Coronavirus update: Friday 22 May

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Testing for COVID-19
Adults and children over age five who have symptoms of COVID-19 can now access testing.
You can book a test for yourself or a family member, if you and/or a family member have coronavirus symptoms:

a high temperature,
a new, continuous cough, or
a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

These tests will only be able to tell you if you have coronavirus now. They will not be able to tell you if you have been infected in the past. You need to have the test in the first five days of having symptoms. You may choose between a drive-through site, or a home test kit if you are not able to drive to a drive-through site. The following are the drive-through sites in Greater Manchester:

Manchester Airport
Etihad Stadium

If you are not able to drive to one of these sites you can request a home-testing kit via the website. For more information visit the NHS testing site.
If you are not able to access the testing website, you can book a test by telephone by calling 119. Testing is also available for essential workers:

Self-referral can be made via this website: www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test-essential-workers
Employer referral: Employers need to register to be able to refer their employees. Further information can be found in the Coronavirus testing guidance.

If you are not an essential worker you can book your test by following this link to the NHS test request site.

Information about the potential re-opening of schools
We want to welcome more children and young people back into your schools and early years settings from 1 June.
The decision as to whether a school or early years setting can safely open more widely is one that is for Headteachers, managers and Principals to make jointly with their Governors/owners, working in close partnership with their Trust and ourselves as Local Authority.

Our guidance has been:
1. Safety first
2. Safe solutions will look different in each school and early years setting
3. Plan for a gradual and phased return
4. Prioritise the attendance of vulnerable pupils and the children and young people of critical workers

We will work with schools on their risk assessments and we have let parents know they will not be punished if they decide to keep their children off school.

Oldham’s community response has supported more than 4,100 people in emergency need during COVID-19 crisis

More than 4,100 Oldham residents have now been given vital aid and support by the Oldham Community response during the COVID-19 crisis. Oldham Foodbank, Action Together and Oldham Council have worked together to coordinate the delivery of emergency food and other essential personal and household basic items to people in need.

This offer is for people who are unable to leave the house and don’t have a trusted friend, neighbour or family member to help them.

The helpline (0161 770 7007) is open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays and 11am to 2pm on Saturdays.

Oldham Primary Care – Monday 25 May Bank Holiday 2020
On bank holiday (Monday 25 May), GP surgeries in Oldham will be closed.

If you have an urgent but not life-threatening medical problem over the bank holiday weekend, which cannot wait until your GP practice re-opens, please call NHS111. Following a telephone assessment you will receive information about the appropriate service for your health problem and you may be transferred to gtd healthcare, which provides out-of-hours services for patients.

The GP Extended Hours service is also open as usual offering a limited number of appointments for routine, non-urgent needs on bank holiday Monday evening and during the day Saturday & Sunday. Call 0161 934 2827 to book an appointment.

Oldham Walk In Centre at the ICC remains CLOSED until further notice. The 7 Day Access Service will be running from the ICC from 10am to 2pm on bank holiday Monday.

NHS 111 remains open 24 hours a day – www.111.nhs.uk

The Oldham COVID Assessment Hub will be open from 8am to 8pm (by appointment only – made by a patient’s GP/other HCP and/or NHS111).
No-one will be seen if they attend without a scheduled appointment. From 8pm to 8am, patients will use the Out of Hours service and be directed as accordingly. The Digital Clinical Hub will be open 8am to 8pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday for professionals and care homes to access clinical advice and consultation.

Pharmacy opening hours for Monday 25 May is now available on the GMLPC and Bolton LPC websites. This is the most up to date listing. Other pharmacies may be open, but have not notified NHS England GM office and are, therefore, are not included in this list.

Pharmacies have not been directed to open. Pharmacies have also been advised to publish their bank holiday hours on the NHS website and their DOS profile.

Virtual music lessons and gigs in gardens have ensured music continues to be played in Oldham
The band has continued to play for Oldham’s young musicians as they have been digitally supported through the COVID-19 crisis by the Oldham Music Service.
When it became apparent that the COVID-19 crisis would mean massive disruption to music lessons in schools, the Music Service started to develop a ‘Virtual Learning Environment’ to enable its students to continue to engage with their teachers and for them to make progress remotely.
Some 8,400 music students have been given the opportunity to receive bespoke and unique online lessons.
Young musicians were even encouraged to hold ‘garden gigs’ with family members or using virtual technology and post online using #gardengigoldham.

Oldham’s Lockdown Museum
Gallery Oldham has launched a new digital project to exhibit and archive the creative work of Oldhamers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Oldham’s Lockdown Museum aims to collect a snapshot of what life has been like for residents over the past few weeks and showcase how you’re using creativity to help manage some of the challenges we are facing.
The project begins next week with the theme of kindness. Each week there will be a different theme for you to respond to.
A selection of images will be shared on the Gallery website and social media with every submission placed into the digital archive for future generations.
Visit galleryoldham.org.uk/exhibitions/oldhams-lockdown-museum for more information.

For more information and advice about council services
www.oldham.gov.uk/coronavirus

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Oldham Council · Civic Centre · West Street · Oldham, OL1 1UT · United Kingdom