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05 January 2021
Stay at Home. Protect the NHS
 Last night the Government announced a new national lockdown.
Hounslow and the rest of the country is now under national lockdown restrictions.
The single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. The new restrictions came into effect immediately.
You must stay at home. But there are exceptions, please check what the full set of regulations means for you.
If you do leave home for a permitted reason, you should always stay local to where you live. You may only leave your local area for a legally permitted reason, such as for work.
If you are clinically extremely vulnerable you should only go out for medical appointments, exercise or if it is essential. You should not attend work.
We all need to act responsibly, think of others and play our part to keep ourselves and the most vulnerable safe.
As well as following the national rules, it’s also important we all keep doing the basics - wear a face covering, wash your hands regularly and keep a 2m distance from others.
 Approximately 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 have no symptoms, but can still pass the virus to others without knowing.
Rapid, asymptomatic testing is now available for members of the community - such as key workers - using ‘rapid tests’ or ‘lateral flow tests’, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community and bring down the current high rates of infection in our Borough.
You can book your rapid test from today (Tuesday 5 January) at:
- Hounslow House
- Heston Library
Other sites are due to open for pre-booked rapid test appointments from next week onwards and further details will be provided soon.
Sites will be open for pre-booked appointments only from 8am-4pm, seven days a week, for approximately six weeks.
Book your rapid test online www.hounslow.gov.uk/rapidtest or by calling 0207 084 9697.
 Did you know that you can get tested for COVID-19 at home? If you have COVID-19 symptoms you can order a home test kit simply by calling 119 or online. Remember, you must self-isolate until you get a negative result.
Other tests include;
- Going to a local walk-through test centre in Feltham and Heston, or
- Visiting a Mobile Testing Site
You can't access a test site without booking in advance online or by calling 119.
 Hounslow Council's local COVID-19 Contact Tracing team is here to support residents and help to get coronavirus under control. Council staff may call you if you have tested positive for COVID-19. This is to help notify any one who you may have been in contact with and reduce the spread of the virus. Please answer when we call so that we can complete this important work and help keep coronavirus under control. During the call we will also check if you need any support or assistance such as with food shopping, collecting medication or debt advice.
During the new national lockdown colleges, primary and secondary schools will remain open only for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. All other children will learn remotely until February half term.
Children with at least one parent or carer who is listed as a critical worker are eligible for a school place. It is not necessary for both parents to be critical workers.
For vulnerable children and the children of critical workers, who can still attend school or college, as they did in March to May, and their teachers, the system of protective measures means that any risks are well managed and controlled.
All early years providers (including registered childminders but not including reception years in primary schools) can remain open during this period of national lockdown.
During the period of national lockdown, schools will continue to provide meal options for all pupils who are in school. Meals will be available free of charge to all infant pupils and pupils who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals who are in school.
Schools will continue to provide free school meals or food parcels for pupils who are eligible for benefits related free school meals who are not attending school.
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Domestic abuse can happen to anyone. We're providing support and advice to any resident experiencing domestic violence and also to people who want to report suspected abuse.
You can get in touch with Hounslow Domestic and Sexual Violence Outreach Service by calling 07810 031 780 or or the 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
If you are in immediate danger please call 999.
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Following the Prime Minister’s announcement last night, non-essential businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will be closed until at least February half-term in order to help control the virus.
To support businesses during this time there is a range of support available. The Government announced today (5 January) that one-off top up grants worth up to £9,000 per property will be made available, along with existing support such as the extension of the furlough scheme, which pays up to 80 per cent of salaries, up to £2,500 a month.
Hounslow Council has also announced extra support for local businesses, to help them trade safely and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 12-week programme, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, through the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund, will help support the self-employed, pre-start, start-up and small businesses across all industries. Online workshops, networking events, business clinics and one-to-one support will be offered free of charge to enable local businesses to access expert advice from specialist consultants.
For more information please contact enquiries@investhounslow.com or visit our website below.
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