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Monday 28 December 2020 (Update #159)
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 holiday season at these times:
Today (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 charity 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.
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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.
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 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 their 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 the holiday period 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.
 Community testing is now available to anyone without COVID-19 symptoms, at our local testing sites open right across the Christmas and New Year holiday period:
- 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 think 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.
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.
This testing centre is open every day over the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Opening hours are published on our website. Testing is provided 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 don't visit this site. See the information above on how to get a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
Knowing the right place for medical help over the holidays can help you get the treatment you need faster.
You can get an appointment with a GP from 8am to 8pm today (Monday 28 December) and on New Year's 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.
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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.
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If you’re visiting our parks this week 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.
Do also maintain social distance form people who do not live in your househld or are not part of your household bubble. Parks have been very busy over recent days. Please keep two metres away from other people on pathways and in play areas.
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 Please don't put your black and orange sacks out until your revised collection date, as shown in the table above, as this minimises the risk of animals ripping bags open and causing littering.
There will be no garden or bulky waste collection service until January. Garden waste collections will start again on Friday 8 January so that is the key date for you if you are a Friday week 1 customer.
Bulky collections will start again on Monday 11 January 2021, and will run Monday to Friday as scheduled.
A deal on the future relationship between the EU and the UK was announced on 24 December.
Nevertheless a number of things will change regarding any plans you may have for travel to Europe next year, once current COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Passports and length of stays
The Government says that on the day of travel to the EU your passport must still have a minimum of six months validity, and it must have been issued less than 10 years before your date of travel.
From 1 January 2021, you may stay only 90 days in any 180 day period in the Schengen area - the area covering most EU countries plus others including Norway and Iceland. However, British citizens will still be able to stay as long as they like in the Republic of Ireland.
Health
If the deal on the future of the UK/EU relationship is ratified, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) that entitles holders to get free or reduced-rate health care will continue to be valid if you’re travelling to the European Union until the expiry date shown on your card. However, the card will no longer be valid in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Some people can apply for a new UK EHIC that they can continue to use from 1 January 2021. People who can apply for the new card include UK students studying in the EU, some British State Pensioners who live in the EU and their families, and EU nationals living in the UK.
Taking a car to Europe
From 1 January, if you are taking your car into Europe you will need a “Green Card” – an official, multilingual translation of your car insurance that demonstrates you meet the minimum cover requirements for the country you're visiting. You will need this for all EU countries (including Ireland). If you are towing a caravan, you will need an additional Green Card and possibly extra insurance. You must carry a physical copy of your Green Card when driving abroad. Electronic versions of Green Cards will not be acceptable.
Pet travel
Pet passports run out next week, making journeys with cats, dogs and ferrets to the EU more complicated.
If you wish to take your pet abroad you will need to obtain an animal health certificate in advance of every visit to the European Union and Northern Ireland, showing that your pet has been vaccinated against rabies.
In addition, for entry from Great Britain into Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, as well as to Finland and Malta, pet dogs will have to be treated against tapeworm.
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Last term was been a busy one for the LIFE Education Trust, and in particular two of its schools, The Bridge and Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls Sixth Form (FBA).
The Bridge, a school providing education for secondary students, who are unable to access mainstream school due to their medical or mental health issues, is moving to a brand new building on Brentwood Road, Romford in January. The new premises offer more space, dedicated learning rooms, and improved facilities.
FBA has had a new extension installed (pictured above) which has increased their capacity enabling them to take an extra 20 students next year. It has also provided them with more independent study space and meeting rooms.
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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 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.
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