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Friday 26 March 2021 (Update #198)
 Monday will see a very welcome, but appropriately cautious step towards returning to what we used to consider "normal" life.
From 29 March either two households or up to six people can meet outdoors, including in private gardens.
Also from that day outdoor sports facilities will open for use and the ‘stay at home’ rule will be lifted. However, you should continue to work from home where possible. Holidays abroad are not yet allowed. If you are unsure as to what you may do please check the Government's guidance.
As our latest weekly report on COVID-19 in Havering shows, the infection rate is broadly unchanged from last week but the percentage of people testing positive is falling. Let's keep it that way by continuing to do all the things that really matter: washing hands, maintaining social distancing, wearing face coverings and getting the vaccine when it is offered.
Last Sunday was Census Day. If you haven't filled in your census online, or sent back a paper form if you requested one, please do that as soon as possible. Census officers will be calling on homes that haven't completed it. Help is also available online.
Lastly, if you want to contact me directly, you can email me. However, please be patient as there may be a delay in getting back to you due to the volume of messages I am receiving.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
The Government has announced that Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) people no longer need to shield from Thursday, 1 April.
This is because COVID-19 infection rates have fallen, and there has been priority access to vaccination for all people who are CEV.
CEV people coming out of shielding will still be subject to the national restrictions alongside the rest of the population, but are advised to take extra precautions to keep themselves safe from COVID-19.
For any CEV people who are registered already for priority access to supermarket delivery slots, they will continue to be able to get these until 21 June 2021. However the process will close to new registrations for priority slots this coming Wednesday, 31 March.
Free bulky waste collections for CEV residents can still be booked on 01708 432563 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, but will end on Wednesday 31 March.
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 Havering Council is again supporting eligible families with school meals during the school holidays.
For the Easter holiday eligible families will receive £30 per child.
There’s no need to re-apply if you have previously received money via the School Meal Holiday Scheme. If you haven’t previously applied, but need to, please click on the button below.
Applications for new claims close on Tuesday, 6 April, at 9am.
You can book tests or place an order online for home test kits (pictured) if you are in a household or support bubble where children are attending, or an adult is working in, a primary or secondary school, or a nursery.
You can also collect your home test kits without an appointment from any of our Local Testing Sites. Do check the times on our webite before visiting.
You should still be tested even if you have had one or both doses of the COVID-19 vaccination.
Have symptoms?
Of course, it also remains vitally important to book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms. There is information on booking procedures, and opening hours for all our local testing locations on our website.
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Parents or guardians of children who have been told they must self-isolate due to having a positive COVID-19 test or symptoms, are now eligible to claim a £500 Test and Trace Support payment.
If this applies to you, please tell us by email.
To be considered for a payment you have to be working and meet the following criteria when you were instructed to isolate:
- Live in Havering.
- Have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace.
- Be employed (not furloughed) or self-employed.
- Be unable to work from home and will lose income as a result.
- Be currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit.
- If you are not receiving welfare benefits and your household income is low (less than £442 per week for a family or £296 per week for a person living alone) you may still claim.
- Be making a claim within 14 days of the last day of your self-isolation.
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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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An online event will be held on Tuesday, 30 March, about COVID-19 vaccines and their impact on London’s Muslim communities.
Organised by the NHS in east London and partners including the British Islamic Medical Association, it will discuss and answer questions that have been raised by members of the Muslim community.
This will include questions such as: is the vaccine halal? Is the vaccine safe and effective? Will it affect fertility? And will having a vaccine during Ramadan break my fast?
Anyone can register to take part in this ‘Big Conversation’ event.
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Knowing the right place for medical help over the Easter holidays can help you get the treatment you need faster.
You can get an appointment with a GP from 8am to 8pm on both bank holidays.
Out of hours GP appointments are available every normal weekday evening between 6.30pm and 10pm, and between 8am and 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays, including the Easter weekend.
You can book these appointments by calling the GP hub booking hotline on 020 3770 1888 (open from 8am to 8pm) or by calling 111 out of hours.
