Star date: 15th March 2020

SALIX HOMES SHUTS PUBLIC RECEPTION DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

Salford social housing company, Salix Homes, is to close its public reception at Diamond House from tomorrow, 16th March, due to the coronavirus outbreak and is telling residents that if the situation escalates "we may have to put some measures in place to help minimise the risk of further spread".

Meanwhile, Salford's one case of coronavirus is not showing up in official figures, and supermarkets around Salford Precinct and beyond are being stripped of goods.

Full details here...

Salix Homes is to close its public facing reception from tomorrow, Monday 16th March, 'until further notice', due to the coronavirus outbreak...

"Although we will make every effort to continue to deliver all our services as usual, if the situation of the outbreak escalates in the UK, we may have to put some measures in place to help minimise the risk of further spread and keep our staff and residents safe" the social housing company's chief exec Lee Sugden states in a letter to tenants

"We appreciate that these measures may cause a disruption to our normal service including delayed routine repairs and longer wait times for calls" it adds.

Salix also asks if tenants could let them know if anyone in their household "has recently been in contact with anyone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19..."

Meanwhile, Salford's one confirmed case of coronavirus is still not showing up in official statistics. There may be many reasons for this but Public Health England has not responded to a Salford Star request for an explanation.

On Friday night and yesterday, readers have reported supermarkets around Salford Precinct being stripped of goods and food...

"People who want to be sensible are now realising that if they don't do a big shop - enough to last for weeks, including planning for power failures - there will be nothing left for them to buy" writes one resident.

"I am also concerned about a potential breakdown in public order" they add "I have stopped putting plastic bottles in the recycling. Instead I am rinsing them out and filling them up with water and stockpiling them. I'd rather be ridiculous than dead! Thank goodness I have watched so many disaster movies!"

Neither NHS Salford, nor Salford CCG, have responded yet to Salford Star requests for interviews about the city's readiness for a larger outbreak, so we re-print Channel 4's survey of almost 1,000 frontline NHS staff, broadcast on Friday in which it asked...

Does the NHS have enough resources? 92% said 'No'
Was the UK response quick enough? 94% said 'No'
Is the NHS in a good position? 99% said 'No'

This morning the Health Minister Matt Hancock has confirmed that there are plans to isolate everyone in the country over 70 years of age to protect them from the virus.

See also previous Salford Star article about community attempts to help those self isolating – click here

*If anyone has any information to disseminate to Salford Star readers please email info@salfordstar.com