COVID-19 variant

Additional testing is being made available in the Frankley Great Park ward and a specific area in south Northfield in Birmingham, where a case of the COVID-19 variant first identified in South Africa has been found. The council is working closely with Public Health England and the national NHS Track and Trace team to support measures to curb any potential spread of this variant; this will include significantly increasing the testing offer in a targeted way.

Residents over the age of 18, who are living or working in Frankley Great Park ward and the part of south Northfield between Frankley and the A38, south of Tessall Lane, since 1 January 2021 are strongly encouraged to take a COVID-19 test this week, even if they are not showing symptoms. For people with no coronavirus symptoms:

• Drive through testing is available at the St.Modwen testing site without an appointment - located on Bristol Rd South, opposite Longbridge Lane / Bournville College
• A further Mobile Test Unit will be opened on Friday
• The council is also opening a series of designated sites for citizens to collect home testing kit to test at home and return to the same venue the same day for return to the lab
• The council is working with local businesses to make testing available for their staff in workplaces and we will share details with schools as soon as possible

It is important people test through these designated sites because the samples are sent back to a specific laboratory for analysis and individuals should get their results within 48 hours.

If you have coronavirus symptoms you should get a free NHS test to check if you have coronavirus.

If a person tests positive, has any symptoms, or is contact traced following close contact with someone who tests positive, they should self-isolate immediately.

There is currently no evidence to suggest this variant is more serious than others, or that the regulated vaccine would not protect against it.

Public Health webinars for schools

Tomorrow Public Health Birmingham are holding a webinar for schools and early years settings in the Frankley Great Park area and have sent invitations to the schools concerned.

We will share details of a further Public Health Birmingham webinar to take place early next week for the wider Birmingham school community in tomorrow’s update.

In the meantime, any schools with concerns or queries can email edsi.enquiries@birmingham.gov.uk

Recording of last week’s youth violence webinar

The recording of last week’s webinar is available at this link.

Opportunity for KS3 and KS4 to work with Blackstory Partnership on the TEAR Project 2021 “Together Embrace And Remember” 

Blackstory Partnership have received funding from the Arts Council England to deliver a series of workshops to support change in individual and community mental and physical wellbeing, by offering relief from the effects of isolation and anxiety through a creative arts project.  This collaborative community and school programme brings together KS3 and KS4 students for an opportunity to remember and to celebrate the lives of family and community members that have passed away due to Covid19, within a safe space. 

These online sessions will support young people to explore unpleasant feelings and express thoughts and feelings about Covid19 using art, poetry and music. The TEAR Project will provide different strategies in helping young people to grieve and channel complex emotions through creation.  The artistic pieces that the students create will be used for a larger community celebration where the artwork will be exhibited in Handsworth Park for all to appreciate. 

Secondary schools are invited to attend a Zoom planning session with the TEAR organisers and School Project Facilitators to shape this much-needed project on Thursday 11th February, 4pm.  

For further details or to register your interest please contact TEAR Project Co-ordinator, Audrey Parkes (blackstorypartnership@gmail.com, or by phone on 07979 358 065).