You can read the Government's latest coronavirus guidance here.
This page has been designed to provide up-to-date information, guidance and advice with regards to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Relevant Information
- If you need medical help, please use the 111 online coronavirus service.
- Please click here for the Government's stay at home advice and here for more general information.
- Bespoke advice for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions is available here.
- School closures guidance and key worker information is available here.
- Arrangements for exams which have been cancelled are available here.
- Information about energy suppliers and energy providers' commitment to support 4 million vulnerable customers can be accessed here.
- If you are an employer or business owner you can read the Government's specific guidance about coronavirus here.
- If your business has been instructed to close, or you are unsure which businesses should close, the official guidance is here.
- Information about the Government's Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme (CBILS) can be found here.
- If you are self-employed, you can read guidance for the Government's Self-Employed Support Scheme (SEISS) here.
- You can access Telford & Wrekin Council's latest updates here.
Useful Helplines:
- The Telford & Wrekin Community Support Line is 01952 382030
- The Telford & Wrekin Business Support Line is 01952 383838
- Contact line for business support and ventilators: 0300 456 3565
- HMRC: 0800 015 9559
- Universal Credit: 0800 328 5644
- School closures: 0800 046 8687
If you would like to sign up as an NHS volunteer please click here.
Vaccination FAQs:
Vaccinations in Telford are already underway. Lucy is very grateful to Telford International Centre in particular for offering their premises for mass vaccination - starting in a few weeks' time. The International Centre's car park been used throughout the pandemic for coronavirus assessment and private care. It is thanks to local businesses and venues that the Government has been able to plan and rollout ambitious vaccination schedules.
This will be a game changer for Telford residents, allowing exponential growth in the numbers of people able to be vaccinated.
In the UK, there are 2 approved COVID-19 vaccines. They both require 2 doses to provide longer-lasting protection. Both have been shown to be effective in clinical trials and have a good safety record. People most at risk from the complications of COVID-19 are being offered the vaccine first.
An independent group of experts has recommended that the NHS first offers these vaccines to those at highest risk of catching the disease and of suffering serious complications or dying from COVID-19. This includes older adults in care homes and frontline health and social care workers.
When more vaccine becomes available, the vaccines will be offered to other people at risk as soon as possible.
Eligible groups
You should have the vaccine when it is offered if you are:
- living in a care home for older adults
- a frontline health care worker
- a frontline social care worker
- a carer working in a care home for older residents
Then the vaccine will also be offered in age order to:
- those aged over 80 years
- those aged over 75 years
- those aged over 70 years
- adults on the NHS shielded patient list
- those aged over 65 years
- adults under 65 years with long term conditions (see conditions below)
Those aged 50 to 64 will be offered it later.
Clinical conditions list:
- a blood cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma)
- diabetes
- dementia
- a heart problem
- a chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including bronchitis, emphysema or severe asthma
- a kidney disease
- a liver disease
- lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as HIV infection, steroid medication, chemotherapy or radiotherapy)
- rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or psoriasis
- have had an organ transplant
- had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- a neurological or muscle wasting condition
- a severe or profound learning disability
- a problem with your spleen, example sickle cell disease, or you have had your spleen removed
- are seriously overweight (BMI of 40 and above)
- are severely mentally ill
At the same time as the adults under 65 years with long term conditions the vaccine will also be offered to:
- adults who provide regular care for an elderly or disabled person
- younger adults in long stay nursing and residential settings
Please wait your turn. If you are not in the groups above, you will have to wait for a COVID-19 vaccination until more supplies are available. When more vaccine becomes available we will be offering it to more groups of the population.
I am in one of the listed groups, why do I have to wait?
The COVID-19 vaccines will become available as they are approved for use and as each batch is manufactured. So every dose is needed to protect those at highest risk. You will be called in as soon as there is enough vaccine available.
Some people who are housebound or live in a care home and who can’t get to a local vaccination centre may have to wait for supply of the right type of vaccine. This is because only some vaccines can be transported between people’s homes.
Where you can get the COVID-19 vaccination
Vaccines will be offered in a range of settings. Some vaccination teams will visit people to offer the vaccine, for example in care homes, other people may have to go to the nearest centre. Because some of the vaccine has to be stored in a very low temperature freezer, you may not be able to get the vaccine in your normal GP surgery.
Please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine – they will contact you when it’s the right time.
You can read more on the Shropshire CCG's website here.
Information about COVID-19
What is coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a ‘type’ of virus. The coronavirus we are all affected by is called COVID-19, but you may also hear it called - coronavirus.
How serious is COVID-19?
The evidence shows us that the vast majority of people who get this virus have relatively mild symptoms and make a full recovery. But in a small percentage of cases, the virus can cause more severe symptoms. This is particularly true for people with a weakened immune system, for older people and for those with long term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.
A lot of false information about this virus is being shared - it’s very important that you make sure that the information you use comes from a trusted source - all of the information on this page has been sourced from the NHS.
What are the symptoms?
If you are infected you may have very minor symptoms, minor symptoms or more severe symptoms, but the NHS cites two symptoms to look out for as:
- A new continuous cough
- A fever or high temperature
What should I do if I have either of the above symptoms?
- Protect others - don't call NHS 111
- Protect others - don't call, or go to your GP
- Protect others - don't go to your local hospital
For further information read this government advice on staying at home and isolating.
Can I get tested?
You can get a swab test to check if you currently have coronavirus. This is part of the 5-pillar strategy for coronavirus testing. Testing is most effective within 3 days of symptoms developing.
Who can be tested?
Anyone with symptoms can get a coronavirus test, whatever their age.
See the guidance below on testing for care home residents and workers.
