Coronavirus update: 23 June 2020

According to the Met Office a heatwave is on its way with temperatures as high as 30 degrees Celsius expected by mid-week. The hot weather is likely to then last until the weekend.  

High temperatures can be harmful to your health. The heat can affect anyone, but some people run a greater risk of serious harm. Many of those who are at risk of harm from heat are also at greater risk of severe illness due to coronavirus and may need to spend more time at home than they would usually. Others may need to stay at home because they are self-isolating or recovering from the infection.    

Public Health England (PHE) has published a useful document which explains how to stay safe in hot weather, including how to keep your home cool. It tells you who is at greatest risk of ill health from the heat, how to recognise when you or someone’s health may be affected, and what to do if you or someone else becomes unwell as a result of the heat.    

You can read the PHE document on staying well and coping with the heat here.    

Please also don't leave pets in vehicles when the sun is up. 

Last month the Government advised that anyone ‘shielding’ could spend time outdoors. Following this, and alongside current scientific and medical advice, the it is planning to further relax shielding guidance in stages.

From 6 July, the guidance will change so anyone shielding can meet in groups of up to six people from outside their household – outdoors with social distancing. If you live alone (or are a lone adult with dependent children under 18), you will be able to form a support bubble with another household.

From 1 August, there will no longer be a requirement to shield, and the advice will be that you can visit shops and places of worship, but you should continue maintaining rigorous social distancing. 

The Government will be writing to all individuals on the Shielded Patient List with updated information on shielding advice and the ongoing support that will be available to them. 

You can find out more about these changes and the support available on our website.  

Read the full announcement on the Government’s website.  

The Council has launched a survey to learn about the impacts of coronavirus on the borough. We would like to know how you and the people you live with have been affected, hear your thoughts about the future and the type of support you may need. Please also share your opinions on how the Council has responded and what we could do better.  

This survey is completely anonymous and you don’t have to answer every question. Your views are really important in helping us understand the issues and will inform and influence what we do.  

Complete the survey here.  

Recycle 360 has announced that waste and recycling collections will start from 6am on 24, 25 and 26 June. This is a health and safety precaution to prevent crews being exposed to higher midday temperatures while undertaking manual tasks. 

Household collections are normally from 7am Monday to Friday, however we request residents to please present collections by 6am on days when weather is due to be 30 degrees or over. 

For further information on waste and recycling collections, please visit our website.  

If you use a vehicle to travel into the London congestion charging zone there are changes that have come into effect this week.  

The changes include increasing the Congestion Charge to £15 per day, removing the £1 Auto Pay and Fleet discounts, and extending the hours of operation to between 7am and 10pm seven days a week (excluding Christmas Day).  

The temporary changes are designed to reduce traffic in central London and enable more journeys to be made safely by foot or bike, while keeping the bus network reliable for those making essential journeys. 

You can find out more about these changes on the TfL website.  

Are you finding it hard to cope emotionally and do you need to talk to someone? Community counselling is offering free emotional support by phone and online counselling to adults in the borough that are severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.This service is aimed at people who are unable to access counselling at the moment.   

You can apply online at www.communitycounselling.co.uk (please copy and paste the link into your browser) or you can text the team on  07787 339321.  

Salute Our Forces is a simple way for anyone to pay tribute on Armed Forces Day (Saturday 27 June) to the British Armed Forces.  

It's a way to say thank you for their hard work, dedication and efforts to keep us safe in the UK and across the globe.   

You can take part in Hounslow's tribute by submitting a photo of you saluting and sharing this on your social media along with #SaluteOurForces. Don’t forget to tag us on Facebook or Twitter and we will share the images on our social media channels. 

A coronavirus symptom study app has been developed by health science company Zoe. Data collected on the app is shared with and analysed by King’s College London, the NHS and Zoe research teams.    

The app allows you to report each day on how you feel and asks questions. It will be helpful to identify how the virus spreads, local hotspots, and will contribute to research to understand and cure the virus.    

We are encouraging residents to download this free app to support this important work. The app is available on the Apple App store and Google Play. 

National Writing Day 2020 is tomorrow! This will be the fourth annual celebration of the power of writing creatively, inspiring people of all ages and abilities to try writing for fun and self-expression. 

There is still time to write a poem or short story. Take a photo of your writing or take a photo of yourself with your writing. Share your work via Hounslow Council’s Twitter, Facebook or Instagram tomorrow using  #247challenge or email communications@hounslow.gov.uk for your chance to feature in our newsletter. 

The UK’s major mobile phone companies have agreed that users’ data will not be used up if they are looking for help and support online. 

Under the scheme, victims of crime, sexual violence and domestic abuse can visit and seek help from websites even if they have used up all their mobile data.  

It applies to anyone who has a sim from EE, Vodafone, O2, Three, Sky Mobile, Virgin Media, Tesco Mobile and giffgaff.  

More information and guidance about which websites to visit can be found here. 

It’s National Picnic Week! Why not visit our beautiful parks or open spaces and soak up some sunshine with your friends and family, but please remember to stick to the social distancing rules.    

If you decide to have a picnic this week, please make sure you take your litter home with you where it can be recycled or disposed of responsibly. This will help to keep our parks clean and tidy for everyone to enjoy.     

Litter not only ruins the environment but creates a genuine hazard for wild animals, who can become injured and entangled in dumped materials.    

Greenspace 360 staff do their best to keep our green spaces amongst the finest in London, but with parks often busier during warm weather spells – we really need visitors help.   

Please do your bit to keep the borough clean. Remember, if you see any flytipping, please report it.     

For more information please visit our website.    

Bell Square isn't able to put on shows at the moment due to the Government's coronavirus guidelines. But as soon as it's safe for audiences, staff and artists look forward to welcoming you all back to top quality, free outdoor arts shows. Since Bell Square is an outdoor venue, they very much hope this will be sooner rather than later! In the meantime, do sign up to their social media channels @BellSquareLDN to keep in touch and see some great outdoor arts from around the world while they're closed, or sign up to their email newsletters here. 

Above is an image of a really exciting show by company Justice in Motion that they would have had a couple of weeks ago and hope to bring back in the future. It features international parkour athletes and physical theatre performers, creating a visually stunning show with a strong social message - exploring issues of modern salvery and forced labour within the construction industry. At Bell Square, they aim to tell the stories that affect us all, and this is a great example of how performance can tell really important stories in an engaging, exciting and accessible way.