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Friday 24 July 2020
From today, wearing face coverings is now mandatory for everyone when going into shops and supermarkets. Face coverings have already been required on public transport and at NHS buildings since mid-June. It’s really important that we all follow the rules and wear a mask or face covering wherever we are asked to do so.
We should also be mindful that although we are all weathering the same storm – many of us are in different boats. Some people in our community are not able to wear masks. You can read more about this below.
Making face coverings compulsory is part of the national effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 within our communities and to help relax the lockdown rules further and faster.
As well as wearing face masks, it's also crucial that we all support NHS Test and Trace in the fight against coronavirus. It’s up to us all to get to grips with Test and Trace, know how and where we can get a test, and make sure to isolate if we develop symptoms. You can read more about NHS Test and Trace later in this bulletin. Remember, if you think you need a test, it’s really easy to get one locally. If the mobile testing unit isn’t in Havering, it will definitely be a short bus ride away in one of our neighbouring boroughs.
We are making great progress in our safe recovery in Havering. This week saw the last of our libraries reopen fully, our high streets are springing back to life and this weekend will see Romford Market open on Sunday for the second time. I encourage everyone to go out, safely and considerately, and support our local shops, pubs and restaurants. Our recovery from this awful pandemic depends on all of us doing our bit to visit our town centres while sticking to the rules.
Whatever you do this weekend, let’s keep Havering safe, together.
Cllr Damian White,
Leader, Havering Council
From today, Friday 24 July, face coverings are now compulsory for everyone when going into shops and supermarkets.
Face coverings have already been required on public transport and at NHS facilities since 15 June.
Masks /coverings must also be worn when buying takeaway food and drink, although they can be removed in a seating area.
Those who break the rules could face a fine of up to £100.
Residents are reminded that there are some people who don't have to wear a mask. This includes children under 11, those with disabilities or certain health conditions, such as respiratory or cognitive conditions that make it difficult for them to wear a face covering.
Public Health England has warned parents not to buy coverings for babies and young children because of the risk of choking or suffocation.
It is not compulsory for shop workers to wear face coverings but the Government recommends that employers consider their use where appropriate.
Masks will not be mandatory in indoor venues which have other safety measures in place, including:
- Eat-in restaurants
- Pubs
- Hairdressers and salons
- Gyms and leisure centres
- Cinemas, concert halls and theatres
- Visitor attractions like museums.
Although face coverings are unlikely to prevent you from getting the virus, they could help prevent you from giving it to others.
Face coverings are particularly important where two metre social distancing is hard to maintain.
Please be kind and remember some people can't wear masks. But if you can wear a face covering then please help reduce the spread of coronavirus by doing your bit and wearing a mask wherever you're asked to.
Public Health England has published advice on how to wear and make a cloth face covering.
The Government has issued full guidance on face masks.
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 As we come out of lockdown and rules are relaxed, one way we can prevent a rise in the rate of COVID-19 infections and avoid a second wave, is through NHS Test and Trace.
How does it work?
- NHS Test and Trace tracks down close recent contacts of anyone who tests positive for coronavirus and, if necessary, notifies them that they must self-isolate at home to help stop the spread of infection.
- NHS Test and Trace’s team of tracers will contact all individuals with a positive test result asking them to share information on their close contacts in the 48 hours before symptoms started until 7 days after symptoms started.
- Test and Trace then anonymously alerts contacts identified advising them to self-isolate for 14 days to help stop the spread of the virus.
What should I do?
- If you have any symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste) you must self isolate and book a COVID-19 test.
- If your test comes back positive – you have coronavirus and must continue to self isolate for at least seven days or until you feel better.
- If you are a close contact of someone with coronavirus (you live with someone who has symptoms, is waiting for a test result or has tested positive) or if NHS Test and Trace has told you that you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus – you must self isolate for 14 days. If you develop symptoms during this time – you must get tested.
How do I book a test?
