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Monday 21 December 2020 (Update #156)
 We learnt this morning that coronavirus cases in the UK yesterday rose by nearly 36,000 - nearly double the number recorded last Sunday. Our local BHRUT hospitals have today postponed all non-urgent oupatient appointments because of the enormous pressure they are being put under due to the number of patients with coronavirus they are treating.
That is why Havering and much of the South-East of England is now under Tier 4 restrictions.
There is no responsible option for any of us but to abide by the new rules in full for as long as they are in place because this is about saving lives and protecting the NHS.
The next fortnight will be extremely difficult for us all but the spirit of Christmas is about faith in each other, faith in friendship and family, and faith in community. It is that faith and our action together that will get us through this.
This year many of us will only be able to share that faith and that love by telephone, email or video call. I urge everyone to think of those near us who will be on their own at Christmas. For those people, a friendly phone call or a warm, socially-distanced word over the fence can make all the difference.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
Due to the Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions that now apply in Havering changes have had to be made to a number of Council services. Some services are also reduced due to the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
Five of the borough's libraries are now closed (Collier Row, Elm Park, Gidea Park, Harold Wood and South Hornchurch) and click and collect services only are available from Harold Hill, Hornchurch, Rainham, Romford and Upminster libraries.
Leisure centres are closed.
During the Christmas period there will be no birth appointments available between 18 December and 10 January. Please book after this date and please book your birth registration online. Birth certificates will be given to you at your appointment.
For a full list of service alterations see our website.
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 If you, or someone you know, have concerns around care, urgent issues around health and wellbeing or lack of access to supplies including food and medicine please call our free to use helpline:
0800 368 5201
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays 11am to 4pm for emergencies only.
You can also email us if you, or someone you know, needs help.
The vaccine is now being made available to people over the age of 80 who are being contacted by the NHS and given an appointment to visit one of the hubs.
Please do not contact your GP or a hospital to seek a vaccine. The NHS will contact you.
When the NHS does contact you, please attend your booked appointments and continue to follow all the guidance to control the spread of the virus and save lives.
A range of information about the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that is now being used has been published.
The Government has also published details of the order of priority for people to be offered a COVID-19 vaccination.
A huge number of people have been involved over the last couple of weeks in getting vaccination hubs ready. One such person was Margo McFarlane. She had no hesitation in coming out of retirement to become a COVID-19 vaccinator at Queen's Hospital in Romford.
Read more about Margo, and what made her so keen to help, in an online news story or watch this short video.
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Since Friday afternoon Elm Park Library (pictured) has been used as a pilot site for our new non-symptomatic Community Testing Programme.
Due to the limited number of tests provided to us by the Government, Havering Council decided to target informal, unpaid carers who look after our most vulnerable residents, inviting them to visit the site to receive a rapid ‘lateral flow test’ (LFT), which gives a result within 30 minutes.
These LFT tests have proved popular amongst the carer community. If you provide care for elderly or vulnerable people, you can continue to use the Elm Park walk-in testing tomorrow (Tuesday 22 December) between 10am and 7pm.
From Wednesday 23 December, we are also inviting those who have been commuting for work using public transport to come and get tested at the Elm Park site. Carers can also continue to attend, if needed.
Opening hours on Wednesday and other days are yet to be confirmed, but will be published on our website and social media channels as soon as possible.
We are working on developing a booking system for our Community Testing programme, but until that's ready tests at the Elm Park site are offered on a walk-in basis. Queues are highly likely, so please be patient and remember to follow COVID-19 guidance, including wearing a mask and keeping a two metre distance from others at all times.
Please remember, this site is for non-symptomatic testing – if you are showing COVID-19 symptoms, please DO NOT visit this site. See information on how to get tested if you have symptoms in the article immediately below.
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If you have COVID-19 symptoms, pre-bookable testing sites continue to be available at the rear of the Town Hall, Cherry Tree Lane, Rainham and Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill.
To use these centres book a test online or call 119.
Stay at home while you are waiting for a home test kit or a test site appointment.
See our video on what the test involves.
If you receive a positive test result, you must complete a 10-day isolation period. Stay as far away from other members of your household as possible, especially if they are clinically extremely vulnerable. Avoid using shared spaces such as kitchens and other living areas while others are present and take your meals back to your room to eat.
If your test is negative, you can stop self-isolating as long as you are well.
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All secondary school staff, students and families of children who do not think they have coronavirus should now get tested.
A special testing centre for secondary school staff, students and families of children who do not have symptoms has been set up.
The testing centre is at the front of the Town Hall, Romford RM1 4AU. Please book in advance. Select the option 'asked to get a test by my local authority' when prompted in the form. This is a walk through or drive though site.
This site is open 9am to 3pm. The tests will involve a swab of the nose and throat and results should be available within 48 hours.
This testing site is run by contractors working for the Government, not Havering Council.
Alternatively, school staff, pupils and families can apply for a home test by going online. Select the option saying you have been "told to get a test by the Council".
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Advertisement
 Make or bake a gift. Give your gifts a personal touch and you may even learn a new skill at the same time!
Ditch the packaging. Give gifts with no or minimal packaging, such as soaps, books or plants.
Buy pre-loved. Consider buying second-hand to find unique gifts that are built to last. This can also help to support a local charity or someone in your community.
Wrap with love. Instead of wrapping paper, try reusing old gift bags or boxes, magazines, newspaper, or fabric.
Choose recyclable. If you do buy wrapping paper, avoid any with glittery, sparkly or metallic bits, as these are not recyclable. The same goes for Christmas cards too.
Gift memories, not things. Try gifting a membership, subscription or an online course or workshop.
We hope these help you to gift greener and protect our environment this Christmas.
Havering Council's Bereavement Services grounds at South Essex Crematorium, Upminster Cemetery, Romford Cemetery, Hornchurch Cemetery and Rainham Cemetery are open every day between 9am and 4pm, including throughout the Christmas period.
Gardens, car parks and cemeteries are only open to those attending a funeral or commemorative event, or who are paying their respects. If you are visiting, remember to follow all the Tier 4 restrictions.
The Book of Remembrance Room at Romford Cemetery is open as usual, however the Book of Remembrance Room and Chapel of Meditation at Upminster Crematorium remain closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The maximum number of people permitted to attend witnessed committals in the Gardens of Remembrance and internment of cremated remains in our cemeteries is now only six.
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If you’re visiting our parks this week during the school Christmas holidays, remember that if your children use the play equipment, they should not put their mouths on it.
Hand sanitiser should be applied before and after they use the climbing frames and swings.
Please also follow social distancing guidelines and use bins for any masks, gloves or empty sanitiser bottles.
Help us to keep you and others safe while enjoying our parks.
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Christopher Hobbs, a Projects and Development Manager at Havering Council, caught COVID-19 earlier this year.
In a new short video, he talks about the effect having COVID-19 had on him, in particular the "Long COVID" symptoms he has experienced and the impact this has had on his athletic lifestyle.
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Havering Council says "thank you" for everyone who as kept up their Council Tax payments up during this very difficult year.
These payments have helped provide vitally needed services to many children and vulnerable adults.
Your next Council Tax bill is due in March 2021. Plan ahead and get 1.5% discounted if you pay in full on or before 1 April 2021 by direct debit or cash.
To pay by direct debit complete the online form and choose the payment date of the 1 April and you don’t need to do anything else. We’ll request the payment from your bank and you will be covered by the direct debit guarantee.
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The Council remains committed to doing everything it can to provide much needed new affordable homes for local people in Havering, and supporting vulnerable members of society to have a home that they can be proud to live in.
It is working with partners to build new homes, with an ambitious 12 estates regeneration programme across existing Council estates.
Alongside the existing regeneration plans for Havering, the Council has also set out its vision for those living in Council managed new and existing homes within the borough.
Now the Counci is seeking your views on what you think of its new housing strategy.
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Under Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions, you must only travel for work (where you cannot work from home) or for other legally permitted reasons.
If you do need to travel, please walk or cycle where possible.
To aid social distancing for those who do need to travel, Transport for London (TfL) is continuing to run as full a service as possible on the public transport network and an enhanced cleaning regime is also in place to help keep everyone safe.
Please check before you travel on TfL.gov.uk for the latest service information, plan ahead and travel in the quiet times using quiet routes
If you do need to travel on public transport please ensure you follow all Government guidance, including washing your hands before and after your journey, maintaining social distancing and observing the law on wearing a face covering over your nose and mouth for the duration of your journey.
With no fireworks, events or late-night hospitality, London's tube train network will not run all night on New Year's Eve and will instead operate a normal weekday service.
Londoners who do need to use the public transport network on 31 December are encouraged by TfL to complete their journeys as early as possible and before midnight.
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Transport for London (TfL) will be carrying out works to remove the old bridge piers located underneath the A127 Ardleigh Green Bridge this Christmas.
This is part of phase 3 of the Ardleigh Green Bridge works.
The demolition is due to take place over the Christmas period, when the railway line will be closed.
Work will take place between Thursday 24 December and Tuesday 29 December.
During the works, TfL’s plant and equipment will arrive and leave via the railway line to minimise disruption to the local area. However TfL will be implementing a single lane closure on the A127 westbound from 5pm on Christmas Day until 1am on Sunday 27 December.
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