COVID 19 100420

Please see below and attached your daily Covid-19 update as at 09 April 2020. Updates (in Red) for
today include:

• Revised number of cases & deaths.
• VHRL Safety Alert – Fatality of Contractor.
• Sentinel – Swipe for your safety.
• Latest Network Rail & Track Safety Alliance Advice

IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS, VISIT https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/ TO COMPLETE AN ONLINE
ASSESSMENT FOR COVID-19. ONLY CALL NHS 111 IF YOU CANNOT GET AN ANSWER ONLINE. IF IT
IS AN EMERGENCY, YOU CAN CALL NHS 111. IN SCOTLAND, NHS SCOTLAND ARE ADVISING THAT IF
YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) AND ARE WORRIED ABOUT SYMPTOMS,
YOU CAN CALL YOUR GP OR NHS 24 (111) OUT OF HOURS WHERE YOU WILL RECEIVE HELP. MORE
INFORMATION IS AT https://www.scot.nhs.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/.

THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ANSWER ON THE WEBSITE WILL DETERMINE IF YOU NEED TO CONTACT
NHS 111. THEY HAVE CREATED THIS IN ORDER TO EASE THE BURDEN ON THE NHS SO ENSURE
THAT YOU ANSWER THE QUESTIONS FULLY.

PPE

Gloves are currently being distributed to offices and we are also in the process of purchasing hand
sanitiser which should be with you soon. Some of you have asked about face masks. Please note
that the World Health Organisation are still looking into the benefits of the masks. This was re-
iterated by the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care, Matt Hancock on a recent televise
update.

Covid-19 update as at 0900 hrs 09 April 2020

Contact Details

If you have any queries, then email Vital Covid-19 responses at [email protected]. While social
distancing is one of the key recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19, you don’t need to
let it lead to social isolation. There’s a real risk of an increased sense of isolation and anxiety,
especially when people work remotely.

If you need to discuss salaries/finances, then please contact the HR Business Partner Lorraine Reece
at [email protected].

Don't forget that you can get support from your Mental Health Team at Vital. If you have any
queries, then get in touch with the Health & Safety Manager Mark Barrett at
[email protected] or the HR Business partner Lorraine Reece at
[email protected]. A guide to health and well-being was recently published on the last
Newsletter so take a look at that as well.

Please look after yourself and your colleagues just by having a conversation and checking in on one
another.

Number of Cases

As of 0900 hrs on 09 April 2020, there were 65,077 confirmed cases of Covid-19. This includes
54,554 in England, 4,957 cases in Scotland, 4,089 in Wales & 1,477 in Northern Ireland. As of 0900
hrs on 09 April 2020, there has been 7,978 confirmed deaths across England (7,248), Scotland (366),
Wales (286) & Northern Ireland (78). An increase of 881 since 08 April 2020.
The figure above can be broken down further into Regions across the UK. Click on the link below
and interact with the map and the chart on the right hand side.
https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/f94c3c90da5b4e9f9a0b19484dd4bb14
#
It will look like this. Click on the area indicated by the arrow and you will be able to zoom into your
local area:

Driving
All drivers please be aware that ALL Rules still apply when Parking vehicles in Hotels or on Private
Land(Station Car Parks etc). Please be vigilant and make sure you register vehicles when using any of

the above or if working for any of our clients where the parking locations have been outsourced to
Private companies.

If anybody advises drivers to park in places where there are parking restrictions please make sure
you obtain something in writing that you are allowed to park in the relevant space. There is no
excuse and it will be hard to appeal them if we do not have something in writing.

Latest Network Rail Advice

Social Distancing Video – Share With Pride:

https://powerlinesgroup-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/john_doherty_powerlines-
group_com/Ee2ox9l2-35DqRMiyJiTnt4BahE18aMgeMKbh-oz0FbAoQ?e=IsmCN0

Good practice guide for site working during Covid 19:

https://safety.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/COVID-19-working-on-site_-print_3-
04-2020_Final.pdf

Guidelines on_Social_Distancing_for_Key_workers Covid 19:

https://safety.networkrail.co.uk/guidelines_on_social_distancing_for_key_workers-covid-19/

COVID-19 – Working at operating locations:

https://safety.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/COVID-19-working-at-operating-
locations_print_3-4-2020_Final.pdf

The Track Safety Alliance have also issued guidance at:

https://www.tracksafetyalliance.co.uk/latest-news/covid19-guidance/bp133/

Latest Government Guidance

Visit the following link for up to date guidance. There are further links for Scotland, wales and
Northern Ireland as well as links to all the latest news. This will also give you links to the daily
updates from the Government:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Protect yourself and others:

• Stay at home
• Only go outside for essential food, health and work reasons
• Stay 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people
• Wash your hands regularly
• Wash your hands as soon as you get home

Coronavirus symptoms:

• High temperature or fever

• A new, continuous cough
• Shortness of breath

The new guidance says people should only leave their homes for:

• Shopping for basic necessities such as food and medicine. Shopping trips should be as
infrequent as possible

• One form of exercise a day such as a run, walk or cycle. This should be done alone or only
with people you live with

• Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person. This includes moving
children under the age of 18 between their parents' homes, where applicable. Key workers
or those with children identified as vulnerable can continue to take their children to school

• Travelling to and from work, but only where work absolutely cannot be done from home

Even when following the above guidance, you should minimise the amount of time spent out of your
home and should keep two metres (6ft) away from people you do not live with.

Risk level

The risk to the UK has been raised to high (No Change).

Risk Assessment

Revision 6 is still applicable

Self-Isolation/Confirmed Cases

Let your Supervisor, Branch Operations Manager or Line Manager know if you are planning to self-
isolate.

Mark Barrett
H&S Manager, Rail Division
E: [email protected] D: 0161 836 7053 M: 07717 306817