs need protection in the planning system now even more than ever - must be urgently implemented as pubs are already being forced to close and licensees are already walking away and being driven out by rent demands

The Campaign for Pubs is urging all pub lovers to back the #10PointstoSavePubs to stop many pub closures; and to call on their MPs and the Government to back them too; and save pubs.

The Campaign for Pubs is a dynamic mass membership group, open to all who love and care about pubs. Unlike any other sector organisation, it unites publicans, pub campaigners, customers and suppliers, including some of the UK's leading smaller brewers. The Campaign for Pubs exists to provide a #realvoiceforpubs and to campaign for a better, freer and fairer, more sustainable pub sector. The Campaign for Pubs' mission statement lays out this powerful vision.

The Campaign for Pubs costs £25 a year to join, or £40 for a couple and members become part of a national network of those who care about pubs and their future.

Commenting, Paul Crossman, Chair of the Campaign for Pubs and licensee of 3 pubs in York said:- "As Chair of the Campaign for Pubs, and also a practising publican myself, I welcome today's announcement by the Prime Minister and this move by the Government to help enable those pubs that can open safely and viably under the new measures to do so. The pub trade can only act in accordance with Government advice and today's announcement was necessarily cautious, and as a result it means that many publicans will need to make a decision as to whether the guidelines will work for their individual business or not. For a great many pubs, especially smaller community pubs which generally rely on key periods of high density trade to be viable, these measures will not make a return to sustainable trade possible. We trust the Government will respect the tough decisions that will have to be made in many cases, and will recognise the importance of continuing to protect these normally viable and hugely valued community assets by extending the support necessary to allow them to survive and reopen when the time is right."

Commenting, Phil Saltonstall, MD of Brass Castle Brewery and Brewer Coordinator for the Campaign for Pubs said:- "I welcome the Prime Minister's statement for the direction that it now provides us in beginning to reopen UK pubs. This announcement however, comes far too late for many smaller independent breweries to meet the July 4th opening date; where beer production times are usually significantly longer than large industrial breweries. The Government has failed to meet its own timetable and this late announcement now favours those larger breweries. We are very conscious of the risks that we have to manage now to protect our hospitality workers, as well as our customers, as we seek cautiously to reopen pubs, tap houses and other community hubs. For many venues, those continued risks and necessary restrictions will make reopening unviable, if not impossible."

Victoria MacDonald, Campaign for Pubs Committee member and licensee of two pubs (1 an 11 bedroom inn) in Norfolk said:- "Giving publicans just 11 days notice is really unhelpful, but to announce also that pubs have to collect customer data is just not reasonable. The Government themselves have failed to get a track and trace system in place, yet now expect already stressed licensees to do this for them? It really isn't good enough and many pubs won't be able to open so there must be a package of support for pubs. If the Government wants to preserve our valuable pub culture, it needs to act and back the Campaign for Pubs 10 Points to Save Pubs."

Will this affect you? Please email us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com with your thoughts and views on this issue.

THE Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, has issued the following Statement:- "I know that many people are keen to return to some kind of normality and given the importance of hospitality and tourism to our local economy, today's announcement will be seen as positive by many across our Region. Any easing of lockdown carries risk, so I would urge everyone to continue to act cautiously, to use these new freedoms very carefully and remember that space on things like public transport will remain limited for some time. Disappointingly, we heard little today from the Prime Minister to give us confidence that the test and trace scheme will be operating properly when these restrictions are eased. Nor did we hear details on how any local lockdowns; which he again mentioned today; would work in practice, especially with regard to how they would be enforced or funded. Our 6 local Councils have already been left with a £241m black hole in their finances because the Government has not yet kept to its promise to provide 'whatever it takes.' Government is now presenting them with a range of new challenges on testing and lock downs, so it must also now give them the proper funding to continue meeting those challenges in the next few months and beyond."