Visitors from around the UK and across the world will be travelling to take part in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games from 28 July to 8 August.

Advice for hot weather

Stay hydrated, drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol.

If you need to travel, make sure you take water with you.

Avoid extreme physical exertion. If you can’t avoid strenuous outdoor activity, try to keep it for cooler parts of the day, for example in the early morning or evening.

Seek shade during the hottest parts of the day, especially from 11am to 3pm, when UV radiation is strongest.

If you go out in the heat :

• wear UV sunglasses (preferably wraparound)
• apply sunscreen of at least SPF15 with UVA protection
• wear a wide-brimmed hat and light, loose-fitting cotton clothes

On car journeys, ensure babies, children or older people are not left alone in parked cars, which can quickly overheat.

If you feel dizzy, weak or have intense thirst and a headache, move to a cool place as soon as possible and drink some water or diluted fruit juice.

If you have painful muscular spasms (particularly in the legs, arms or abdomen) rest in a cool place and drink electrolyte drinks. If you don’t start to recover within 30 minutes, call 111.

Call 999 if a person develops any signs of heatstroke, as this is a medical emergency.

Symptoms are:

• feeling unwell (after 30 minutes resting in a cool place and drinking plenty of water)
• not sweating even while feeling too hot
• a high temperature of 40^oC or above
• fast breathing or shortness of breath
• feeling confused
• a fit (seizure)
• loss of consciousness
• being unresponsive

Advice to prevent transfer of stomach bugs

Stay at home if you have any symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting.

Don’t go to work or school or mix outside until 48 hours clear of symptoms.

Stay hydrated.

Wash hands regularly and thoroughly in soap and water, especially after visiting the toilet or before preparing food.

Try not to prepare food for others while infectious.

In any areas where a person has had an episode of illness, use a bleach-based cleaning fluid to clean any surfaces.

Boil wash any laundry soiled during an episode of illness.

Advice for safe sex

Use condoms, especially with a new partner.

Get tested if you’ve had unprotected sex. Make an appointment at a sexual health clinic and don’t have sex until you’ve been tested and know you are clear of any sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Advice to prevent spread of infectious diseases

Stay at home if you have any symptoms of an infectious disease, including:

• diarrhoea or vomiting
• raised temperature and generally feeling unwell
• symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) or any other respiratory disease
• monkeypox, chicken pox, measles or scarlet fever

Follow the public health advice for the illness you have – check at NHS.UK for information and call 111 if you are concerned for your or another’s health.

Try to make sure you are up to date with vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), MenACWY and COVID-19 before mixing with large groups of people.

Be aware of the signs and symptoms of monkeypox, which can spread through close personal contact, including sex, and contact a sexual health clinic if you suspect you may have the infection.

Wash hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water and use hand sanitiser.

Wash hands, especially before eating, after going to the toilet, and after blowing your nose or sneezing – making sure you dispose of any tissues in a bin after use.

If you are indoors mixing with a lot of people or on public transport, you may choose to wear a face covering.

Caryn Cox, Health Protection Consultant with UKHSA West Midlands, said:

The Met Office is forecasting a sizzling few weeks during the Games, so we all need to slap on the sun cream, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, seek shade at the hottest times of the day (11am to 3pm) and stay hydrated. Having so many people coming together to watch the Games and enjoy the celebratory events taking place across the region, there is a greater risk of spreading infections, whether it’s a stomach bug that can spread by poor hand hygiene or infections including COVID-19 – in both instances, it’s best to stay at home if you’re ill. Also, it’s advisable that you’re up to date with your routine vaccinations, like MMR, MenACWY and COVID-19 before mixing with lots of people.

With a party atmosphere and lots of people visiting the region, it’s really important to practise safe sex, to prevent possible spread of sexually transmitted infections. So, remember to use condoms, and if you’ve had unprotected sex, get tested for STIs.

While monkeypox isn’t an STI, it can be transmitted through close physical contact, so look out for any symptoms and contact a sexual health clinic if you suspect you may have that or any sexually transmitted infection.

