Covid Briefing: Thursday 23 December 2021

Today’s briefing includes updates on:

  • Nightclubs to close for three weeks from 27 Dec
  • Vulnerable 5 – 12 year olds eligible for vaccination
  • Cultural & event organisation financial support announced
  • Vaccination clinic opening times (27 – 30 Dec)
  • Access to Lateral Flow Devices (LFD’s) over the festive period
  • Covid helpline
  • Council festive opening hours

 

Nightclubs to close for three weeks from 27 Dec

The Scottish Government has announced that nightclubs in Scotland are to close for three weeks from 27 December.

The Scottish Government has confirmed funding will be made available to support affected businesses.

Nightclubs will have the option to stay open by effectively becoming a bar - but physical distancing and table service would need to be in place.

 

Vulnerable 5 – 12 year olds eligible for vaccination

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has updated its advice for 5 to 11 year olds. In an announcement yesterday, they advised that young people in that age group, who are at higher risk from coronavirus (COVID-19), should be offered the vaccine.

Children aged 5 to 11, who are in a clinical risk group or who are a household contact of someone (of any age) who is immunosuppressed, should be offered a primary course of vaccination.

Further advice regarding COVID-19 vaccination for other 5 to 11 year olds will be issued in due course following consideration of additional data relevant to this age group, and on the Omicron variant more broadly.

 

Cultural & event organisation financial support announced

Scottish Government has announced a £21 million support package to support cultural and events organisations and freelancers experiencing cancellations due to the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant.

The £21 million is from the £100 million package announced by the Scottish Government last week to compensate businesses affected by events cancellations and includes an additional £1 million from existing events sector funds.

The funds will be allocated as follows:

  • £10.2 million for cultural organisations and venues to be administered by Creative Scotland
  • £2.8 million towards the wider events supply chain to be administered by EventScotland.
  • £8 million for the Cancellation Fund for Creative Freelancers to be administered by Creative Scotland.

Creative freelancers can apply for between £500 and £2,000 from the cancellation fund which opens at 2pm on Thursday, 6 January 2022. Details on who is eligible for the fund and how to apply is available now on Creative Scotland’s website: https://www.creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/covid-cancellation-fund

 

Vaccination clinic opening times (27 – 30 Dec)

Vaccination clinics will be available on the following dates between Christmas and New Year.

 

Monday 27 December 2021

  • Greenock Town Hall – Open 10am until 2pm (Appointments Only)

Wednesday 29 December 2021

  • Port Glasgow Town Hall – Open 8.30am until 7.30pm (Appointments Only)

Thursday 30th December 2021

  • Greenock Town Hall – Open 8.30am until 7.30pm (Appointments Only)
  • Port Glasgow – Open 9.30am until 5.30pm (Drop In Clinic)

 

Vaccination bookings: https://www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/

Booster vaccination bookings: https://www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/the-vaccines/coronavirus-covid-19-booster-vaccination/

Drop In Covid vaccinations: https://www.nhsggc.org.uk/your-health/health-issues/covid-19-coronavirus/for-patients-the-public/covid-vaccinations/drop-in-vaccinations/

 

Access to Lateral Flow Devices (LFD’s) over the festive period

Anyone requiring access to an LFD’s over the two festive weekends, can collect them from local supermarkets and the testing facilities at Parklea, Port Glasgow.

It is important if you take a lateral flow device test that you record the information with the NHS (the pack shows you how to do this). This helps them to track to rate of infection across the country.

Check your symptoms: https://www.nhsinform.scot/self-help-guides/self-help-guide-coronavirus-covid-19/

Coronavirus testing: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/test-and-protect/coronavirus-covid-19-testing

 

Covid helpline available

Inverclyde residents continue to be supported by the Council’s Covid-19 Helpline. Assistance can be provided on a wide range of support including food and fuel provision, financial advice and wellbeing. The helpline is available Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm over the festive period. Call 01475 715275 to speak to an advisor.

 

Council festive opening hours

The Municipal Buildings and all Council Offices will close at 4pm on Friday 24 December 2021 for business purposes and will re-open on 5 January 2022 at 8.45am. The Customer Service Centre telephone lines will close to the public at 3.30pm on 24 December 2021.

The Scottish Welfare Fund service (crisis grants and community care grants) will be closed on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December 2021 and also Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 January 2022. The Service is available between the 29 and 31 December 2021. The contact telephone number to be used for applications is 01475 714444 and will be available between 9am and 3pm.