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Friday 29 January 2021 (Update #174)
 A year into the pandemic, things remain incredibly difficult for us all but vaccination provides real grounds for optimism.
Because you have stuck to the lockdown rules, rates of infection in the borough are now coming down - even with the new more transmissible variant.
We have avoided the very real possibility that our local NHS services would be overwhelmed, making an incredibly serious situation still worse.
As it is, although fewer new patients are now being admitted into hospital, about half of the beds at Queen's Hospital remain occupied by people with COVID-19 and the ITU is full with the most seriously unwell.
Our numbers on new cases are looking good, but they have reduced from a dangerously high mark. In terms of our case rate, we stand at the end of January just about where we were at the start of December. The danger, in other words, has not passed.
Health and social care colleagues have worked under unrelenting pressure for many weeks and will do so for many more. I am in awe of their unending professionalism and commitment. The hospital website provides some insight into the experiences of patients and the NHS staff who continue to be there for us.
Despite their best efforts, and the introduction of new treatments, the number of deaths each week is similar to the peak of the first wave and is unlikely to come down for a few weeks yet. In total, more than 700 residents have now lost their lives to COVID-19 due to the high levels of infection in the borough and Havering’s older demographic.
It is against this background that the vaccination roll out is so important. After so much pain and struggle, vaccination offers an end to lockdowns, school closures, job losses and the constant fear of illness affecting family and friends.
Stocks of vaccine are currently limited as is the capacity of the NHS to inoculate people. People are being prioritised for vaccination based on their risk of developing severe illness – so residents aged over 80 and care home residents were first to get the vaccine (anyone aged 80 or above who hasn’t been offered vaccination should now contact their GP).
People aged between 70 and 80 and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable are being invited now. You don’t need to do anything; be patient; you will be contacted soon by text, phone or letter offering vaccination for free on or before the 14 February. You will not be contacted by email. Sadly, there are a number of scam emails around offering vaccines. Do not be fooled. Read the article later in this newsletter for more information on this.
After those residents aged over 70 have been contacted, residents aged 50 and above will then be invited with the aim of giving them a first dose of vaccine by the end of April.
Yesterday we held a successful public health and vaccination online meeting which was attended by more than 100 people. That event was part of our Better Days Are Ahead campaign, to encourage residents to take the COVID-19 vaccine when contacted.
It gave residents an opportunity to speak to local health experts about the vaccination and any concerns around it. A range of issues were covered, such as who can be vaccinated, concerns about fertility and the choice of which vaccine to take. If you missed it, you can watch the meeting here.
Take care this weekend.
Mark Ansell
Director of Public Health, Havering Council
If you are in any of the first four priority groups for receiving the vaccine, but have not yet been contacted by the NHS, please remember that contact from the NHS for COVID-19 vaccination may come by phone call, letter or text but NOT be by email.
Any email you receive, like the one pictured, offering you a vaccine is a scam.
This week the NHS in North East London sent a text to over 70 year olds in the area telling them they can start to book in for their COVID-19 vaccine without waiting for a letter from the NHS.
That text carries a link for online booking for the over 70s.
Where there are postal delays in certain areas, NHS surgeries will be calling individuals as well as using text and letters to make contact regarding vaccination.
Our local NHS services aim to have offered a vaccine to all residents in care homes for older adults and staff, as well as all over-80s, by this Sunday (31 January).
NHS vaccinators have also now started visiting housebound patients aged over 80.
Vaccines are free and the NHS will never ask for any of your bank details in connection with this inoculation campaign.
Information on the vaccine is available in a variety of languages and the COVID-19 vaccinations used in the UK have been endorsed by the British Islamic Medical Association.
The NHS's East London Health and Care Partnership also has a website with information on the coronavirus vaccine, including answers to many frequently asked questions.
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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, please call our free to use helpline: 0800 368 5201.
It is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, and between 11am and 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays for emergencies only.
You can also email us if you, or someone you know, needs help.
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 One in three people who get COVID-19 have no symptoms, passing it on to others without realising.
That could be you. You can now find out if you are risking spreading the virus to your family, work colleagues, or customers, by taking advantage of free, local, rapid testing at any of these three locations:
- Collier Row Library, 45 Collier Row Road, Romford RM5 3NR
- Elm Park Library, St Nicholas Avenue, Elm Park RM12 4PT
- Harold Wood Library, Arundel Road, Harold Wood RM3 0RX.
These rapid, Lateral Flow Testing (LFT) centres are open from 10am to 7pm seven days a week.
Of course, it also remains vitally important to book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
Click for details of all types of local testing locations and opening hours.
As part of Havering Council’s #BeNiceToYourNoggin campaign, and to mark Children's Mental Health week next week, a Live Facebook Webinar on Mental Health Awareness is being held.
If you know a teenager or young adult who is suffering with their mental health encourage them to join this event on Thursday, 4 February, from 5 - 6pm.
The webinar will give an introduction into what mental health is, how to manage it, the support available and more.
With limited contact with our friends, family, community and colleagues, due to COVID-19 restrictions taking care of our mental health and wellbeing has never been more important.
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 A cold weather alert has been issued by the Met Office for London.
This means we may see much colder temperatures over the next few days and nights, so we’re reminding residents of the best ways to keep safe and warm.
There is help at hand for those vulnerable in the communities who need urgent help as part of the ongoing support we are giving around coronavirus.
Havering Council is also prepared for snow should this arrive, with its winter roads maintenance team gritting main routes around the borough when needed so key workers and others having to make essential journeys, can do so, as safely as possible.
