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Friday 13 November 2020 (Update #139)
 It has been pleasing to see that so many in our community have adapted well to the new national restrictions, but unfortunately there are still those who do not seem to grasp the severity of the situation.
As Havering's COVID-19 infection cases continue to rise, it is more important than ever that we do not become complacent.
I can assure you that Havering Council will continue to do everything it can to limit the impact of this awful coronavirus and, as part of that effort, I am pleased to welcome our new COVID Marshals.
Our COVID Marshals are there to engage and encourage first and foremost, but will escalate issues if non-compliance with the national COVID-19 restrictions persists. (You can read more about them in the article below.)
We all need to work with our new Marshals, our Enforcement and Compliance teams, and the local police, to do our bit for the sake of our fellow residents who may have already suffered bereavement or long-term damage to their health from COVID-19, and vulnerable people in fear of catching this terrible virus.
I am also pleased to report that Havering Council's Customer Services and Enforcement Teams have been working hard with the National Test and Trace service and in this key area we have seen the number of people traced rise from 79 per cent to 90 per cent. Well done to everyone involved.
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
New COVID Marshals have been deployed across Havering this week to support the Council’s fight against coronavirus.
The Marshals will work with residents and encourage compliance with the current COVID-19 restrictions, including encouraging the wearing of face coverings to those who are not exempt and social distancing.
Deployed in areas where the Council has received the most concerns about non-compliance, such as smaller shopping parades, outside schools, around transport hubs and in our parks, the Marshals will work with Council officers to encourage people to do their bit and help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Though the Marshals have no formal enforcement powers, they will escalate breaches and issues where non-compliance continues to the Council’s Public Protection Team or the Police who have the authority to take enforcement action. That could include a penalty of between £200 and £10,000.
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If you are a tenant and need extra help to meet your rent, you may be able to claim Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP).
DHP is an extra payment to help people who are receiving housing benefit or the housing element of universal credit and are still struggling to pay rent.
DHP can also help with a tenancy deposit for a new home or to assist with rent in advance where you have to move home and have no other means of meeting these costs.
DHP Payments can help tenants in proven financial difficulty.
If you think you may be entitled to a DHP apply online.
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Support is available for everyone in Havering that needs it.
If you, or someone you know, is vulnerable and need help accessing food or medicine, call our helpline on 0800 368 5201.
It's open weekdays between 9am and 5pm and also available for emergencies at the weekend between 11am and 4pm.
You can read about financial support that is available on our website.
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If you have symptoms of COVID-19 request a COVID-19 test.
There is significant testing capacity available at our local sites this weekend so do get tested if you have symptoms and book a test online.
Our local COVID-19 test centres are in Romford, South Hornchurch and Harold Hill.
The testing in Romford is delivered by a mobile unit in the rear car park of Havering Town Hall so please do not go into Havering Town Hall or Havering Central Library buildings.
This centre will be open tomorrow (Saturday 14 November) and again on Monday (16 November) and Thursday 19 November. You can 'drive through' or 'walk through' at this site. Vehicles and pedestrians should enter via Park End Road, Romford RM1 4AU.
If you, or someone you have come into contact with, tests positive for COVID-19, or you have symptoms of coronavirus, you must self-isolate immediately. If you have tested positive, the isolation period is 10 days from when symptoms first started.
If you are on a low income there is a support payment you can get if you have to self-isolate. If you are unable to work from home, are losing income, and are claiming qualifying benefits or working tax credit, you are eligible for the £500 ‘Test and Trace Support Payment'.
If you live in Havering, have been instructed by the NHS to self-isolate, and meet the eligibility criteria mentioned above, please fill in the Test and Trace Support Payment form.
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 Our libraries are currently operating a "Click and Collect" Service.
This means you can only visit libraries if you select a book by phone or by using My Library App and need to collect it, or to use a computer for essential tasks like applying for jobs.
COVID-19 usually spreads by droplets from coughs, sneezes and speaking.
These droplets can also be picked up from surfaces, if you touch a surface and then your face without washing your hands first.
This is why social distancing, regular hand hygiene, and covering coughs and sneezes is so important in controlling the spread of the virus.
Face coverings are largely intended to protect others, not the wearer, against the spread of infection because they cover the nose and mouth, which are the main sources of transmission of COVID-19.
In many places you must wear a face covering unless you are exempt due to age, health or disability. If you fall into this category you may want to wear or show an exemption card or badge to reduce the chance that you will be challenged by, for example, shop staff, COVID-19 wardens or the Police.
A template for an exemption card or badge, including an image that can be displayed on a mobile phone, is available on the Government's website.
If you are exempt and choose not to wear a face covering you must keep a two metre distance from other people because not wearing one increases your risk and that of other people of catching the virus.
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If you’re visiting our parks this weekend, remember that outdoor playgrounds will remain open but all tennis courts, outdoor gyms and multi-games areas are not to be used under the new restrictions.
If your children are using play equipment don't let them put their mouths on it, and apply hand sanitiser before and after using the climbing frames and swings.
Please also follow social distancing guidelines.
Help us to keep you and others safe while enjoying our parks.
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Despite COVID-19, our local BHRUT NHS hospitals are still providing safe care for our children and young people.
From this Monday (16 November), the children’s Emergency Department at King George Hospital will temporarily close overnight between 9pm and 9am because there will be no specialist children’s doctors on duty at the hospital during those hours.
It will remain closed this winter and all children who need to stay in hospital will continue to be admitted to the children’s ward at Queen’s Hospital in Romford. BHRUT is committed to reopening the department during the night as soon as it is safe to do so, depending on the pandemic.
If you need advice, and your child has an urgent, but not life-threatening, health problem please contact 111 first. This can be done either online or by phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The service is free to use (including from all mobiles).
If it’s a life-threatening emergency, phone 999.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has provided some helpful advice on what to do when your child is unwell.
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Grants up to £10,000 are available for civil society organisations in London.
London Community Response is taking applications for grants to help groups support Londoners affected by COVID-19 over the next six months.
Applications will be assessed on a first-come-first-served basis, with a final deadline of 5pm on Thursday 3 December 2020.
Priority for funding will be given to smaller organisations (typically those with a turnover of up to £1m a year), those working with marginalised communities, and those with a strong reach to people at high risk of negative impacts from COVID-19.
Activities which you are applying for funding for need to be legally charitable and benefit Londoners.
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If you export to, or import from, the EU you can get help at the end of the UK transition period.
HM Revenue and Customs is holding a series of online webinars that will explain how to make import declarations to import goods between the EU and Great Britain, including simplified and supplementary declarations, as well as the key terminology and new processes.
You can also sign up for email alerts about new guidance, as it is published.
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There is a host of community activities that you can get involved with from your home.
Here's just a flavour of next week's:
Monday 16 November, 10 - 11am: Havering Volunteer Centre – Virtual coffee morning.
Tuesday 17 November, 11 - 11.45am: Local Area Coordination – Meet your Harold Hill Coordinators.
Tuesday 17 November, 1.30 - 2.30pm: Tapestry - Seated hiphop dance.
Thursday 19 November, 10.30 - 11.30am: My Health Matters – wellbeing session.
You can fnd more details on these events, and many more, on the Havering Community Hub website.
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Voting is now open for Make Your Mark, which gives young people between the ages of 11 and 18 the chance to vote about the issues that are important to them.
The issues they vote on will be debated by Members of the Youth Parliament.
Among the many issues to vote on are supporting mental health, free university, and improving places to go, and things to do, for young people.
Voting is open until 30 November.
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This weekend there is significant engineering work on c2c, particularly on Sunday 15 November.
This is likely to increase demand for those c2c services that are running on Sunday. Given the limited service available, and the ongoing Coronavirus national restrictions, you should only travel if your journey is necessary.
On Saturday no c2c trains will run on the Rainham line. A rail-replacement bus service will operate between Grays and Upminster, calling at Purfleet and Rainham.
On Sunday no c2c trains will run on the Ockendon line or the Rainham line.
On Sunday all c2c trains will be running to and from Fenchurch Street, calling at West Ham and Limehouse. No services will be running to Liverpool Street or Stratford.
c2c has published a revised timetable for this weekend.
This Sunday, 15 November, there will be no District line service between Tower Hill and West Ham. Replacement buses operate.
Also on Sunday there will be no service on TfL Rail between Shenfield and Liverpool Street. Replacement buses will run.
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Roadworks in Minster Way, Upminster Bridge, are expected to continue until 20 November.
Roadworks are planned to take place in Cedar Road, Hornchurch, between 23 November and 4 December. During the work there will be a diversion route via Beulah Road, Suttons Avenue, and Abbs Cross Lane.
Part of Ravenscourt Grove will be closed on Thursday 26 November between 8am and 5pm for the reconstruction of speed cushions.
Carriageway resurfacing work will take place in Homeway in Harold Wood beginning on 30 November and running until 2 December. The road will be closed each of those days between 8am and 5pm.
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