Local Midsomer Norton B&NES and Town Councillors have met for the first time as a team to coordinate and facilitate a community response based to the Coronavirus in the town. Councillors agreed to provide leadership and spearhead a local communication drive to harness the power of community.

The first area the Committee has been focusing on is the personal contribution each and every one can make by following the advice of Public Health England. In this way, the aim is prevention.

An information leaflet drop is currently being prepared to go to every house – awaiting approval. This is in line with the Team’s work during the last week, preparing a Midsomer Norton Coronavirus Community Resilience Plan. This has involved two key pieces of work – preparing to make contact with voluntary organisations as a basis for information sharing to support residents, and looking at ways residents can be supported based on a ‘Good Neighbours’ scheme, backed with the setting up of some sort of locally focused advice/helpline should the virus take hold locally.

“At this stage our aim has to be to avoid fear of Coronavirus, distracting from the need to work together as a community. As a community, it is far better to focus

now on how to avoid catching or spreading the virus. Talk to your friends and family and encourage everyone you know to follow Health England advice and together we can be prepared,” said Cllr Paul Myers.

Above all, the Councillors continue to be clear on the imperative to support the most vulnerable in our community and those they rely upon and to focus on prevention, protection and preparation, as well as response.

How to avoid catching or spreading coronavirus:

Do:

• Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds.

• Always wash your hands when you get home or into work.

• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze.

• Put used tissues in the

bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards.

• Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

Don’t:

• Touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.

• Check if you need medical help.

• NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do.

Use this service if:

• You think you might have coronavirus.

• In the last fourteen days you have been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus.

• You have been in close contact with someone with coronavirus.

Information:

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Call 111 if you need to speak to someone and self-isolate. Use the online coronavirus service: 111.nhs.uk