- People with heart and lung conditions, older people and the very young, are at risk of becoming unwell in the colder weather. Look out for vulnerable friends and family – while you can’t visit under current restrictions, could you give them a telephone call?
- Havering Council is providing £170 a month to low income families this winter via its Havering Helps scheme.
- You can call NHS 111 if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do.
If you’re visiting our parks this weekend to exercise please remember that it should only be with members of your own household or social bubble - or with just one person from another household if really necessary.
Enclosed sports areas like basketball and tennis courts are closed.
Please follow social distancing guidelines when walking or jogging on pathways, and use bins for any masks, gloves or empty sanitiser bottles.
If you purchase food or drink from any of the takeaway kiosks or cafes in our parks, please queue maintaining social distancing, and walk away to continue your exercise as soon as possible.
Children should use hand sanitiser after touching any play equipment.
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Schools will continue to provide remote education until at least 8 March, and the key message for parents is that you are not alone, keep in touch with your school and seek help if you need it.
Teachers and staff are working hard to overcome barriers of digital access, for example, lack of a laptop or broadband data package.
Schools are working with some of the UK’s leading mobile network operators including EE, who are part of BT, Three, Vodafone and O2 to provide free data to disadvantaged families, who will benefit from the additional data until July 2021.
Schools will be communicating directly with families who need support, as well as potentially providing 4G wireless routers with free data where needed for pupils without connection at home.
Some children and young people who have difficulty engaging in remote education, including those without a device, may be considered to be vulnerable, and therefore eligible to attend school.
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Havering Changing, a consortium of eight organisations, led by Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, is looking to work with artists, community groups and service providers to spread some creative happiness at this difficult time.
It is offering to finance and support creative projects that put a smile on someone’s face who may be experiencing loneliness during this lockdown.
The projects should all be activities that people can do at home and that do not require an internet connection or mobile phone to connect with.
Even if you do not have a creative idea, but want to help or know a person or group who would benefit from some creativity at this time, get in touch.
The participants for the projects should be those living in the areas of Harold Hill, Rainham, Romford and Orchard Village.
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The census is coming. By taking part, you can help inform decisions about services that shape our community, such as healthcare, education and transport
It’s important that you fill in your census questionnaire because without the information you share, it’d be more difficult to understand our community’s needs and plan and fund public services.
The census, taking place on 21 March 2021, will shed light on the needs of different groups, and the inequalities people are experiencing, ensuring the big decisions facing national and local government, particularly following the pandemic, are based on the best information possible.
After almost a year of living with the coronavirus pandemic, Census 2021 will be essential to our long-term understanding of the health, social and economic impacts on the people and households of Havering.
Ahead of Census Day (Sunday 21 March), the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will send you a letter in the post with a code and instructions on how to complete the Census online.
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Carriageway resurfacing work will be carried out by contractors working for Havering Council in Rom Valley Way, Romford (between Queen's Hospital and Oldchurch Road). This work will happen at night until 3 February.
Improvement work, including carriageway resurfacing and alterations to pavements and kerbs will be carried out in Lichfield Terrace at the junction with Winchester Avenue in Cranham between 1 and 4 February.
Lamson Road in Rainham will see carriageway resurfacing work at nights between 3 and 6 February.
There will be daytime carriageway resurfacing work taking place in Ingrebourne Gardens in Cranham between 8 and 15 February.
Overnight resurfacing work will be carried out in Gooshays Drive, Harold Hill, between the junctions with Hilldene Avenue and Petersfield Avenue from 8 to 12 February. During this time Gooshays Drive will be closed overnight.
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This weekend (30 and 31 January) there will be no TfL Rail service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield.
Use Central line connections between Liverpool Street and Stratford or Newbury Park.
Replacement buses will operate.
The Overground rail service between Upminster and Romford will also not operate this weekend.
Also this weekend, there will be no District line service between Tower Hill and West Ham. Replacement buses will operate between Tower Hill and Canning Town or Barking.
Due to Network Rail undertaking engineering work in connection with the Barking Riverside Project, c2c services on the Rainham line will not run this weekend. Rail replacement buses will run between Upminster and Grays via Rainham.
For customers who need to travel for legally permitted reasons, you must maintain social distancing and wear a face covering over your nose and mouth for your entire journey, unless you are exempt.
If you must travel consider using London’s network of safe walking or cycling routes where possible.
If you need to use public transport, do so during quiet times and check before you travel.
Plan ahead, using TfL's Journey Planner.
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A reminder to heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operators to apply for a free safety permit as soon as possible, with the introduction of London’s new Direct Vision Standard from on 1 March.
Transport for London (TfL) Direct Vision Standard assigns vehicles a star rating based on how much the driver can see directly through their cab window.
HGVs will need to meet a minimum one-star rating to enable them to operate in the capital or will need to fit Safe System measures to improve the vehicle's safety.
From 1 March, TfL’s lorry safety scheme will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will be enforced on all roads in Greater London.
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Queen's Theatre Hornchurch is premiering a new everyday comedy, Sharon 'n' Barry do 'Romeo & Juliet' on Zoom from 25 February to 6 March 2021.
Sharon and Barry are done with baking, Joe Wicks and Netflix and have stumbled upon Sharon's old battered school text of Romeo & Juliet in their loft.
After a bit of a read and a watch of the classic, they are inspired to have a crack at the play themselves.
You can join them, live from their living room, for this new take on Shakespeare's most romantic story.
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