Coronavirus (COVID-19)

On 21 February, the Prime Minister set out the next steps for living with COVID-19, as part of the Government’s plan to manage the virus like other respiratory illnesses. You can read the full Living with Covid plan on the Government’s website here.

Vaccinations - including boosters

There are a range of ways to access your first, second or booster vaccines in North Tyneside, find out more using the link below.

Latest information on vaccinations in North Tyneside

The Government has released information about who can access free COVID tests from 1 April. Read more here.  

A plan that aims to prevent any future localised outbreaks of coronavirus in North Tyneside and also manage any new spikes of infections has been published.

You can find that plan here.

Employment and financial support

Find out about work and financial support from the government.

Employment and skills

Find out more about how our Employment and skills team can help you.

The Government has announced a number of measures to support businesses and their employees during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

With the support of North Tyneside Business Forum we have put together have put together some guidance, FAQs & links to the Government website in an easy to access format. 

Further information on the support for businesses can be found on the gov.uk website

Practical Business Advice & Support

For enquiries regarding Covid-19 business support, please email business@northtyneside.gov.uk. A member of the team will respond to you during the working hours 9am-5pm.

The Business Recovery Programme is also providing Quick-access, free and practical hands-on support for North Tyneside businesses to aid their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic more information can be found on the Business Support page.

Financial support for businesses

On 30 December the Government published its guidance following the announcement of 21 December, 2021, of a further £1 billion of support being made available for businesses.

Grants of up to £6,000 for eligible businesses are those offering in-person services in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors.

For more information visit our business support page here

To be notified of future business support & grant schemes, please register to become a member of North Tyneside Business Forum. 

Outbreak Support Fund

This grant is aimed at businesses affected by staffing shortages due to an outbreak of Covid-19. Eligible businesses must have premises that are normally open to the public and a minimum of 3 staff.

Detailed criteria and online application form

Unfortunately, all of our business grant schemes are now closed as they have been fully allocated or are beyond the closure dates set by Government. Although we hope to, at this stage we have not yet received any ARG top-up funding from the Government. If further funding is received, this will be 100% allocated to delivering support to businesses in North Tyneside prior to March 2022.

We will continue to work within the parameters of the fund, the changing landscape and the wider business community to understand where it is best placed. We cannot comment on other local authorities grant schemes.

Social care updates for residents

Adult Social Care commissioned providers

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Urgent Needs

An increase in demand for both PPE and non-PPE products has put the supply chain under significant pressure. 

It is important that usage of PPE equipment across all sectors is in line with the following guidance: Gov.UK national guidance. 

New PPE Portal

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has put in place a PPE Portal allowing Healthcare providers to order from a central inventory. The PPE portal can be used by social care and primary care providers to order and receive critical coronavirus (COVID-19) personal protective equipment (PPE). The Portal can be accessed below:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ppe-portal-how-to-order-emergency-personal-p...

Who Can Use the PPE Portal

You can only log in and place an order if you have received an email invitation to register. The PPE portal can be used by:

• GPs
• residential social care providers
• domiciliary social care providers
• pharmacies
• dentists
• orthodontists
• optometrists
• children’s care homes and secure homes
• children’s residential special schools

If you’re a provider in one of these categories, your invitation to register will be sent to your email account registered with Care Quality Commission (CQC), NHS Business Services Authority (BSA), NHS England or the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

When to Use the PPE Portal 

The PPE portal is an emergency top-up system.

You should continue using your business-as-usual and wholesaler routes to access PPE. You should only use the PPE portal for additional PPE if needed and quantities available to order are set out on the website.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ppe-portal-how-to-order-emergency-personal-p...

National Supply Disruption Response (NSDR)

The National Supply Disruption Response 24/7 helpline 0800 915 9964 is still available if you are not able to get PPE from your usual sources. This is a freephone number in the UK. They may be able to supply emergency and small kits, for example 100-200 units of each type of PPE.

You will need to supply the following information during your call:

• name, email and telephone number of the requestor
• name, email and telephone number of a contact for the next 24 hours (for example out of hours cover if the original requestor will be unavailable)
• delivery address, including postcode; and named contact for receiving deliveries
• confirmation that your organisation can receive the delivery outside of normal business hours 
• number of COVID-19 patients being treated (confirmed and suspected) 
• number of beds in your organisation (if appropriate) 
• details of your current stock situation
• how long your current PPE stock provides cover for (for example less then 24 hours; one to two days, or more than two days) 
• which products you are requesting and in what quantity

The NSDR is focused on fulfilling emergency orders, for example orders required in less than 72 hours. They do not have access to the full lines of stock but they are able to mobilise small priority orders quickly. 

