Latest Update 13th March 2020
Strada Care recognises that the outbreak of a new strain of Coronavirus, which results in the disease COVID-19, is a fast-moving situation. As care providers, we ensure robust infection control and business continuity form part of preparing business at all the Strada Care services for any events.
Strada Care Supported Living is home to many of our community’s most vulnerable individuals to whom contracting the coronavirus would be life-threatening; ensuring their safety is paramount to the service. The newly confirmed total COVID-19 patients in the UK in total is 798, and Surrey remains the fifth highest local authority infected nationally. On Thursday 12th March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the UK would move into a “delay” phase as it hikes up its response to the virus, which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.
We have been watching the situation very carefully, adjusting our continuity plans and risk assessments as events unfold. As of today, Friday 13 March 2020, the Department of Health confirms a total of 10 deaths nationally and 16 positive diagnosed cases in Surrey so far. There has also been one death in the Sutton area, where one of our services is located. So far, we are pleased to confirm no suspected cases in any of our services.
With this in mind, and in line with the UK Government raising the contingency level from Containment to Delay, we have taken the decision to move our response to the next stage. This fundamentally will involve restricting access to authorised staff and visitors only, in all of our Supported Living houses.
This ultimately means that we will only permit regular members of staff, urgent care professionals and maintenance contractors to access the houses. Restrictions will come into place immediately from 9am today, Friday 13th March 2020 for one week, to be reviewed on a rolling weekly basis. We shall be postponing all non-essential off-site appointments for 30 days. Whilst we understand this may be distressing to families and friends, we do not take this action lightly and the care of their loved ones is our primary concern.
If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Team Leader at the service, either via email or telephone. Alternatively, you may contact the Head Office by email further.info@stradacare.co.uk or telephone on 01737 669917.
We will endeavour to continue to keep you informed of the situation at the service and will post additional information on this website: www.stradacare.co.uk and our Twitter feed @StradaCare. We are grateful to our wonderfully dedicated and caring support staff for their continued commitment to our clients at this very challenging time.
Click here to view our Coronavirus Policy