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Monday 15 June 2020
 Today was an important milestone on our road to recovery. Many shops and businesses opened for the first time in nearly three months.
However, it’s imperative to remember that coronavirus is still with us.
Although the number of cases has gone down, people are still being infected and R (the rate of infection) is only just below 1.
If things start going the wrong way, the Government is clear that controls will be reintroduced – maybe not nationally – but enough to bring the disease under control.
The Council is providing support to schools, local businesses and residents to help us out of lockdown in a safe, socially distanced way. But progress from one step to the next is conditional on maintaining control over the rate of new COVID-19 cases – which remains the only means of protecting the vulnerable from serious illness and death.
So I strongly encourage you to comply with the new regulations, no matter how frustrating that might be. In doing so, you are protecting yourself and your family and reducing the chances that local lockdowns will need to imposed later.
For the foreseeable future, we will need to follow the advice from Government and Public Health England: continue to wash hands thoroughly and wear a face covering when travelling on public transport.
If we develop symptoms of COVID-19, we must isolate immediately, request a coronavirus test and follow the advice given with the result. We must also comply with any instruction from NHS Test and Trace to isolate if we have been a close contact of someone who has COVID-19.
Over the past months, we have processed over 2,600 Business Support Grants to businesses in Havering, equating to over £35.4m in grant money. But there are still some businesses that we estimate are eligible for Business Support Grants, that haven’t yet come forward to claim their money. If you are at all unsure, please get in touch.
The Havering COVID-19 support page has a dedicated area for businesses, listing all of the available support, and contact details for the business helpline, which is available Monday - Friday, 9am - 4pm. I urge all businesses, if they haven’t done so, to sign up for the weekly Business Briefing e-newsletter, where we share all of the latest updates from Havering Council, and central Government.
Lastly, I am pleased that a new consultation on transforming the first three of nine development sites in Rainham launched today. You can read more about this below. I encourage everyone to have their say on how the plans will be developed.
I am particularly thrilled that, after extensive talks with the Silver Hall Social Club in Rainham, we have been able to propose new accommodation and facilities for the local community.
Please stay safe.
Cllr Damian White,
Leader, Havering Council
As expected, shopping centres were very busy today with queues forming early this morning outside some stores.
Please make sure you follow all the social distancing guidelines when queuing outside or when inside shops.
Follow Havering Council's twitter feed for all the latest news updated throughout every day.
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 Local residents and businesses have an opportunity to share their views on the plans to transform the first three of nine development sites in Rainham earmarked for regeneration.
Havering Council’s joint venture partnership with Notting Hill Genesis, are proposing the new developments, which includes approximately 160 new homes for local people as well as the relocation of the much-loved Silver Hall Social Club.
Residents are invited to take park in the online public consultation, which runs until Friday 3 July, to share their views on the proposal for the first three sites, and on the wider development in the area.
Now that many more businesses and retailers have opened up for business again there is more demand for use of public transport.
From today (15 June) if you use the TfL transport network, you must wear a face covering for the duration of your journey.
The face covering can be a simple cloth that covers the nose and mouth. Online guidance on making your own is available.
If you can, avoid the busiest times on the TfL network, between 5.45am and 8.15am, and between 4pm and 5.30pm on weekdays.
Also, from today, passengers with an Older Person’s Freedom Pass, 60+ Oyster photocard or English National Concessionary Scheme pass will not be able to use them during weekday morning peak hours. This is in order to help support social distancing on the public transport network.
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 It’s Shared Lives week 15-21 June and a chance to celebrate and show our gratitude for the amazing work of Havering's Shared Lives carers.
Shared Lives carers provide a home and share their lives with older people, adults with a learning or physical disability and those with mental ill health.
Shared living can help tackle loneliness, reduce isolation and help people recover after hospital treatment or mental ill health.
Shared Lives Plus are a charity offering support to carers and are planning lots of online activity to celebrate Shared Lives week.
Read more about Karen's experience in Havering and ways to contact Havering's Shared Lives scheme.
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During these uncertain times you may have many questions about your will, putting Lasting Power of Attorneys in place or dealing with probate following the loss of a loved one.
Our webinar will cover these points in 30 minutes. It will provide information on how we can assist including details of our 30 minute free consultation which will allow you to discuss your case with one of our experts.
Date: Friday 19 June
Time: 12.30 - 1 pm
Via Zoom Webinar - details circulated upon registration.
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Social isolation is a real issue, but there are many fantastic organisations here in Havering available to help you. Here are contact details for some of them.
‘Covid the Cobra’ - an art installation in Hylands Park, Hornchurch, that involves local children decorating small stones and placing them around the the border of the middle field, is growing.
Started by Hornchurch mum Arlene Raife, there are now over 1,100 stones on the ‘snake’.
The messages on the stones send their support for the NHS, remembrance for lost ones, and greetings for relatives abroad.
Covid the Cobra has now featured on a BBC news report and become a local attraction.
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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 and keep us safe in the UK and across the globe.
You can take part in Havering's tribute by submitting a photo of you saluting.
Email: events@havering.gov.uk
Pictures need to be sent by Monday 22 June. A large collage of pictures will then be shared across social media platforms.
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Team Havering are currently in 11th place heading into Week 2 of the "virtual" London Youth Games, but only 27 points behind so plenty of time to move up the leaderboard.
Young people across Havering can take part in the challenges that are set each week.
Three weekly challenges are published every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 9am on the London Youth Games website and social media channels.
Participants will then have until noon on Friday to complete the challenges and submit their scores. All the challenges will relate to a London Youth Games sport and have been set by young Londoners with a connection to the Games.
There are prizes every week with points towards Havering’s score and the overall trophy.
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