In this newsletter:
- Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives
- Got symptoms? Get tested
- Vaccination letters
- Shielding has resumed
- Business grants update
- Other news
- Support available
Stay Home, Protect The NHS, Save Lives
 As we head in to the first weekend under the new national lockdown here's a reminder of what you can and cannot do to stay safe from coronavirus.
- You must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary
- You may leave home to shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person
- You can leave home to exercise with your household or support bubble, or one other person, this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area
- You can meet your support or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one
- You may leave home to seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
You must not leave or be outside of your home except where you have a 'reasonable excuse'. This is the law. The police can take action against you if you leave home without a 'reasonable excuse', and issue you with a fine.
You can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.
Got Symptoms? Get Tested
 During the national lockdown, you can still leave home to get a COVID-19 test. If you have any coronavirus symptoms, book a test. The main symptoms are:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
You can book a test by:
- visiting the NHS website
- calling 119
- using the NHS COVID-19 app
Vaccination Letters
 Across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire people over the age of 80 are being contacted to book their Covid-19 vaccination.
In the next few weeks, over 80s will receive a letter from the NHS explaining how to book their appointment.
Health bosses have asked the public to wait until they have received their letter before contacting the NHS, their GP or local hospital hub – the letter will have full details of how to make an appointment. Do not call your GP or turn up at A&E or your doctor’s surgery – the only way to get an appointment and the jab is to follow the instructions in the letter.
Amanda Sullivan, Accountable Officer at Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “This is the biggest vaccination programme the NHS has ever undertaken. It is a huge challenge and one that has been rolled out at great pace. Our teams are working really hard but it’s important to remember this is only the first stage of the programme so we are learning and improving as we go.
“We understand many people are keen to see their family get the vaccine as soon as possible to protect them from getting seriously ill. Details of how people over the age of 80 make their vaccine appointment have been shared and used amongst other, less vulnerable groups. If you see a message directed at an 80 year old, or someone who is most at risk asking them to book to receive a vaccine, please don’t log on or pick up the phone unless you are calling on their behalf. We need to protect the appointments for those most in need.''
Shielding Has Resumed
Those who have been previously identified as clinically extremely vulnerable, are once again being asked to shield.
The shielding guidance applies to clinically extremely vulnerable individuals only. Others living in a household with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable are not advised to follow this guidance. They should instead follow the general advice and regulations set out for the current national lockdown.
The clinically extremely vulnerable will get priority access to vaccination against COVID-19 before the general population and in line with the priority ordering set by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). You will be contacted again by the NHS with more information on when and how you will be invited to get the vaccine.
Those who are shielding are being asked to:
- Stay at home at home as much as possible, you can stull go outside for exercise or to attend a health appointment, but try to keep all contact with others outside your household to a minimum.
- You are strongly advised to work from home, if you cannot work from home, then you should not attend work.
- You are advised not to go to the shops. Use online shopping if you can, or ask others to collect and deliver shopping for you.
- You are strongly advised not to go to the pharmacy to pick up medications. If friends and family are not able to collect on your behalf, and you and/or the pharmacy are unable to arrange for a volunteer, then you will be eligible for free medicine delivery.
Tier 4 Business Support Grants
We are currently reviewing information from the Government on the financial support packages relating to Tier 4 and National Lockdown, and how these will be paid out to those businesses affected. We cannot confirm if these will need to be applied for or if they will be paid out based on applications already made for tier 3.
Rest assured that we will soon start making these vital payments to those eligible and will update our website with more information in the coming days. Please keep checking our website for updates.
Other News
New Year Litter Pick
On New Year’s Day local residents Jay and his four-year-old son Ezra, went litter picking near Colliers Wood.
The pair had planned to litter pick down a footpath all the way down to the duck pond area but never made it all the way only due to heavy rain! Jay and Ezra spent an hour litter picking finding lots of random items including an old carpet and some old gloves. “There were lots of energy drinks cans, chocolate wrappers and sweet packets” said Jay.
Broxtowe Borough Council support resident litter picks all year round through the Clean and Green initiative. Register your interest in doing a litter pick and they can provide litter picker poles, high visibility vests, bags and labelling stickers. They also arrange to collect the collected litter afterwards too; just let them know the place and time your litter pick will finish. To find our more visit www.broxtowe.gov.uk/cleanandgreen.
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Home Schooling
Living Streets have got a free downloadable resource to get your children active by walking from home and taking their learning outside!
You can download the free resource on their website.
CBBC and BBC Two will be providing some home support starting from Monday the 11th January!
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Dry January
Many people have found themselves drinking more and more over the last year during lockdown.
Dry January means going alcohol-free for the month of January, and that can bring huge health benefits.
More details about the campaign and getting started can be found on the Dry January website and includes some Dry January Tools to help you.
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Support Available
Support to get essential supplies
If you are vulnerable and need help to get food, medicine or community support, please get in touch with the Nottinghamshire Community Support Hub www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/coronaviruscommunityhub or call 0300 500 80 80
Financial support
In some circumstances, if you are required by law to self-isolate, you may be supported by a payment of £500, payable from Broxtowe Borough Council. Find out more about this scheme and other financial support at www.broxtowe.gov.uk/testandtracepayment or call 0115 917 7777
Mental health
The impact of the pandemic on you and your loved ones and not being able to enjoy all of the activities you would normally be involved in can all have an impact on your health. It is important to remember to look after yourself. Useful resources to support you, your family and friends can be found at www.broxtowe.gov.uk/wellbeing or call the Nottinghamshire Mental Health Helpline between 9.00am and 1.00pm, seven days a week on 0300 555 0730.
Accessing NHS services
If you have symptoms or a health concern you are worried about, please contact your GP practice. GP practices are still open and here for you. When you call your practice, you may be offered a consultation online or over the phone. If they feel they need to see you in person, they will invite you in for a face to face appointment. Read more for guidance at https://nottsccg.nhs.uk/covid-19/gp-appointment-guidance/
Staying up to date
The easiest way to stay up to date is by checking our dedicated Coronavirus webpages.
They contain useful information on:
We also share daily updates on our social media accounts and will be sending you this email bulletin every Friday.
Share this
Please share the information in this email bulletin with friends, family, neighbours and colleagues to help us pass on these important messages, particularly if they're not online.
Please also encourage anyone who isn't already subscribed to this Email Me Service to sign up at www.broxtowe.gov.uk/emailme so they can receive these updates.
 Find the latest guidance from the Government website.
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