Manchester City Council have detailed a list of noteworthy points in relation to the prevention of a second outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Manchester.
Health officials from Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) have recently released a list of ‘seven things you need to know’ about Manchester’s COVID-19 outbreak prevention plans going forward.
In a question and answer-style statement via council website last week, David Regan – Manchester’s Director of Public Health – explains the role of COVID testing data and postcode analysis, early warning systems, and the approach to preventing any future outbreaks of the virus.
He addressed a number of frequently-raised questions/points by members of the public and offered some clarity for those who may be feeling somewhat in the dark.
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What is Manchester’s current position on COVID-19 cases and what if that number starts to rise?
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Mr Regan stated that in the Manchester city region, “we are still seeing a small number of positive cases” arising each day, but “the number remains relatively stable at the moment”.
He confirmed that Manchester is currently eighth lowest of the 10 Greater Manchester boroughs – based on the total number of positive cases for population size – but this does not however mean that “we can be complacent because we are still dealing with a pandemic where the situation can change quickly if people don’t follow advice”.
He also stated that the “tried and tested” method of weekly postcode data would be looked at “to assess where the numbers relate to and what it means” should the number of confirmed cases rise, which would allow health professionals the ability to see from that local detail if the numbers related to a business, school or care home – or if they are separate cases on a particular street.
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If transmissions rates change significantly in the future, Mr Regan confirmed that Manchester City Council “would work with the rest of Greater Manchester and central government before taking any major decisions”.
Is the NHS Test and Trace service helping in Manchester?
Mr Regan stated that NHS Test and Trace is “for the greater good to protect us all” and is “without a doubt how we will beat the disease and keep it under control”.
He also reiterated that the importance of getting tested if you display symptoms cannot be underestimated.
He clarified that NHS Test and Trace “will not pass individual personal details between contacts. It will operate on a trust basis and the Test and Trace team will help each individual to understand what it means to them and whether or not they need to self-isolate”.
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We spoke with Manchester's Director of Public Health, David Regan, to ask him some questions about coronavirus.
— Manchester City Council #StaySafe❤ (@ManCityCouncil) July 10, 2020
He also addressed the measures currently being taken in public places.
“We are also asking places like libraries, pubs and restaurants to record people’s details – which would then be destroyed after 21 days – to help with this process” he said.
“So, if I was in a restaurant where it found that someone then tested positive, the restaurant would be able to help the tracing service by saying who could have been in close contact. That doesn’t mean that everyone who was there that night would have to self-isolate – but it does mean that there would be a proportionate, safety-first approach.”
How likely is a second wave and will flu season make dealing with the pandemic harder?
With regards to the likelihood of a second wave, Mr Regan indicated that authorities would need to look back at other pandemics with second waves, like the Spanish Influenza and Swine Flu, in order to answer that.
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He said: “it’s the size of the wave – or waves – that’s important” and that “we have to keep them as small as possible to protect lives and also to make sure our health and social care services don’t become overwhelmed.”
“If we all follow the rules, we can keep our economy and schools open while functioning effectively – and avoiding another 12-week lockdown situation.”
Addressing the concerns surrounding the management of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in relation to the pending flu season, Mr Regan added that “autumn and winter are when we always see a rise in illness like flu and norovirus and we have to be prepared for that too”
He continued: “COVID-19 is a new virus and it’s going to be difficult to predict, however we do absolutely know that testing and tracing works very effectively.”
“And that is how we will contain the disease.”
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Closing out his statement by issuing a message to the people of Manchetser, Mr Regan went on to thank “everyone who lives and works in our great city for all you have done to date to help during the pandemic”.
He also reiterated the need to “keep following the guidance” so that we can “all tackle this together.”
For more information, visit the Manchester City Council website here.
#StaySafeSaveLives
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Oasis finally confirm ‘private ballot’ ticket information for reunion tour
Daisy Jackson
Oasis have just announced more information about how tickets will be sold through a ‘private ballot’ for their extra reunion tour dates.
The group added two additional shows at Wembley Stadium after their initial 17 gigs across London, Manchester, Dublin, Edinburgh and Cardiff generated huge demand and sold out in a day.
Oasis and Ticketmaster came under fire though for the use of dynamic pricing, which saw ticket prices shoot up by hundreds of pounds by the time people made it through the online queues.