You can also get help with minor injuries and illnesses at the Harold Wood Polyclinic. This 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. You do not need to be registered with a GP.
COVID-19 vaccinations will be taking place as normal over the bank holidays so if you have an appointment please attend.
NHS 111 can also make direct appointments online, by phone or face-to-face with a variety of health services, including A&E, Urgent Treatment Centres, specialised mental health crisis services, dental services and pharmacists for urgent repeat prescriptions and advice. If needed, an ambulance can also be despatched.
NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Earlier this month the Home Office announced that there have been more than 5.1 million applications to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), with more than 4.8 million applications concluded.
Remember if you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, or a family member, and have lived in the UK for many years or have a permanent residence document or EEA Biometric Residence Card, you still need to apply to the EUSS (or apply for British Citizenship) by 30 June 2021 to continue to live and work in the UK.
An application must be made for every eligible child within a family. Parents should apply on behalf of their children even if they have already applied and been granted a status themselves.
People who successfully register under the scheme remain eligible for public services, such as healthcare and schools, public funds and pensions, and British citizenship, if applicants wish to apply and meet the requirements.
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 Sadly, due to COVID-19 restrictions, Havering Council's events team won't be able to hold traditional Easter craft activities in Romford Market this year, but you can still join in the fun online.
On Saturday 3 April, at noon, you can create your own rabbit ear headband. It's a fun alternative to an Easter bonnet.
Later that same day at 1pm, you can join a face painting tutorial. Beginners of all ages can learn how to face paint. Following the success of last year's Easter Bunny tutorial, this year you can learn how to paint a baby chick.
Other online events will run across the weekend.
The long-awaited toucan crossing in Waterloo Road is now in full operation, making it safer for residents to get across the busy Romford ring road.
A toucan crossing means “two can” cross – both pedestrians and cyclists are allowed to use the crossing to get from one side of the road to the other. This crossing, near the Brewery Shopping Centre, makes it easier to get to and from the town centre safely by foot or cycling.
The work, which was funded and planned by Transport for London was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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This weekend many parks in Havering are likely to be very busy.
If you’re visiting any of them for your daily exercise, or socialising with just one person from outside your household please avoid busy times, if possible.
Follow social distancing guidelines when walking or jogging on pathways, and use bins for any masks, gloves or empty sanitiser bottles. Littering not only spoils the experience of our parks for others but is damaging to the environment and wildlife.
If you purchase food or drink from any of the takeaway kiosks or cafes in our parks, please maintain social distancing while queueing, and walk away as soon as you have collected it.
COVID Marshals (pictured) will be regularly patrolling our parks over the weekend to make sure that coronavirus lockdown rules and park byelaws are followed.
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Havering Libraries' Book Club meets again on Wednesday 7 April from 7 to 8pm.
Join via Zoom to chat about new books, favourite books and the Book of the Month, which for April will be The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.
April's meeting will also discuss your favourite books read in childhood.
Email to book your place.
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More outdoor activity will be allowed from Monday 29 March, but Government advice remains that everyone should continue to work from home if they can and minimise travel.
The road surfacing around pedestrian crossing points in Rom Valley Way in Romford, close to the junction with Oldchurch Road, will be replaced between Monday 29 and Wednesday 31 March. Work will happen overnight between 8pm and 6am.
Thurso Close in Harold Wood will be resurfaced on 12 and 13 April. Work will take place between 8am and 5pm on those days.
Road resurfacing work will be carried out in Shepherds Hill, Harold Wood next month. The road will be closed to through traffic with diversions in place between 9.30am and 3pm from 13 to 21 April.
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This weekend (27 and 28 March) there will be no TfL Rail service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will operate.
This weekend there will also be no London Overground service between Romford and Upminster. Please use local bus services instead.
Due to Network Rail undertaking engineering work in connection with the Barking Riverside Project, c2c trains will not run on the Rainham line after 2.15pm on Saturday, or at any time on Sunday.
During these times rail replacement buses will run between Upminster and Grays via Rainham.
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