We recognise that children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and their parents/ carers are facing numerous challenges as a result of Coronavirus (Covid-19). This document is intended to explain what support is available on a local level to children, young people, carers and families and to offer resources to support children, young people and their families during this time.

You can find the most up to date Government advice at www.gov.uk – this information is published in html format suitable for use with screen readers.

Information on coronavirus in additional formats and languages

The Government has published:

Easy read guides on:

• Information on Covid-19 vaccination
• COVID-19 vaccination: booking an appointment letter
• COVID-19 vaccination: guide for older adults
• Vaccination guide for women who might get pregnant, who are pregnant or are breastfeeding their baby
• What to expect after your vaccination  
• Coronavirus restrictions: what you can and can't do
• How to test yourself for coronavirus at home
• COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021  
• COVID-19: letter to people identified as high risk – aged 70 and over  
• Keeping your workers safe
• Social Distancing Guide
• Stay at home: What to do if you or someone in your household has symptoms of coronavirus
• Looking after your feelings and your body  
• Domestic abuse: get help during the coronavirus
• Young carers and young adult carers: providing care during coronavirus
• How to apply for Universal Credit
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): Information for direct payment holders and personal assistants
• Direct Payments and Personal Health Budgets
• Get support in work during coronavirus outbreak if you have a disability or health condition (Access to Work)

Guidance in other languages including: Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Mandarin, French, Gujarati, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi and Urdu:

• COVID-19 vaccination: guide for older adults
• COVID-19 vaccination: women of childbearing age, currently pregnant or breastfeeding
• COVID-19 vaccination: booking an appointment letter
• COVID-19 vaccination: why you are being asked to wait
• COVID-19 vaccination: what to expect after vaccination
• COVID-19: letter to people identified as high risk – aged 70 and over
• COVID-19: letter to people identified as high risk – aged 19 to 69
• Coronavirus restrictions what you can and cannot do
• How to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): Social distancing
• COVID-19: ventilation of indoor spaces to stop the spread of coronavirus
• COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021
• Safe use of places of worship
• COVID-19: guidance for arranging or attending a funeral during the coronavirus pandemic
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): taxis and PHVs
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): reducing risk in adult social care
• COVID-19 vaccination: guide for healthcare workers
• COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection
• Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person
• COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable
• COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing
• How to look after your mental health and wellbeing during Covid-19
• Domestic abuse: get help during the coronavirus

The government has also published COVID-19: migrant health guide

Additional information in other languages is also available from:

• The COVID-19 Migrant Information Service
• Doctors of the World
• Support and resources for BAME Communities | www.gmcvo.org.uk

However the Covid-19 information provided by www.gov.uk is the most up to date.

For guidance and information in British Sign Language (BSL):

• BSL video guide on covid-19 vaccination for eligible adults
• BSL Video- Covid 19 vaccination consent form for adults
• BSL Video - COVID-19 vaccination: what to expect after vaccination 
• BSL video guide on COVID-19 for women of childbearing age, pregnant or breastfeeding
• COVID-19: letter to people identified as high risk – aged 70 and over
• BSL Video - COVID-19: letter to people identified as high risk – aged 19-69
• BSL video of COVID-19: letter to clinically extremely vulnerable adults   
• BSL video - COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable
• Signhealth are producing BSL videos with the latest information and health advice.
• Daily updates from the Government with BSL interpretation are on BBC 107 or 231 at 5pm and on BBC i-player – you will need to register or sign in.
• National Deaf Children’s Society have advice for the parents of Deaf children and for Deaf young people.
• Department for Work and Pensions Disability Helpline- contact them by video relay service about Personal Independence Payments (PIP), Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance

For blind people and people with sight loss:

• Audio - COVID-19: letter to people identified as high risk – aged 70 and over  
• Audio- COVID-19: letter to people identified as high risk – aged 19-69  
• Covid-19 home test step-by-step guide for people with visual impairments
• RNIB Covid test kit instructions

The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) is publishing Covid-19 news and guides .

The RNIB has also published Covid test kit instructions and Covid Test Kit instructions in digital braille

Large print publications:

• Coronavirus Restrictions: what you can and cannot do
• COVID-19 RESPONSE − SPRING 2021
• COVID-19: letter to people identified as high risk – aged 70 and over
• COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable
• RNIB Covid Test Kit instructions – large print Word
• RNIB Covid Test Kit instructions - Giant print (PDF)