For these additional reunion tour dates at Wembley, ticket sales will look a little different.
They’ll be using a ‘private ballot’, which will give first dibs to those who missed out on the first ticket sale.
You’ll only be invited to register for the sale if you signed into your Ticketmaster account on Saturday 31 August, and joined a queue for a specific show.
And you’ll only receive an invitation if you DIDN’T manage to bag tickets the first time round.
THEN you’ll be able to register for the actual ballot, which still doesn’t guarantee you a ticket but does at least get you into a (hopefully less lengthy) queue.
“Invitations to enter the private ballot will be sent overnight tonight (Saturday) to eligible fans we have been able to identify.
“If you signed into your Ticketmaster UK account on Saturday, 31st August, and were able to join a queue for a specific show, but didn’t get a ticket-then you may be eligible to take part and will receive an email on how to register for the ballot.
“Keep an eye on the inbox associated with your Ticketmaster account, and don’t forget to check your junkmail.
“Once successfully registered, you will be entered into the ballot for a code for access to the final Wembley on sale.
“Due to the demand for the shows and to avoid last week’s long queues, codes will be strictly limited. Entry to the ballot does not guarantee you will receive a code.
“The ballot is only open to invited fans. You must register with the email to which your invitation was sent and which is registered with your Ticketmaster account.
“All other entries will be discounted. If you do not receive an email then unfortunately you will not be eligible for the ballot.
“You will be automatically discounted from the ballot, even if you go through the registration process.”
Featured image: Simon Emmett
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Manchester Airport named UK’s worst in annual Which? survey for third year running
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Airport has officially been declared the worst airport in the UK, according to a new survey by Which?… yet again.
The summer travel season may be drawing to a close now, with hundreds of flights having taken off and landed in our region over the last couple of months, but for any Greater Manchester holidaymakers who are still yet to jet off, an annual ranking by consumer choice group Which? has proved to be pretty grim reading.
That’s because several terminals at the UK’s third largest airport have found themselves at the bottom of the list in Which? latest findings.
Manchester Airport has hit back at the survey and defended itself, saying its own passenger surveys suggest people are “much more positive” about the airport, adding that it was “proud to give people in all parts of the North easy and affordable access to nearly 200 different destinations across the world”.
For its annual survey, Which? spoke to nearly 7,000 passengers to gather feedback about their experiences of flying from UK airports over the last 12 months, and asked them to score the airports across 11 categories.
Manchester Airport has been named the worst in the UK for the third year running / Credit: The Manc Group
Some of these categories including seating, staff, toilets, and of course, the queues we all dread at check in, bag drop, passport control, and security.
And just like in both 2022 and again in 2023, it was Manchester Airport Terminal 3 that ranked right at the bottom, receiving the lowest customer satisfaction score of 37%.
Manchester Terminal 1 ranked one place above that with a score of 40%, while Manchester Terminal 2 was a little further up the the list with a score of 51%, and just saw Luton Airport, London Stansted, and Belfast International Airport sandwiched in between it.
According to Which?, some of the complaints it received about Manchester Airport from passengers who responded to the survey this year was that older people struggled with long walks due to travelators being broken since 2021, difficulties with finding a seat, and “horrendous” queues with people apparently being “corralled like cattle”.
As mentioned though, Manchester Airport has slammed Which?’s findings in a formal statement.
The UK’s third largest airport has hit back at the survey results and defended itself / Credit:
Describing the survey as “disappointing to see”, Manchester Airport’s statement reads: “We understand not every experience is perfect and want all passengers to feel able to raise their concerns directly with us. That is why we speak to them on a daily basis, surveying hundreds of people a month to get in-the-moment feedback from a full range of perspectives.
“That is in stark contrast to Which?, which conducted a tiny and unrepresentative survey of its members six months ago, asking them to recollect airport experiences that could have been as far back in time as April 2023.
“Which? fully understands that its readers form a narrow group of passengers whose views cannot in any way be taken to represent those of the travelling public at large, but chooses to promote its survey findings as if they do.”
Manchester Airport says it’s disappointing see Which? “chase cheap headlines” with its “sensational and over-simplified characterisation of airports” and the different roles they play, adding: “To make matters worse, it has printed inaccurate statements about our facilities and security waiting times that paint a more negative picture than reality.