Covid 19 Oldham update

Oldham current rates of infection

Since the Government’s announcement of a local lockdown in Leicester there has been a lot of speculation, both in the media and online, about the possibility of further local lockdowns with Oldham named as one area that currently has high rates of infection.

The data shows that, while Oldham’s figures are higher than the Greater Manchester average, our current rate of infection is nowhere near that of Leicester and the number of cases has reduced over the last two weeks.

Nationally, information is gathered on the number of positive tests per 100,000 population* in the last seven days.  Data up to 28 June shows that Oldham has a rate of c. 28 positive tests per 100,000 population.

Council  Number of positive cases per 100,000  
Leicester  135
Oldham27.8
Bolton21.6
Bury6.3
Manchester15.2
Rochdale28.8
Salford6.2
Stockport5.8
Tameside15.5
Trafford3.4
Wigan4.0

By comparison, neighbouring Rochdale has c.29 per 100,000 and the Greater Manchester average is c.13. Leicester has a rate of around 135 per 100,000 – almost four times Oldham’s rate.

Figures will change daily and are influenced by the number of tests carried out.  As a result, changes in testing provision – for example additional mobile testing capacity or the introduction of a new testing centre is likely to influence the rate of positive tests per 100,000 population.

It is worth noting that Oldham has one of the highest rates of testing in the country and we are working to further improve access to testing for local people.  Throughout June the MOD run mobile testing service visited Oldham several times and is due to visit for ten days at the start of July providing an additional 300 tests per day.  We have also opened a new walk-in testing centre in Oldham Town Centre.

However, we cannot afford to be complacent.  We recognise that these figures are higher than we would like, and we are working hard to reduce our rates of infection.

What are we doing in response:

  • We requested and have confirmed additional testing capacity in the borough from the mobile testing facility over the coming weeks
  • Engaging with communities to ensure testing is targeted in the most effective way
  • We are working with the Department for Health and Social Care to make more testing available for vulnerable groups (those with substance misuse issues, learning difficulties and those who are homeless) through testing in services
  • We are writing to key employers in the borough to offer tests to their staff who are not showing symptoms but may be at risk of spreading the virus, for example, taxi drivers and food businesses
  • We are strengthening and further promoting key public health messaging ahead of this weekend’s lockdown easing
  • We are participating in weekly calls with Public Health England to discuss local data and agree any further local measures that may be needed.

How we would respond should an outbreak occur?

Oldham has published a Covid Management Plan which outlines the measures needed to prevent the spread of the outbreak and the steps we will take should a local outbreak occur.  Our outbreak plan is available on the council’s website

https://www.oldham.gov.uk/downloads/file/6384/covid-19_management_plan

*This figure includes both Pillar 1 (tests from hospital labs) and Pillar 2 (tests from mobile testing centres and commercial testing units). Pillar 2 data has only recently been made available to local authorities giving us a much clearer picture of infection rates.

Oldham Central Library re-opening

Oldham Library is reopening – with a few changes that we are asking people to make a note of.

From Monday, July 6 there will be a limited range of facilities, such as checking out books and using the computers.

Due to social distancing rules visitors won’t be able to browse the bookshelves.

Instead, people will be able to choose from one of the genre packs we’ve prepared, each containing three books.

Children’s books will also be available, with genre packs for different age groups.

All available books will have been quarantined for 72 hours.

The library will be open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm.

The Lifelong Learning Centre and Gallery Oldham are not currently open to the public while they are being prepared to open safely. Services are continuing to be delivered online.

Adults will be able to access to IT – for a maximum of one hour, per day, per customer – at set times.

The toilets, café, gallery shop, children’s library and the study space will remain closed, for now in line with government guidelines.

For up to date information about what services and facilities will be available visit www.oldham.gov.uk/libaries

Recycling Centres

From Saturday 27th June, all household waste recycling centres across Greater Manchester will be open 7 days a week. People will be able to take most items for recycling. For the full list please visit https://recycleforgreatermanchester.com/

Items that people can’t take to the recycling centre are:

  • Textiles, clothes and shoes
  • Asbestos
  • Plasterboard
  • Food waste

We are asking people to follow social distancing measures on site, which are:

  • Stay two metres (six feet) away from other visitors and staff at all times.
  • Two people from the same household may leave their vehicle only to carry large items.
  • Other passengers must remain in the car
  • Only visit if you really need to

Vans under 2 metres will also be allowed access from Monday 29th June for residents to bring their household waste. However no trailers are allowed. The visit limits introduced in February this year remain in place:

  • Cars can visit up to 52 times a year
  • Vans under 3.5 tonnes can visit 18 times a year
  • Vans over 3.5 tonnes can visit 12 times a year

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and CCTV is in place across all sites to monitor vehicle visits and there is strictly no trade waste accepted.

Any traders wanting to bring their waste should use the weighbridges at the recycling centres as trade waste isn’t accepted through the household waste recycling centres.

