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Monday 1 February 2021 (Update #175)
 Every day throughout the pandemic Havering Council has provided a helpline service for any resident who has concerns around their own care, or that of neighbours, friends or family, relating to health and wellbeing or lack of access to supplies, including food.
Now Rebecca from that COVID-19 support line has shared her experience working as part of the Council’s coronavirus response team and asks residents to ‘be kind’. Hear her powerful words and please, heed her appeal.
Do your bit to continue following the rules and encourage everyone to take up a vaccination when it is offered, as that will reduce the pressure on the NHS.
You can read more on the vaccine roll-out later in this bulletin but I was delighted to hear that almost 600,000 people received the jab yesterday (Sunday). The programme is on track to have vaccines offered to everyone in the top four priority groups by the middle of this month.
However, those who have been vaccinated must not let down their guard and it's vital they continue to observe social distancing rules. It is possible to contract the virus in the two to three week period after receiving a jab and we still don't know whether the vaccine prevents transmission of the awful virus. So, please, continue to act as if you have the virus whether you have been vaccinated or not.
If you want to contact me directly, email me. However, please be patient as there may be a delay of a day or two in getting back to you due to the volume of messages I am receiving.
Stay safe.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
 COVID-19 vaccines are now being provided to the top four priority groups as identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
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
- All those aged 75 years of age and older
- All those 70 years of age and over and clinical extremely vulnerable individuals aged 16 or older.
Havering Council is required to do everything it can to ensure that 'frontline social care workers' who provide care for those who are clinically vulnerable to COVID-19 are offered a vaccination and encouraged to accept it.
If you run or work in an organisation that provides services for any of the nine priority groups defined by the JCVI, you may have employees or regular volunteers eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
If you think there may be people in your organisation who work in a role that meets the definition of a social care worker, please review the NHS and Local Government Association's standard operating procedure first, and then please email vaccinations@havering.gov.uk. The Council will work with you in deciding if your staff may be eligible.
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 have a website with information on the coronavirus vaccine, including answers to many frequently asked questions.
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 will definitely NOT be by email. COVID-19 vaccination is free.
Any unsolicited email you receive offering you a vaccine is a scam.
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.
If you missed our public health meeting about vaccinations last week you can watch a recording of the meeting on our YouTube channel.
The new Progress Pride flag, is flying outside the Town Hall today (Monday 1 February) to mark the launch of LGBT+ History Month.
Throughout the month, residents will be able to learn about pivotal moments and icons in LGBT+ history.
We will be sharing these stories via our Facebook and Twitter channels.
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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.
See the short video recorded by a member of the hotline team.
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 One in three people get COVID-19 and 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 that from today is available at any of these five 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
- South Hornchurch Library, 138 Rainham Road, Rainham, RM13 7RH
- Gidea Park Library, 168 Balgores Lane, Gidea Park, Romford, RM2 6BS.
To make it easier for busy tradespeople, supermarket workers, those working in estate agents, banks, corner shops, in offices, and taxi or delivery drivers to get tested, these rapid, Lateral Flow Testing (LFT) centres are now open from 7am to 7pm on weekdays and 10am to 7pm on weekends.
Of course, it also remains vitally important to book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
We have a number of centres across Havering including Dorrington Gardens in Hornchurch. This new centre is open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. You can 'walk through' at this site. This is not a 'drive through' testing site.
Click for details of all types of local testing locations and opening hours.
This week is Children's Mental Health week.
The COVID pandemic has been extremely difficult for young people, and it's important we support their mental health.
Please spread the word of our Live Webinar taking place this Thursday to any teenagers and young adults in your life who may be silently suffering.
Experiencing mental health issues can feel isolating, but it's important to reach out if you feel like you or your children are struggling.
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National HIV Testing Week runs this week until 7 February.
The key focus of this year's campaign, launched by the Terrence Higgins Trust with the support of Public Health England (PHE), is to highlight the importance of regular HIV testing to help reduce the number of people living with undiagnosed HIV.
It comes as figures show 1 in 16 people with HIV are unaware they are infected and spend an average of three to five years not knowing, increasing their chances of passing it onto other sexual partners and reducing the prospect of good treatment outcomes.
As part of the week, PHE are funding free home testing kits designed to enable as many people as possible to be safely tested remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Free test kits are also available for syphilis.
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Could you foster a child?
If you think the answer is yes join our online event this Thursday, 4 February, at 6pm and find out what’s involved.
You’ll be able to speak to our staff and have your questions answered.
You can register in advance.
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If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who was resident in the UK by 31 December 2020, you and your family members (including children and non-EU citizens) need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK beyond 30 June 2021.
Even if you have lived in the UK for many years, or you have a UK permanent residence document, you still need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
You do not need to apply if you are an Irish citizen or if you have indefinite leave to remain or enter, but you can if you want to.
The EU Settlement Scheme allows you and your family members to get the immigration status you need to continue to live, work and study in the UK beyond 30 June 2021.
This status means you can continue to be eligible for:
- public services, such as healthcare and schools
- public funds and pensions
- British citizenship, if you meet the requirements and want to apply.
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This week, Havering Council is sending out a Confirmation of Voter Registration letter to all properties in the borough.
Its purpose is to inform you of the details we currently hold for your property and inform you of your current voting method.
When you receive the letter you have the facility to update the information listed on the form if necessary, but it’s mainly for confirming that the current information is correct.
Due to COVID-19 there have been some changes to polling station venues. If this applies to you, it will be highlighted on your polling card for the upcoming London Mayor and Assembly elections on 6 May.
The letter will also include information for electors who may have reservations about visiting polling stations during the pandemic and want to consider using postal voting instead.
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Need a break from home schooling?
Recycle for Your Community have launched their free virtual classroom timetable to help make life a little easier at home this lockdown.
Join any of the 15 different sessions suitable for 4 – 11 year olds throughout February, there are a range of dates and times available including during half term week.
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 If you’ve ever wondered what the census has done for you, look around. From healthcare to transport, schools to charities, all have used the census to inform how they provide the services you and your community needs.
The Census provides vital data that helps Havering Council support its residents.
Make sure you take part on 21 March.
This time it will be easier than ever to take part in the census online. You can fill it in on any device.
 The Museum of London has acquired tweets from Londoners, like the one above, to add to its permanent London Collection in a strand of their ongoing Collecting COVID project. This ensures that future generations of Londoners will be able to learn about and understand this extraordinary period.
This strand called Going Viral, was active during the first lockdown of 2020 and sought to investigate and record the increase in social media use by Londoners to communicate shared experiences.
Havering Council is holding a February half term holiday para arts session online.
This Special Educational Needs and Disability session will be delivered by Havering Music School.
It will offer musical and creative experiences in a relaxed group setting and is designed in an inclusive way. No prior musical knowledge is required to take part.
The session includes a variety of activities supporting musical expression, body awareness and movement, and shared play.
Whilst the session is taking place online, expression through movement, voice and instruments, as well as other available objects for making sounds are encouraged. The session allows everyone to take part at their own pace.
A carer, parent, or guardian must be present throughout the session.
The session is free, but registration must take place in advance by Tuesday 16 February. Email or call 01708 434135 to register, or get more information.
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