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Monday 24 August 2020
 Because we are now in the sixth month of coronavirus pandemic restrictions I understand how complacency over the risks of catching or spreading the virus ourselves can start to take hold.
Some of you may wish it was all over - but it isn’t.
We must face the facts: COVID-19 isn’t going away anytime soon.
With life returning to some kind of normality as lockdown measures ease we are seeing many instances of people relaxing them even further. In most cases, people are unaware how irresponsible their actions are, or of how great the risk is of us having to go into a local lockdown.
Equally alarming is the fact that some people do not know the three main COVID-19 symptoms – high temperature, a new continuous cough, and loss of taste and smell – according to a survey by Kings College London.
Here in Havering, we are all making a tremendous effort to keep the pandemic at bay, and our families, colleagues and residents safe.
With our Public Health team, we have produced a plan to deal with local lockdowns. But we want to prevent them from happening in the first place, and to do this we’re calling on you, our residents, and our businesses to help us.
This is why we are launching a major new public health campaign today, called Doing My Bit, to help reduce the spread of coronavirus and protect the borough from local lockdowns.
If we all keep doing our bit, we’ll keep ourselves, our families, our workplaces and our communities as safe as possible.
If you want to contact me directly, email me. However, please be patient as there may be a delay of a day or two in getting back to you due to the volume of messages I am receiving.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
Havering Council is calling on residents to do their bit to help further reduce the spread of coronavirus, not to be complacent and to protect the borough from local lockdowns.
#DoingMyBit - our new major public health campaign, will promote all the different ways in which residents and businesses are following public health advice and Government rules to keep their families, friends, colleagues and communities safe.
#DoingMyBit means:
- maintaining social distancing
- complying with NHS Test & Trace
- observing Government quarantine measures when travelling
- isolating immediately and getting tested as soon as possible if you develop symptoms
- wearing a face-covering in shops and on public transport unless you are exempt by Government guidelines
- continuing to protect and support neighbours, family and friends and those who are highly vulnerable to the virus
- supporting local businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19.
Over the coming months, we will ask residents and businesses to share their photos, stories and ideas of how they are doing their bit from across the borough using a wide range of online Council channels.
The campaign went live today at a special event at Havering Town Hall in Romford.
The Leader of Havering Council, Councillor Damian White, was joined by the Council’s Director of Public Health, Mark Ansell, and Chief Executive, Andrew Blake-Herbert, along with other Cabinet Members to officially launch #DoingMyBit.
They gathered to wave off a digital billboard van, sporting the new campaign images, as it set off around the borough to spread the #DoingMyBit message. The van visited a number of locations across Havering, including Queen’s Hospital, Romford and the borough’s town centres from north to south.
A campaign toolkit with posters, social media templates, and lots of other resources, has also been produced to help residents, businesses and our community partners to get involved and to do their bit to make the campaign a success.
During the campaign, residents should look out for posters and more digital ad vans across the borough with great examples of local people doing their bit. We’ll also be holding online events to help residents with more advice on how to keep Havering safe.
More information and access to the #DoingMyBit campaign toolkit can be found at the link below.
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A mobile testing unit for COVID-19 will be at Havering Town Hall again this Thursday, 27 August, and also on Sunday, 30 August.
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.
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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Don't forget that Monday (31 August) is a Bank Holiday.
This means that rubbish and recycling collections next week will be one day later than usual.
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Havering Children’s Centres are offering virtual support services and groups to families living in the borough.
This also includes a summer programme of online Zoom activities for children aged up to 11 years old.
These include treasure hunts, quizzes, games, craft workshops and musical jelly beans.
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If you are having a house or garden clear up please remember that you must never burn household rubbish, rubber tyres or anything containing plastic, foam or paint.
If you burn rubbish that causes a nuisance, Havering Council may issue an ‘abatement notice’ and ask you to pay a fine.
See the recycling pages on our website for advice on recycling items, bulk collections and composting.
If you are holding a barbecue please be considerate of your neighbours. A very smoky bonfire can be unpleasant and distressing for your neighbours.
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Extra weight puts extra pressure on your body.
Which makes it harder to fight against diseases like cancer, heart disease and now, COVID-19.
Losing weight can help reduce your risk.
For many, the past few months have been a wake-up call, with people realising how precious their health is and recognising that it is time to get back on track.
One way you can do that is to follow the NHS 12-week weight loss plan, tailored to your needs.
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 Picture: David Parry PA
The mystery surrounding the Havering Hoard has been kept under wraps for longer than intended but now the Museum of London Docklands has confirmed that London’s largest ever Bronze Age hoard, found in our borough, will go on display to the public for the first time from 11 September.
As part of the museum’s new major exhibition, Havering Hoard: A Bronze Age Mystery, visitors will have the chance to dig deep and unearth the intriguing mystery of 453 bronze objects, dating between c.900 and c.800 BC.
The exhibition runs until 18 April 2021 and there is no charge for entry with a timed ticket booked online.
 Illustrations © Laura Ellen Anderson 2020
Havering Libraries have 400 funny and silly book prizes to give away to 4-11 year olds in their Silly Squad competitions this summer.
There are four competitions to choose from and winning entries should be full of fun, laughter or silliness.
You can write a short story, make a piece of artwork, compose a poem or write a book review.
The closing date is Saturday 5 September.
Don't forget that until the end of August you can get a discount when you eat-in at restaurants that are registered with the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
The scheme is in operation Monday to Wednesdays.
Click the button to find a participating local restaurant.
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