A new contactless payment system is being introduced for traders who do not have an account at the recycling centres, and PPE must be worn at all times.

Liberal Democrat Leader calls for Free Wi-fi to be restored on Trams

The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to Metrolink bosses calling for Wi-fi to be made available on available on tram services.

Councillor Sykes sits as an Oldham representative on the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee.  Councillor Sykes also represents Shaw Ward, which is located on the busiest Metrolink tram service and has the most used stop – Shaw and Crompton – on the Rochdale – Oldham line.  He was responding to a report from one of his constituents, himself a regular tram user, that the Wi-fi service has not been available on trams on the line since the onset of the Coronavirus Lockdown.

Commenting, Councillor Sykes said: “I do not know why the Wi-fi service was turned off.  It may have been to save money during a time when the Metrolink was poorly used and losing money, or it may have been to stop passengers surfing the web whilst travelling needlessly up and down the line.”

He hopes his appeal to Metrolink bosses will be met with swift action.  “Now more passengers are returning to the service in order to get to, and from, work, they will rightly expect to be able to access the Internet as part of their travel experience,” he added.  “Having no Wi-fi will be an extra trial for passengers already expected to make their journeys with a mandatory face covering.”

Copy of letter to:

19 June 2020

Danny Vaughan, Head of Metrolink, Sent via email, Daniel.Vaughan@tfgm.com

Dear Danny Vaughan,

Re: No free Wi-fi services on trams using the Rochdale – Oldham line

I have received a report from one of my Shaw constituents, himself a regular tram user, that the free Wi-fi services have not been available on trams using the Rochdale – Oldham line since the start of the Coronavirus Lockdown. I am writing to you to appeal for the restoration of this facility as soon as possible now that passenger numbers are increasing as more people return to work or study.

The Rochdale – Oldham line is usually one of the busiest on the network and the stop in my own ward, Shaw and Crompton, the busiest on this line. I do not know why the Wi-fi service was turned off. It may have been to save money during a time when the Metrolink was poorly used and losing money, or it may have been to stop passengers surfing the web whilst travelling needlessly up and down the line, but I anticipate that as more and more passengers return to the service they will rightly expect to be able to access the Internet as part of their travel experience.

I believe that having no Wi-fi available will represent an extra trial for passengers already expected to make their journeys with a mandatory face covering. Buses operated by First Manchester do have Internet access and a failure to provide the same on Metrolink may cause frustrations on board as well as represent a disincentive for passengers to return to tram services, rather than buses, especially where they have a long and lonely commute in difficult circumstances.

I therefore urge you to restore this facility as an urgent priority.

Yours sincerely,

Howard Sykes

Continue Free Television Licences for Over 75s

Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council has appealed to the Government.  This is in a letter to the Secretary of State of The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.  The intention is to provide enough funding to continue free television (TV) licences.  This is for the over-75s beyond the current 1st August 2020 cut-off date.  The call comes as Covid-19 prevents many elderly people who are shielding from going out as normal.

For many who live alone, the television may be their sole companion.  Not just a source of entertainment, the television allows people to stay informed on current Government advice in an ever-changing situation.

Councillor Sykes comments:  “Tragically, Covid-19 has taken far too many of our citizens, particularly our older citizens.  Government advice is for the elderly and vulnerable is to self-isolate, to stay home to stay safe.”

He finishes to say:  “To me it seems wholly inappropriate to expect the over-75s to pay for a television licence at this time.  I think it would be an excellent goodwill gesture for the Government to continue providing funding to the BBC so our elders can enjoy TV and stay informed without the worry.”   

Copy of letter to:

16 June 2020

To the Rt. Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP Secretary of State, The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Dear Secretary of State,

Re: Free Television Licences for Over 75s

I am writing to you, as Leader of the Opposition and as Leader on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, to appeal for the Government to provide sufficient funding to continue free television licences for the over-75s beyond the current 1 August cut-off date.

In May, we marked the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, a commemoration of the sacrifice made by our forebears and their allies in liberating Europe from Nazi tyranny.

This generation, now frail and elderly, continues to pay the greatest price at this time of the coronavirus pandemic.  Tragically, Covid-19 has taken far too many of our citizens, particularly our older citizens, and Government advice is for the elderly and vulnerable to self-isolate, to stay home to stay safe.

For many living alone, the television may be their sole companion; other contact with friends and family being sporadic or non-existent. Yet, in addition to being a source of entertainment, television has a critical function as the principal means by which the self-isolated may remain informed on current Government advice in an ever-changing situation.

So, to me it seems wholly inappropriate to expect the over-75s to pay for a television licence at this time, and it would be an excellent goodwill gesture for the Government to continue providing funding to the BBC to meet the shortfall.   

I would therefore like to add my voice to the increasing chorus of people calling for a moratorium on charging our over-75s a television licence fee.

Yours sincerely,

Howard Sykes