Welcome to the coronavirus weekly update from Birmingham City Council 28 May 21.
The update lets you know about Birmingham City Council’s services, public health information, general advice on Covid-19, and other relevant news from the council and our partners so that we can keep you informed. .If you have friends and family who are not online, please share the information in this bulletin with them.
You can find a full suite of information about Covid-19 on the council’s website.
Covid-19 news
With COVID-19 cases rising in Birmingham, the government has announced enhanced support for the city, focussed on increasing vaccination take-up, testing and support for those self-isolating.
The first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine offers a high level of protection, but to get longer-lasting protection everyone will need to get a second dose. It’s really important to get both doses of your COVID-19 vaccine. Data shows the Pfizer jab is 96% effective against hospitalisation from the Delta variant after two doses. The AstraZeneca jab is 92% effective against hospitalisation after two doses.
The council and Healthy Brum have published a vaccine toolkit with lots of information on the vaccines in multiple languages including Arabic, Kurdish, Pashto, Urdu, Polish, and an accessible version for reading and translation software.
Around 1 in 3 people who have COVID-19 have no symptoms and are spreading it without knowing. If you’re out and about, remember to wear a face-covering unless exempt and keep a safe distance from others to help stop the spread.
If you or anyone in your household tests positive you must self-isolate immediately. Your self-isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day you had the test, if you do not have symptoms) and the next 10 full days.
Did you know everyone can get free rapid COVID-19 tests? Rapid tests can be used if you don’t have any symptoms of coronavirus. Collect a pack of tests or order them direct to your home and report your results online.
Don’t forget that COVID-19 temporary paper parking passes, provided to critical care workers at the start of the pandemic, will no longer be valid after 21 June 2021.
COVID support payments of £500 are available if you have to self-isolate. You may be eligible if you are on low income, can’t work from home, face financial hardship or have a child who is self-isolating.
For latest updates and advice on Coronavirus, please visit the government website.
Local news
Birmingham 2022 has revealed Commonwealth Games ticket information and the full details for each of the 286 sessions of elite sport that will take place next year in the city. The ‘Games for everyone’ will have tickets starting from £8 for under-16s.
Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone is now here, with charging having started on 14 June 2021. If you are subject to the charge, find out how to pay and read more information.
The council has celebrated Clean Air Day (17 June) with a week-long engagement event in the city centre, designed to encourage people to consider how they can help reduce air pollution.
A fleet of Mobile Household Recycling Centres (MHRCs) is set to roll out on the streets of Birmingham as part of the council’s effort to achieve cleaner streets.
“Once you tell one person, it just gets so much easier.” To mark Pride Month, Birmingham 2022’s latest 22 Voices podcast features Jamaican swimmer, Michael Gunning, who gave his advice to those who are nervous to be open about their sexuality.
It’s been Refugee Week, from 14-20 June, and Birmingham’s refugee community and their contributions to city life have been celebrated during the week.
The stories of Birmingham’s Windrush generation are to be celebrated in Birmingham Museum’s new programme of events and activities commemorating this year’s national Windrush Day, including a Windrush Culture event and online lecture Windrush Day – How do you tell a story that’s never been told?
A new bench, designed by pupils from University of Birmingham School, has been unveiled. The bench marks the completion of the Selly Oak New Road Phase 1B scheme, which consists of major highway improvements around the ‘Selly Oak Triangle’ on Birmingham’s primary road network.
It’s important to find out if you need planning permission before you make improvements or changes to a property. There is an easy way to find out about planning permission and about current planning applications online on the council’s website.
Anyone who is an EU, EEA (European Economic Area) or Swiss citizen needs to apply for settlement status in order to remain in Birmingham. Protect your family’s rights in the UK by applying to the EU Settlement Scheme by the 30 June 2021 deadline.
We’re looking for volunteer independent appeal panel members to consider appeals against the refusal of a place at a School or Academy. Contact the School Appeals Team by email edappealsadmin@birmingham.gov.uk or telephone 0121 303 3668.
Council questions? Did YOU know you can contact our council Customer Services team on Twitter, to help you with any service enquiries you may have? Use this account: @BCC_Help
www.BrumCityCentre.com 