You can arrange a test online or by calling 119. If you need to get a test for someone under 5 years old – you should call 111.
You will either be sent a home test kit or booked into a mobile testing unit.
If NHS Test and Trace calls you by phone, the service will be using a single phone number:
0300 013 5000
We recommend that you save this number into your phone.
In the event that you get a call, you will be aware that it is the NHS Test and Trace service calling, and can respond effectively.
By understanding NHS Test and Trace we can reduce the virus in Havering and prevent local lockdowns.
Havering Council now publishes a weekly report on coronavirus in Havering on its website.
It includes information on the number of Havering residents testing positive for COVID-19 each week, starting from 6 March 2020.
There is also a link in the report to the daily figures produced by the Government.
Havering's report also compares the number of new cases in Havering with neighbouring boroughs, and the regional and national figures.
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As the summer term begins many families will be looking to September with some unanswered questions.
To support families with this, throughout the week beginning Monday, 27 July, the new Transition to Secondary School page will launch a useful collection of school video tours, information leaflets, presentations and more.
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A mobile testing unit for COVID-19 will be at Havering Town Hall again this week.
Before you attend the site in Romford, you will need to make an appointment.
The testing at the Town Hall rear car park is between 10.30am and 3.30pm, on the following days:
- Sat 25 July
- Tues 28 July
- Fri 31 July
Vehicles and pedestrians should enter via Park End Road, Romford RM1 4AU, where a one-way drive and walk through system will be in place. Please do not try to enter from Main Road.
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If you have been on the NHS shield list and receiving food parcels, or you know someone who has, please remember that this service will stop on 31 July.
Please read the important information below to help you cope with this change.
The entries are in and the winners have been announced for our competition to celebrate Children’s Art Week.
We presented children in care and care leavers with the challenge of drawing, painting, taking photos or writing poems.
The competition was judged by Barbara Foster, chair of the Council’s fostering panel, who said:
“It has been agony to choose and I wish that they could all be winners. I have so enjoyed seeing the art and reading the written entry.”
Each winner will receive a certificate and £30 voucher.
See a virtual exhibition of all the entries on Fostering for Havering’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
You can check out the winning entries below. For safeguarding reasons the winners' names cannot be published.
Winning entry for the over-18 care leaver
 Winning entry for under-18s
The finale to this year’s Havering Arts Festival Online will be a live performance by the Havering Adult College Sign Language Choir on the Havering Culture YouTube channel. The performance takes place tomorrow (Saturday 25 July), at 2pm.
The choir, some of whom have only been learning to use sign language for a few weeks, will perform We’ll Meet Again and Proud using British Sign Language (BSL).
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A business based in Eastern Road, Romford is on the look-out for local creative talent.
It's for content for a new art book to be published in October.
The co-founders of British interior design company Brennan and Burch are working with Havering Changing, a project supporting local people in Harold Hill, Rainham and Romford to get involved with creating inspiring arts and culture, to produce the book.
If you think your art should feature, submit your entry for consideration by Monday 27 July 2020 to: shop@brennan-and-burch.co.uk with the subject ‘Your Name/Art book’ and links to any website or social media showing your work.
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Highfield Road near Upminster Bridge Tube station will be closed at its junction with Upminster Road for gas main replacement work until Friday 28 August.
The Walk nearby will also be closed from the side of No 95 Upminster Road to the junction with Upminster Road for work until 14 September.
Buses
On buses customers are now required to touch in with Oyster, contactless and concessionary cards on all buses, entering through the front doors on most buses in a near complete return to traditional front-door boarding arrangements.
Temporary bus capacity limits have now been increased in line with the Government’s latest social distancing guidance.
Double-decker buses can now carry 30 passengers, while single-deckers, depending on size, can carry either 11 or 14 passengers.
Tube Trains
Due to engineering work on the District Line there will be no service between Tower Hill and Dagenham East this Saturday (25 July) and Sunday (26 July). Rail replacement bus service DL6 will run.
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