• DASA has launched a new Themed Competition: Point of Care Diagnostics at the Front Line: Phase 2
• Funded by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)
• Up to £1 million funding available for innovative technologies that help diagnose and treat individuals exposed to biological or chemical agents on the front line

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch Point of Care Diagnostics at the Front Line: Phase 2, a Themed Competition which follows on from Phase 1. Run on behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), this competition seeks cutting-edge technologies that enable clinicians to diagnose and treat individuals following exposure to biological or chemical agents.

Exposure to biological or chemical agents still represents a key issue for deployed personnel. Outputs from this competition that rapidly detect agents and enable quicker treatment will help improve UK capability to manage and treat personnel affected by virulent infectious agents or toxic chemicals.

Key dates and funding

£1 million (Exc. VAT) funding is available and DASA expects to fund two proposals of up to £500k (Exc. VAT) each in value. However, DASA reserves the right to fund one outstanding bid up to £1M (Exc. VAT).

The deadline to submit a proposal is midday (BST) 22 September 2022.

Do you have an idea? Read the full competition document and submit a proposal.

Enabling rapid diagnosis of biological and chemical agents in approximately 1 hour

Current technologies that enable diagnosis of individuals exposed to biological or chemical agents are time-consuming, resource intensive and can only provide limited identification capability. They often rely on laboratory facilities, where sufficient infrastructure and expertise are available to interpret complex data.

This themed competition seeks to address current limitations of diagnostic technologies through the development of novel, enhanced point of care diagnostic devices, which provide a result in approximately 1 hour. The technology should also be able to be used in proximity to the patient, and in demanding austere locations.

Improved point of care solutions will enable clinicians to make informed, high confidence, diagnoses that optimise the management of affected individuals.

Challenge areas

This competition has one challenge area.

Challenge 1

PoC diagnostic devices submitted to this competition should support one or more of the following requirements:

• Minimal or no requirement for manual sample preparation (blood, serum, plasma, saliva etc).
• Provide a rapid (c. 1 hour or less) time to answer, to facilitate delivery of timely information to clinicians to inform treatment options.
• Provide high confidence information outputs with a minimal level of false positives and negatives.
• Flexible and adaptable to integration of new assays for additional analytes to facilitate identification of a broad spectrum of agents.

To learn more about the challenge area of the competition read the full competition document here.

Webinar

3 August 2022

This webinar will provide more information on the challenge areas and how to submit a proposal. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions in the Q&A. If you would like to get involved, please register on the Eventbrite page.

Register now

Submit a proposal

Do you have a solution or novel approach to improve our ability to rapidly diagnose and treat front line exposure to chemical and biological agents? Submit an idea and help DASA and Dstl ensure diagnoses capabilities are informed by the latest research and development.

Learn more and submit a proposal.

• Kremlin imposed ‘officials’ in Luhansk and Donetsk sanctioned
• Russia’s Minister and Deputy Minister of Justice, who are supressing their own people, sanctioned
• Sanctions on two nephews of major Russian oligarch
• UK targets Syrian individuals undermining Ukrainian territorial integrity

The UK Government has today (26 July) sanctioned Vitaly Khotsenko and Vladislav Kuznetsov, the Russian-imposed Prime Minister and First Deputy Chairman of the so-called ‘Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics’, for undermining Ukrainian territorial integrity. Khotsenko and Kuznetsov have been sent to implement Russia’s policies across the invaded region, supporting Putin’s plans to illegally annex more of Ukraine and use sham referendums to falsely legitimise their occupation.

29 regional governors from across Russia have also been sanctioned today. The governors have been directed by the Kremlin to transfer funds to the so-called ‘Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics’, facilitating the Russian occupation in attempting to wrest territory from Ukraine.

The Russian Minister of Justice Konstantin Chuychenko and Deputy Minister of Justice Oleg Sviridenko are also being sanctioned today. The pair are suppressing their own people by targeting those speaking out against the war. They are expanding their power to repress Russian citizens’ freedom of speech by signing a new law that expands the criteria for “foreign agents” to include anyone who the authorities declare to be “under foreign influence”. Those found guilty will be branded as criminals and will be barred from receiving state financing, teaching at state universities, working with minors, or providing expertise on environmental issues.

Also sanctioned today are Sarvar and Sanjar Ismailov, nephews of major Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov who has close ties to the Kremlin. Both Sarvar and Sanjar have significant interests in the UK, it is believed that they own homes in Highgate and Hampstead Heath.

The Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:

We will not keep quiet and watch Kremlin-appointed state actors supress the people of Ukraine or the freedoms of their own people.

We will continue to impose harsh sanctions on those who are trying to legitimise Putin’s illegal invasion until Ukraine prevails.

In coordination with the EU, the UK is also targeting two groups of Syrian individuals. One group is responsible for recruiting Syrians to fight in Russia’s war in Ukraine, while the other is supporting the repressive Syrian regime – perpetuating and benefitting from Putin’s agenda of international turmoil.

Today’s sanctions build on the UK’s hard-hitting sanctions package on Russia which includes designations on more than 1100 individuals and more than 100 entities. Additional powers have also recently come into force, including the prohibition of new UK investment into Russia, the banning of Russian gold from the UK’s world-leading bullion market, and further expanding of the criteria for who can be sanctioned.

ENDS

Pen profiles on main designations:

• Sanjar Ismailov, nephew of Alisher Usmanov (sanctioned in March) and son of Gulbakhar Ismailova (sanctioned in April). Usmanov was sanctioned for his association with Putin and for carrying on business in sectors of strategic significance through his holding company, USM Holdings. Sanjar Ismailov is subject to an asset freeze.

• Sarvar Ismailov, previously a director at Everton Football Club. Nephew of Alisher Usmanov (sanctioned in March) and son of Gulbakhar Ismailova (sanctioned in April). Usmanov was sanctioned for his association with Putin and for carrying on business in sectors of strategic significance through his holding company, USM Holdings. Sarvar Ismailov is subject to an asset freeze.

Officials:

• Vitaliy Pavlovich Khotsenko was appointed as so-called “Prime Minister” of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” in eastern Ukraine in June 2022. Khotsenko is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Vladislav Garievich Kuznetsov was appointed as the so-called ‘First Deputy Chairman’ of the so-called ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’, a senior position within the illegitimate government of the Luhansk region in June 2022. Kuznetsov is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

Ministers:

• Konstantin Anatolyevich Chuychenko was appointed as the Russian Federation Minister for Justice in January 2020 having previously served as Deputy Prime Minister of Russia. He graduated from Leningrad Law School as part of a clique of other influential elites, including already-sanctioned Dmitry Medvedev. Chuychenko has also previously served in the KGB. Chuychenko is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Oleg Mikhailovich Sviridenko has been Russia’s Deputy Minister for Justice since 2020. Sviridenko graduated from the Faculty of Law of Moscow State University in 1989. Sviridenko is engaged in policies and actions which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Sviridenko is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

Governors subject to a travel ban and asset freeze:

• Alexander Viktorovich Moor
• Alexander Vasilievich Bogomaz
• Roman Vladimirovich Starovoit
• Gleb Sergeyevich Nikitin
• Yevgeny Vladmirovich Kuyvashev
• Alexei Leonidovich Teksler
• Dmitry Igorevich Azarov
• Radiy Faritovich Khabirov
• Oleg Alekseyevich Nikolayev
• Alexander Viktorovich Uss
• Andrei Alexandrovich Travnikov
• Roman Viktorovich Busargin
• Alexander Alexandrovich Avdeev
• Denis Vladimirovich Pasler
• Andrei Ivanovich Bocharov
• Alexander Yurievich Drozdenko
• Maxim  Borisovich Egorov
• Oleg Aleksandrovich Kuvshinnikov
• Vladimir Viktorovich Uyba
• Vladislav Valeryevich Shapsha
• Vladimir Vladimirovich Vladimirov
• Aisen Sergeyevich Nikolayev
• Aleksandr Viktorovich Gusev
• Vasily Aleksandrovich Orlov
• Dmitry Andreevich Artyukhov
• Igor Georgievich Artamonov
• Viktor Petrovich Tomenko
• Mikhail Vladimirovich Razvozhayev
• Andrei Yuryevich Vorobyov

Syria designations under the Russia Regime:

