Welcome to Wyre Forest Home of I.C.H.C.

Contact 01562 823 581 Please use this answer-phone service to contact our office. You can also make contact with specific Councillors via the phone / e.mail details on < Councillors E.mail Please use talk2us@healthconcern.org.uk to send a message. It will either be replied to directly or acknowledged & forwarded to the appropriate person. Fax Yes; we still use the jolly-old fax - it cannot be hacked the way these new-fangled systems can. Our number is 01562 77 00 11

Independent Community & Health Concern ____________________________________________________________

Our ‘Heart-in-Hands’ logo

_________________________________________________________________________________________ The Premier Independent political party in Wyre Forest The Wyre Forest area of north Worcestershire is the home of independent political thought - having been represented in Parliament for two terms (ten years) by the Independent M.P. Dr. Richard Taylor M.B.E. Representing Wyre Forest people The party works at Wyre Forest District and local Town and Parish levels with Councillors on the Bewdley, Kidderminster and Stourport-on-Severn town councils. Not just a ‘Single Issue’ party As is reflected in it’s title, Independent Community and Health Concern is NOT just a ‘single issue’ grouping of independent representatives of the people; taking on-board all manner of local problems (and solving them) and local aspirations (and aiding in their delivery). It grew out of the projected closure of Kidderminster Hospital (to which so many had contributed with fund-raising). This prompted mass protest and street parades and, ultimately, the rejection of the sitting Labour MP - a junior Minister. While I.C.H.C. remains fundamentally concerned with the provision of health facilities and the delivery of all that results in ‘good health’ it is associated with concern for all aspects of a healthy community - education for all ages, support for the disabled and the elderly, transport, arts and entertainment, nature and the environment.

STATISTICS as per 22 nd September 2020 of LOCKDOWN UK Persons tested 18,708,484 Positive tests (to date) 398,625 Mortalities: 41,788 UK Deaths (yesterday) 11 Worcestershire cases 2,926 Worcestershire deaths 278 Wyre Forest cases 489 of which there are currently Franche – 5 Habberley - 3 Foley Park – 3 September 17 – the latest data available. Worcester City cases 489 Wolverhampton cases 2,015 Sandwell cases 2,766 Dudley cases 1,685 Birmingham cases 9,384

DAY 184

The Prime Minister has order all hospitality venues in England to close by 10pm from TODAY after the coronavirus alert status was raised to the second-highest level for the first time since June. The Prime Minister addressed the Nation on Tuesday evening telling people to return to home-working where it does not detrimentally affect businesses, and re-stating the need for • mask-wearing • hand-washing & • social distancing.

Coronavirus cases in Worcestershire double compared to previous month The number of positive Covid-19 cases in Worcestershire doubled in August and exceeded the June figure when lockdown restrictions were first eased. As lockdown measures continue to be relaxed, with pupils returning to school this week, public health officials will be mindful of a jump to 173 positive Covid-19 cases in August, double the 87 recorded in July. The figure was also in excess of the 151 positive cases in the county in June but well down from the peak of the pandemic, which saw 1,275 positive cases in April, 591 in May and 325 from March 9 to the end of that month. Redditch grabbed the headlines in August with an outbreak seeing a big spike in cases. It was believed to have been linked to a single family gathering. In total there were 47 Covid-19 cases in the area, compared to only five in July. There were 15 cases from August 13 to 19, then 22 positives from August 20 to 26 but this then fell back to 7 in the last week from August 27 to September 2. Bromsgrove also saw a jump in cases in August with 36, double the 18 in July, and cases continued to rise toward the end of the month in the town, with five from August 13 to 19, six from August 20 to 26 and 12 from August 27 to September 2. Wychavon , the scene of an outbreak at a vegetable farm near Evesham in July, saw 35 Covid positives in August, compared to 27 in July. There was a spike from August 13 to 19 with 12 cases, but numbers then fell back to seven from August 20 to 26 and another seven from August 27 to September 2. Worcester saw 24 positive coronavirus cases in August, compared to 21 in July. But rates rose at the end of the month with two from August 13 to 19, four from August 20 to 26 and nine from August 27 to September 2. Wyre Forest also saw an increase in cases in August rising from just five positives in July to 21 last month. Cases spiked in the middle of the month, with nine from August 13 to 19, ten from August 20 to 26 and two from August 27 to September 2. Malvern , the least Covid-hit part of Worcestershire, saw ten cases in August, down from 11 in July. Total Worcestershire - 2,701 positive Covid-19 cases: Bromsgrove - 580; Wychavon - 497; Redditch - 442; Worcester - 448 and Wyre Forest - 444.

.. and when will they go to the grooming parlor ?

I.C.H.C. acknowledges the debt we owe to “ THE FEW ” .. and their sacrifice during the BATTLE OF BRITAIN which took place between 10th July and 31st October 1940 in this the 80th Anniversary year Link to Tribute site

Coronavirus outbreaks in Worcester schools While two schools in Redditch have children self-isolating – Arrow Vale RSA Academy and Ipsley CE RSA Academy – which are half-a-mile apart. There have also been absences at Pebworth First School in in the south-eastern corner of Worcestershire, and at Perdiswell Primary School in Worcester. Closer to home, Burlish Primary School in Stourport-on-Severn , which also had a confirmed positive Covid case. The announcement of seven new schools with Covid concerns came on the day Prime Minister announced further restrictions as the Covid Alert level was moved back to 4 – where Covid cases are ‘rising exponentially’. Boris Johnson said: “We will ensure that schools, colleges and universities stay open - because nothing is more important than the education, health and well-being of our young people. We will also ensure that businesses can stay open in a Covid-compliant way.”