Updated handwashing advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.

Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools and at home:

https://e-bug.eu/

Amazon today canceled the subscription of books and audio stories for children and students of all ages as long as schools are closed, kids everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages, that will help them continue dreaming, learning, and just being kids.

All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet using the following link https://stories.audible.com/start-listen

Spread the good news.

We have been asked to share this letter with our families:

Coronavirus COVID19 and Personal Protection Equipment

The Chief Medical Officer has raised the risk of catching coronavirus to high. To reduce the spread of infection, protect those most vulnerable and keep critical services going, we are asking you if you can help us.

This is a call to all businesses and organisations in the county, please help us to help your community. Shropshire Council provides support to a range of people and to do this safely we desperately need more personal protective equipment (PPE). If you own a nail bar, beauty salon, veterinary surgery or any other type of business that uses PPE and do have any spare unopened boxes, particularly gloves, aprons or goggles, we would be really grateful if you can let us have it, as a matter of urgency.

Please contact our PPE coordinator Mike Parry Mike.Parry@Shropshire.gov.uk if you are able to help us with this, they will provide further information on how we will collect it from you.

A big thank you in advance for your support.

Yours sincerely

Public Health,

Shropshire Council,

Shirehall,

Abbey Foregate,

Shrewsbury

SY2 6ND

Guidance for parents and carers: keeping children safe online
We have updated our information for parents and carers to include a section on keeping children safe online. It provides links to online resources that will help support parents and carers in keeping their children safe online.

Full details can be found in section 6.3 of the guidance for parents and carers on the closure of educational settings:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers