|
Wednesday 23 December 2020 (Update #157)
 This is a very dangerous time for everyone, with the rapid spread of a new, more infectious, variant of the COVID-19 virus.
The rise in the numbers of people getting the disease increases the risk to individuals of severe illness, and it is now placing huge pressure on our local NHS as we have seen this week with the cancellation of many non-critical operations at our hospitals.
I urge you, and appeal to you to encourage your family, friends and work colleagues who you talk to on the phone, by video link or social media, to stick to the new rules which are:
- You must stay at home, apart from essential reasons
- No mixing with any other households, including at Christmas
- Residents should not leave Tier 4 areas, or stay overnight away from home
- Only meet one person from another household in public outdoor spaces.
If you have to leave home, please follow the hands, face and space guidance (wash your hands, wear a mask and stay socially distanced).
If you have symptoms, please self isolate and book a test immediately. Details below. We have three testing sites across our borough for people with COVID-19 symptoms and getting tested is vital to tracking cases and stopping the spread. These test centres will be open right across the Christmas and New Year holidays.
I know that the last minute disruption to Christmas plans will have been painful to many of you, but the rules are necessary to protect each other.
My thanks to each and every one of you for all you are doing to keep to the rules so we can all look forward to a happier 2021.
Stay safe.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
 Every Wednesday Havering Council publishes a report on coronavirus in the borough on its website.
The graph above is taken from the report and shows the number of Havering residents testing positive for coronavirus each week since 6 March. Until 2 July the figures did not include widespread testing in the community.
There were 2,877 cases reported in the last week, 1,327 more cases than the previous week. This equates to an incidence rate of 1,108 new cases per 100,000 population which is significantly higher than the London (577/100,000) and England (302/100,000) averages.
All parts of Havering have an infection rate higher than 400/100,000 and in many parts of the borough they are higher than 800/100,000.
As of Saturday 19 December, there were 327 patients admitted due to COVID-19 occupying beds in our local BHRUT NHS hospitals. BHRUT also publishes weekly data on the number of patients it is treating.
 If you, or someone you know, has concerns around care, urgent issues with their health and wellbeing or lack of access to supplies, including food and medicine, please call our free to use helpline:
0800 368 5201
This line will be open for emergency calls throughout the Christmas and New Year period at these times:
Christmas Eve (Thursday 24 December) 9am to 5pm
Christmas Day 10am to 1pm
Boxing Day 10am to 4pm
Sunday 27 December 10am to 4pm
Bank Holiday Monday 28 December 10am to 4pm
Tuesday 29 December 10am to 4pm
Wednesday 30 December 9am to 5pm
New Year's Eve 9am to 5pm
New Year's Day 10am to 4pm
Saturday 2 January 10am to 4pm
Sunday 3 January 10am to 4pm
You can also email us if you, or someone you know, needs help.
Havering Helps includes the COVID Winter Grant Scheme administered for Havering Council by DABD that provides extra support to families with children who are on welfare benefits or on a low income. It can help pay for food, energy bills or essential items such as warm clothing, blankets, repairs and white goods replacement.
The Council also continues to look after vulnerable people on the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) list – particularly those who already receive support and advice.
People who received a Government letter advising they are on the CEV list are also able to register on the National Database (NSSS) for support, including access to supermarket delivery or click and collect slots.
Havering Council is working with the local voluntary sector to ensure nobody is left behind this Christmas.
The Council is donating some of its emergency food stocks, held in its distribution hub, to help ensure vulnerable people in the community can access food through local charities and community organisations.
The Council has agreed to donate excess food and household supplies to key voluntary organisations, which have been supporting vulnerable people throughout the COVID-19 response.
This includes approximately 100 frozen meals to Hope4Havering, with other food and household goods to all three local food banks, to support families in need.
Hornchurch-based charity Tapestry is also increasing its services over the holiday season following concerns about the number of vulnerable people who will now be on their own over Christmas, who may be lonely with little access to food.
If you are interested in meal deliveries from Tapestry, or receiving care calls please visit the Tapestry website or call 01708 796 600.
|
Havering Council Deputy Leader, Cllr Robert Benham, thanked the Chairman of the Chigwell group, Dean Floyd, and his wife Melissa, for the support their company has been offering this Christmas.
Cllr Benham met the couple at the Havering Volunteer Centre in High Street, Romford.
The Chigwell Group has been working with Havering Council’s Children’s Services, the Havering Volunteer Centre, and myplace in Harold Hill giving out hundreds of free food and clothes parcels to looked after children, homeless people and those in hostels.
|
The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 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 local vaccinations hubs.
Please be patient and do not contact your GP or a hospital to seek a vaccine. The NHS will contact you.
Residents who use Hornchurch library will see some changes to the way the library works as it is now home to our health partners’ local COVID-19 vaccination programme.
The main floor of the library will be used as a vaccination centre where residents will be invited to attend to get their jab.
Services for library users – for ‘click and collect’ pre-booked pick-ups or drop-offs, and pre-booked computer access – will be available on the first floor of the building. Please continue to use the main entrance to the building. The opening hours for Hornchurch library are published on our website.
|
 If you have COVID-19 symptoms, testing sites continue to be available at the rear of the Town Hall in Romford, Cherry Tree Lane, Rainham and Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill.
To use these centres it is best to book a test online or call 119. However, if you have symptoms and are unable to book a test online you can still go to any of these sites and staff will do heir best to provide you with a test. Stay at home while you are waiting for a home test kit or a test site appointment.
The centres are open every day over Christmas but check address details and opening times on our website.
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.
If your test is negative, you can stop self-isolating as long as you are well.
 If you think you need a test, get one.
Community testing is now available to anyone without COVID-19 symptoms, at our local testing sites:
- Dorrington Gardens, Hornchurch
- Viking Way, Rainham.
Tests will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The number of tests are limited. Please only come if you need a test. Check details of locations and opening times on our website.
Alternatively, you can apply for a home test by going online. Please select the option saying you have been told to get a test by the Council when you get to it.
 Elm Park Library, in St Nicholas Avenue, RM12 4PT is the place to go for Havering Council's non-symptomatic rapid community testing.
Due to the limited number of tests provided to us by the Government, Havering Council initially prioritised carers who look after our most vulnerable residents, to visit the site to receive a test.
Now this rapid testing is available for those providing care for vulnerable residents, people who have to travel for work, and tradespeople who need to visit others’ homes and need a quick result.
Opening hours are published on our website. Testing is provoded on a walk-in, first-come, first served basis.
Please remember, this site is for non-symptomatic testing – if you are showing COVID-19 symptoms, please DO NOT visit this site.
Havering Council has come to the rescue to save the wedding of two residents hours before the borough was put under Tier 4 restrictions.
When the announcement came last Saturday night, our Registration team swung into action to make sure the local couple could say, “I do”.
Becki Fowls and Billy Green were scheduled to get married on Sunday at Langtons House, Hornchurch, but knew that it would have to be cancelled under the new restrictions, which came into force just after midnight.
With only two hours to spare, Havering concierge, Dave Russell, opened Langtons House, Hornchurch, and the Council registrars, Carlie Hammond and Louise West, gave up their evenings to perform the service for the couple.
|
Knowing the right place for medical help over the Christmas holidays can help you get the treatment you need faster.
You can get an appointment with a GP from 8am to 8pm on the bank holidays, including Christmas Day.
Out of hours GP hub appointments are available every normal weekday evening between 6.30pm and 10pm, and between 8am and 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
You can book these appointments by calling the GP hubs booking hotline on 020 3770 1888 (open from 8am to 8pm) or by calling 111.
If you have any urgent medical need, you can visit NHS 111 online for advice any time.
You can also get help with minor injuries and illnesses at Harold Wood Polyclinic. It is open 8am to 9pm, seven days a week. You can call NHS 111 to book an appointment or walk in and wait to be seen.
NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
|
Over 21,000 Havering residents have opted to receive their Council Tax bills electronically.
This is a safe, easy and convenient way to receive your bill. Simply sign up and you will have access to your Council Tax account 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
You can view your balance, set up a direct debit and let us know that you have moved.
|
Could you welcome a child into your home?
Fostering means caring for children and young people who cannot live with their own families.
The child or young person will live in your home for a period of time that could range from a few days, to several months, or in some cases several years.
Some children return to their birth families, others may be supported through long term fostering until they are ready to live independently and some are adopted.
If you think you can be a foster carer, and perhaps be open to welcoming a different culture into your home, find out more about fostering for Havering by calling 01708 434574.
|
If you’re visiting our parks this week during the school Christmas holidays, remember that if your children use any 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.
|
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 with 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
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.
|
With Christmas almost upon us and theatres across the country closed, Romford’s Brookside Theatre has put together a ‘virtual’ concert to raise the spirits and spread a little Christmas cheer.
Several of theatre’s regular performers and acts will be performing festive hits with special guest performances from stars including Cheryl Baker, Patti Boulaye OBE, Duncan Norvelle and Richard Digance.
A Night In At The Musicals – Christmas Special will be available to watch free of charge, on the theatre’s Youtube channel from 7pm on Christmas Eve.
|
Havering Council would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who contributed to our ‘virtual’ Christmas events this year.
This includes community groups, theatres, drama and dance groups, singers, residents and people who helped us spread some Christmas cheer.
So far, our Christmas videos have been viewed more than 53,000 times.
We couldn’t have done it without everyone involved. Happy Christmas!
|
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 start tomorrow (Christmas Eve) and continue until 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.
|
|
