Coronavirus: Update (Thurs 30 July 4pm) on outbreak at Craven Arms caravan site

Shropshire Council and Public Health England (PHE) Midlands continue to work with key partners to contain an outbreak of COVID-19 at the Long Lane travellers site in Craven Arms. The total number of positive cases linked to the outbreak is now 29. Testing is still available to all residents at the site.

Those residents who have tested positive for coronavirus have been asked to self-isolate in line with Government guidance.

We want to reiterate that the risk to the public is low, and encourage everyone to play their part by continuing to follow the Government guidelines to reduce the risk of transmission.

Most residents at the site have been co-operating, and we would like to thank them for their patience during the past week. We are aware that there have been incidents where individuals who should have been self-isolating have ignored guidance and have left the site. Each case is being treated on an individual basis and we are working with West Mercia Police to ensure that everyone is taking the appropriate public health advice.

As an additional measure, if you are a resident of Craven Arms, and regardless of whether you have COVID-19 symptoms, testing is available. A test site at Craven Arms Business Park is open every day from 10.30am to 3.30pm. Craven Arms residents can book an appointment via NHS Test and Trace online or by ringing 119.

Drop in testing sessions will be available in two locations tomorrow (Friday 31 July). No prior booking is required:

• Drive-through at the Craven Arms Business Park testing site (Highways depot) from 10.30am – 3.30pm
• Walk-in at the Halo Community Centre: 10.30am – 1.30pm

A poster and more information can be found here.

Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, said:

“At this phase of the pandemic, we still expect to see cases in the community and within settings where people are closer together.

“Our focus remains the health and wellbeing of residents while we work to contain and control the spread of COVID-19. We continue to support everyone on the Long Lane site,  and we are working with West Mercia Police and other partners to reinforce the importance of following the measures put in place to keep everyone safe.”

Lee Chapman, a local Shropshire Councillor for Church Stretton and Craven Arms, and Chair of Shropshire’s Health and Wellbeing Board, has provided a video update for the local community. You can view this here.

As of today (Thursday 30 July 2020):

• To date 51 people have been tested on the site and all contact tracing is being undertaken.

Craven Arms Medical Practice update

In light of the outbreak, Craven Arms Medical Practice has taken the decision to only offer telephone appointments with GPs.

This is to ensure the safety of both patients and practice staff, and to help to manage the situation in the best way possible.

To make an appointment at Craven Arms Medical Practice:

• Please call to make an appointment before attending the practice
• Don’t turn up at the practice unless you have a pre-booked appointment
• You may be offered a telephone or video consultation
• Many issues can be dealt with via online consultation, which is available from the practice website: cravenarmsmedical.nhs.uk

If you think you may have coronavirus or any of the symptoms, further information is available at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or the UK Government website.

This means you can quickly and easily get help and advice without leaving home or potentially putting others at risk.

There is also information on a wide range of health issues and conditions at 111.nhs.uk, along with details on how to treat symptoms and where to get help.

Shropshire Council’s public health team would also like to remind everyone to follow social distancing advice to reduce their social interaction with other people. Good hand hygiene remains the best protection against the virus, including washing your hands more regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, wearing a face covering when using public transport or going to the shops and supermarkets, and covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

For local advice and support during the pandemic (especially if you are self-isolating), call Shropshire Council’s COVID-19 Helpline on 0345 678 9028 (lines open on the weekend on Saturday from 9am-4pm and Sunday 9am-12pm) or visit our website at www.shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus.

More information about coronavirus, testing, self-isolation, and social distancing is available from the UK Government website at www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Further information for media

We will be providing daily updates on the current situation at Craven Arms on our Newsroom and on social media. If there are no updates posted on Newsroom, this means there is nothing to report on that day.

We will endeavour to respond to your enquiries.

Further information

As of today’s change in Government guidance, people who have symptoms, or have tested positive, must isolate for a minimum of 10 days, or until they are 48 hours without a fever (raised temperature), whichever is the longest.

We can all help control the virus if we all stay alert. This means you must:

• stay at home as much as possible
• work from home if you can
• limit contact with other people
• keep your distance from people not in your household (2 metres apart where possible)
• wash your hands regularly
• Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.
• Wear face coverings on public transport and when going to the shops and supermarkets, and in other close settings where possible.

Read more about what you can and cannot do here.

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