• Muhammad Al-Salti is the Commander-in-Chief of the “Palestine Liberation Army”. Al-Salti is active in the enrolment of Palestinian refugees to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Al-Salti is engaged in and providing support for policies and actions, which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Al-Salti is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Abu Hani Shammout was the head of the Brigade Al-Ahdah Al-Omary, a Syrian military officer, Shammout is active in the enrolment of Syrian mercenaries to fight for the Russian forces in Ukraine and previously to fight in Libya. Shammout by virtue of his role in the enrolment of Syrian mercenaries to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, is engaged in and providing support for policies and actions, which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Shammout is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Nabeul Al-Abdullah is a commander of the National Defence Forces in the city of Suqaylabiyah. Al-Abdullah has been overseeing the recruitment of Syrian mercenaries to fight for the Russian forces in Ukraine. Al-Abdullah,is engaged in and providing support for policies and actions, which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Al-Abdullah is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Simon Al-Wakil is a commander of the National Defence Forces in the city of Maharda (Hama). Al-Wakil collaborates directly with the command of the Russian forces in Syria and is active in the enrolment of Syrian mercenaries to fight for the Russian forces in and Ukraine. Al-Wakil, is engaged and providing support for policies and actions, which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Al-Wakil is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Al-Sayyad Company for Guarding and Protection Services Ltd is a Syrian private security company. Al-Sayyad Company have been active in the protection of Russian economic interests in phosphates, gas and in securing oil sites in Syria and have recruited Syrian mercenaries to fight abroad in support of Russia’s interests including in Libya and Ukraine. Al-Sayyad Company by virtue of their role in the enrolment of Syrian mercenaries to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, is engaged in and providing support for policies and actions, which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Al-Sayyad Company is subject to an asset freeze.

• Fawaz Mikhail Gerges is the CEO of Syrian private security company, Al Sayyad Company for Guarding and Protection Services. Al Sayyad company have been active in the protection of Russian economic interests in phosphates, gas and securing oil sites in Syria and have recruited Syrian mercenaries to fight abroad in support of Russia’s interests including in Libya and Ukraine. Gerges, as the CEO of Al Sayyad company, who have been is active in the enrolment of Syrian mercenaries to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, is engaged in and providing support for policies and actions, which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Gerges is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

Syria designations under the Syria Regime:

• Saleh Al-Abdullah is a Brigadier General in the Syrian Armed Forces and is leader of the Sixteenth Brigade. Al-Abdullah, by virtue of his leadership role in the Syrian Armed Forces is and has been involved in repressing the civilian population in Syria. Al-Abdullah is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Sanad Protection and Security Services is a Syrian private security company established in 2017 and headquartered in Damascus. Sanad Protection and Security Servicers are active in the protection of Syrian regime and Russian economic interests in phosphates, gas and in securing oil sites and are supervised by the Wagner Group in Syria. Sanad Protection and Security Services is involved in supporting or benefiting the Syrian regime and is directly owned by persons involved in supporting or benefiting the Syrian regime. Sanad Protection and Security Services is subject to an asset freeze.

• Ahmed Khalil Khalil is the co-owner of Sanad Protection and Security Services. This is a Syrian private security company established in 2017 and headquartered in Damascus. Sanad Protection and Security Services are active in the protection of Syrian regime and Russian economic interests in phosphates, gas and in securing oil sites and are supervised by the Wagner Group in Syria. Khalil, by virtue of his position as a prominent person operating and controlling businesses in Syria and through his association with other persons involved, is involved in supporting and benefiting from the Syrian regime. Khalil is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Nasser Deeb Deeb is the co-owner of Sanad Protection and Security Services.  Sanad Protection and Security Services is a Syrian private security company established in 2017 and headquartered in Damascus. Sanad Protection and Security Services are active in the protection of Syrian regime and Russian economic interests in phosphates, gas and in securing oil sites and are supervised by the Wagner Group in Syria. Deeb Deeb, by virtue of his position as a prominent person operating and controlling businesses in Syria, and through his association with other involved persons with links to the Syrian regime, is involved in supporting and benefiting from the Syrian regime. Deeb Deeb is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Issam Shammout is a leading and prominent businessperson operating in Syria. Shammout is the owner of Cham Wings, a Syrian airline and Head of Shammout Group is his private business group, both of which have significant ties to the Syrian regime. Shammout, by virtue of his leadership role in Cham Wings, supports and benefits the Syrian regime and is associated with other involved persons with links to the Syrian regime. Shammout is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.