Visit the government web site on CoVID-19 by clicking here

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.

The following has been taken from the NHS website.

Stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms

Stay at home for 7 days if you have either:

  • a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
  • a new, continuous cough – this means you’ve started coughing repeatedly

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home.

Testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home.

If you need to self isolate then you need to inform your line manger/supervisor as soon as possible following normal sickness procedures.  Your self isolation will be recorded as ‘other sickness’ on MyTime.

Tips for staying at home

It’s important to stay at home to stop coronavirus spreading.  Do not go out into the community.  As you know social media is all around us these days with members of the public taking photos and videos.  You need to be mindful that if you have self isolated and seen out in the community, you may face formal disciplinary action.

    Do

    • Try to keep 2 metres (3 steps) from other people in your home, particularly older people or those with long term health conditions
    • Ask friends and family and delivery services to deliver things like food, shopping and medicines – but avoid contact with them
    • Sleep alone if possible
    • Regularly wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds
    • Try to stay away from older people or those with long term health conditions
    • Drink plenty of water and take everyday pain killers, such as paracetamol, to help with your symptoms

    Don’t

    • Do not have visitors (ask people to leave deliveries at the door)
    • Do not leave the house, for example to go for a walk, school or public spaces

    If you have any questions concerning CoVID-19 the please contact us via the below contact form and we will get back you as soon as possible.

    CoVID-19 News from Unite The Union WMP Branch

    Any news that we have from the force will be published here.  As you can imagine things are changing on a daily basis and we keep you updated as soon as we can.

    Important: PSC Trade Union Side Bulletin

    The joint Police Staff Council Unite, Unison and GMB yesterday released a CoVID-19 staff bulletin which concerns how nationally the unions are working for you during the CoVID-19 crisis.

    To read the bulletin please click here

    Update 17/02/2020
    Those who are at an increased risk of severe illness from Coronavirus are advised to work from home and follow distant measures, those include:

    aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)
    those who are pregnant
    under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (ie anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds):
    chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
    chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
    chronic kidney disease
    chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
    chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
    diabetes
    problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed
    a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
    being seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)

    There are some clinical conditions which put people at even higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. If you are in this category, next week the NHS in England will directly contact you with advice the more stringent measures you should take in order to keep yourself and others safe. For now, you should rigorously follow the social distancing advice.

    Speak to your line supervisor as soon as possible before coming into the work place.

    Update 18/03/2020 - Training Days
    Some staff will have been informed that their training days have been cancelled and you will need to perform your normal duties. Unite have been liaised with and are behind this decision to support other critical area’s due to staff having to self-isolate. Training days do form part of your annualised hours of work.

    Please be assured that we do not take these decisions lightly and will do the best for everyone within the organisation. These are unprecedented times and as such difficult decisions will need to be made by everyone.

    Updated 18/03/2020 - ACAS
    ACAS have today issued guidance in relation to Coronavirus.

    To view their website click on the box below or copy and past this link:

    https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus

    ACAS Coronavirus Link
    Update 24/03/2020
    Please follow the government guidelines in relation to self distancing, (there is a link at the top of this page) this includes in the work place also. If you are attending the workplace and you feel you are sitting to close to someone, ensure you make your supervisor aware and move to a different location.

    It is important that you follow the self distancing rules of 2 meters.

    At the moment we are unable to create a FAQ page because at the moment the PHE and Force advice, as you can image is changing and evolving on a daily basis. We will try to keep you update with any issues that arise as soon as possible.

    Insurance
    You may be interested in the following from our insurance people in Finance. Some of your members may have checked in with you about this. Feel free to share with them if you want.

    Home and Motor Insurance Pledges
    The Association of British Insurers who represent insurers have made five pledges to support home and motor insurance customers during the COVID-19 crisis.

    If you’re currently working from home or traveling to different sites because of this health emergency, then these pledges affect you.

    1. Support those who need to make a claim. Insurers have implemented business continuity plans and work closely with service providers to do everything possible in these challenging circumstances to continue to handle claims and support their customers. We recognise there will be many customers who will need additional support and insurers will prioritise those in vulnerable circumstances.

    2. Support those who are working from home. If you are an office-based worker and need to work from home because of government advice or because you need to self-isolate, your home insurance cover will not be affected. You do not need to contact your insurer to update your documents or extend your cover.

    3. Support those who cannot work from home. If you have to drive to your workplace because of the impact of Covid-19, your insurance policy will not be affected. You do not need to contact your insurer to update your documents or extend your cover.

    4. Support those who use their cars to help their communities. If you are using your own car for voluntary purposes to transport medicines or groceries to support others who are impacted by Covid-19, your cover will not be affected. You do not need to contact your insurer to update your documents or extend your cover.

    5. Support our key workers. If your work is critical to the national response to Covid-19 and you need to use your own car to drive to different locations for work purposes because of the impact of Covid-19, your cover will not be affected. You do not need to contact your insurer to update your documents or extend your cover.

    If you have any questions you should contact your insurer.