Latest advice and information as at 5 March 2020
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Wokingham Borough Council
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The following information and advice has been issued by Wokingham Borough Council.
Follow the Public Health England advice to:
Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently using
soap and water – this is the best way to kill the virus.
Catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue, and then
throw it away.
If you have questions about coronavirus,
Covid-19 and your health – such as what the symptoms are and how to stop it
spreading – then you should refer to the NHS website for information.
If you have questions about the situation – such
as the number of cases and where they are, and what countries are affected –
then you should refer to the Public Health England (PHE) website for
information.
We’ve received a number of questions about what
it means if you have had contact with someone who is then required to be
self-isolating. Here’s an update from David Munday, the lead Public Health
Consultant for Berkshire:
“Covid-19 is like most coronaviruses and we
think primarily spreads from person to person via respiratory droplets, for
example when someone coughs or sneezes. You catch it from someone who is
showing symptoms. That’s why the most important advice is to catch your cough
or sneeze in a tissue, and to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.”
“Self-isolating is another word for quarantine. It means staying in-doors and away from other people to avoid spreading the virus. You only need to self-isolate if you have been in contact with someone who is confirmed to have Covid-19 and have been told to by Public Health England or the NHS. You don’t need to self-isolate if you have been in contact with someone else who had contact with the confirmed case. For example, Willow Bank Infant School had a confirmed case. Staff and children who were in contact with the person have been asked to self-isolate. But if you visited the school, played with other children or talked to a parent – even if they had contact with the confirmed case – you don’t need to self-isolate.”
Summary
Someone has a confirmed case of Covid-19 – Isolated in hospital and treated
Someone had contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 while that person was having symptoms – PHE will assess how much contact there was and ask the person to self-isolate / monitor closely for symptoms.
Someone had contact with a person who in turn has had contact with a confirmed case (but has no symptoms and is not a confirmed case themselves) – No action needed – no contact with a confirmed case
Rest of population – No action needed – no contact with a confirmed case
At the Full Council Meeting on Tuesday 1 October, the following motion was adopted:
“This Council notes that:
- The impacts of climate breakdown are already causing serious damage around the world.
- Limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, October 2018) may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society and the private sector.
This Council therefore:
- Commits to a declaration of a ‘Climate Emergency’ with the aim of becoming a carbon neutral organization by 2030.
- Welcomes the declaration by Wokingham Borough Council of a ‘Climate Emergency’ and will actively participate in the creation of the Borough-wide climate change strategy to ensure Woodley Town Council is fully engaged in its creation for the benefit of its residents.
- Will explore, with all parts of the community, the development of a local action plan in support of, and to compliment, the Borough Council’s climate change strategy plan for those parts relevant to Woodley Town.”
Gregor Murray, Wokingham Borough Council Executive Member for Climate Emergency spoke of the Borough Council’s plans to address climate change and work in partnership with town and parish councils. Woodley Town Council will work with Wokingham Borough Council as part of a cross-party working group, beginning with the formation of an action plan over the next six months.
Meanwhile, Woodley Town Council will also continue its commitment to climate change through its current campaigns and initiatives.

