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Wednesday 30 December 2020 (Update #160)
 I can confidently say that 2020 is a year most of us would like to forget.
The news that the number of people in the UK testing positive for coronavirus in one day this week topped 53,000, a new high, shows just how bad it has been.
Our latest local weekly report provides grim reading and today's announcement that primary schools in our borough will not re-open next week except for vulnerable children, or children of critical workers, and that secondary schools will not re-open until 11 January for school years 11 and 13, and 18 January for all other secondary school pupils, underscores this. We will be communicating directly with primary schools and parents shortly.
Despite the awfulness of COVID-19 I am immensely proud of the way that my Council has continued to work for the people of Havering. Our Havering Helps package of financial support for those most in need, and our helpline that has been available every day since the start of the pandemic, are just two examples of that.
I also want to thank everyone acoss the community, from our health and care services, to our voluntary organisations and local businesses, who have risen to the challenges posed by COVID-19.
It has been an outstanding team effort and the good news is we can face 2021 with renewed hope that the end really is in sight with the news earlier today that a second vaccine has been approved for use in the UK. The Government has said today that they have got enough of this new Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine and the current Pfizer/BioNTech one on order to provide two doses for the entire population.
Locally, 2021 will see the opening of our next new sports and leisure centre in the borough. The new Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre is almost ready to open its doors, COVID restrictions permitting, and our joint venture with Wates to redevelop 12 housing estates across the borough will begin constructing quality new homes for the future.
So my final message for the year is a familiar one: we may be sick and tired of the changes coronavirus has wrought on our lives but please stick to the Government's advice to stay at home this New Year. Relieve pressure on the NHS by protecting yourself and your family and following the rules.
Have a very happy, and safe, New Year.
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 2,774 cases reported in the last week, slightly fewer than the previous week. This equates to an incidence rate of 1,069 new cases per 100,000 population which is significantly higher than the London (734/100,000) and England (367/100,000) averages.
All parts of Havering have an infection rate higher than 800/100,000.
As of Tuesday 29 December, there were 356 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 holiday season at these times:
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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If you have COVID-19 symptoms, testing sites are 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.
Community testing is also available for anyone without COVID-19 symptoms, at our local testing sites open right across the holiday period.
Tests are available on a first-come, first-served basis as the number of tests is limited. See our website for full details.
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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 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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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 household 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 if you are a Friday week 1 customer.
Bulky collections will start again on Monday 11 January 2021.
A deal on the future relationship between the EU and the UK was announced last week and was signed earlier today (30 December).
A number of things will change from 11pm tomorrow (31 December) when the transition period out of the EU ends.
If you are planning any trips to Europe you should check the expiry date of your passport, and insurance for your health and vehicle if you plan on driving abroad.
European Health Insurance Cards will remain valid until the expiry date shown on the cards.
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen living in the UK you can apply for a new UK EHIC card.
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.
Holidaymakers or online shoppers who buy items from the EU that are valued at more than £390 will have to pay customs duties on those purchases.
If you are sending parcels to friends and family in the EU, including Ireland, then from Friday you will be required to complete customs declaration forms, CN22 or CN23, detailing the type of good, its value and its weight.
There are a number of changes facing businesses that import from the EU or export goods to that market, among these are new operator licensing requirements for road haulage companies making journeys through EU and EEA countries.
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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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A member of Havering Council staff has recently received a scam text message (pictured) asking them to apply for their COVID-19 vaccine.
Do not click on any links you see in such a text message.
The NHS will let you know when it's your turn to have the vaccine. You don't apply to get one.
Currently only people in the top two priority groups for vaccination are receiving a jab. These are:
- residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
- all those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers.
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A huge collection of donated food and toiletries from Havering Colleges was delivered to local foodbanks after a campaign by students and staff to help families in crisis this Christmas.
Trolleys and crates were crammed full of goods such as pasta, shower gel, nappies, tins, biscuits, tea bags, cereal, sweets and juice which had been generously brought in by the college community in the three borough campuses - Ardleigh Green, the Sixth Form and Rainham.
330kgs of goods were bagged up and delivered by Ardleigh Green campus Deputy Principal Ian Budge (pictured) to the Harold Hill Foodbank and the Rainham Foodbank to be passed on to those most in need in the local area in time for Christmas.
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It's going to be cold tonight (Wednesday) so our winter maintenance crews will be out gritting the roads as temperatures fall.
Gritting will start at 6pm.
Please drive safely should you need to make any essential journeys.
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