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Wednesday 5 May 2021 (Update #212)
Our latest weekly coronavirus report has plenty of things to be positive about. The number of people with COVID-19 infections has fallen again and we are now at low levels not seen since last summer.
Vaccine take-up rates have been impressive, and anyone aged 40 or above can now book their injection online through the national booking service.
To protect what we have gained, it's crucial that we continue to follow the "hands, face, space and fresh air" rules. We should also take advantage of free, rapid COVID-19 testing that is now available in more than fifty places across Havering.
Frequent testing means that any outbreaks of infection can be quickly contained. You can read more about this below.
Don't forget to take advantage of our free parking scheme designed to help you enjoy our town centres safely and our businesses to recover from the lockdown. The scheme runs until this Sunday (9 May).
After 9 May, as before the pandemic, parking on Sundays in all Council-owned car parks will remain free of charge, as does the first hour of parking in marked, on-street parking bays at our neighbourhood shopping areas across Havering. See a full list of locations on our website.
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.
Stay safe.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
 Every week Havering Council publishes a report on coronavirus in the borough on its website.
It includes data on infection rates and testing, as well as the vaccine roll-out. It also compares the success of that programme in Havering with other parts of London and the rest of the country.
The graph above is taken from the report. It shows the number of Havering residents testing positive for coronavirus each week since 6 March last year.
There were 31 cases reported in the last week,15 fewer than the previous week.
This corresponds to an incidence rate on 30 April of 12 new cases per 100,000 population. This is lower than the London (20/100,000) and the whole of England (22/100,000) figures.
Sadly a total of 921 people in Havering have died with COVID-19.
Vaccines
The latest data shows that by 25 April more than 60 per cent of all adults in Havering have had their first dose of the vaccine.
Hospitals
As of 30 April there were 12 inpatients admitted due to COVID-19 occupying beds at our local hospitals.
The trust that runs those hospitals, BHRUT, also publishes weekly data on the number of patients it is treating.
Tomorrow, Thursday, 6 May, the elections for the Mayor of London and Members of the London Assembly will take place.
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm.
Your polling station will be shown on the polling card you will have received recently in the post if you are registerd to vote. Alternatively, you can check online.
When you go to a polling station or receive your postal ballot papers you will have three to fill in:
- a pink one for the Mayor,
- a yellow one for your constituency member,
- and an orange one for the London-wide list.
Watch a video to see how to use your votes.
To remain COVID-secure please bring your own pen, pencil or crayon to mark your ballot papers. Wear a face covering in the polling station unless you are exempt.
You may have to wait in a socially distanced queue, as fewer people will be allowed inside at one time. If you can, vote in the late morning or early afternoon, when stations are quieter.
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Havering Council and local police have carried out a number of joint operations against drug-related crime, unlicensed waste carriers and scrap metal crime.
On-the-spot enforcement action has been taken over the last few weeks to crack down on these crimes and help stamp out anti-social behaviour.
It is part of the on-going partnership working between the Council and police.
In Romford, the Council’s tactical enforcement team joined officers from the Romford Town Neighbourhood Policing team with sniffer dogs. Between them, they carried out 20 stop and searches.
Police officers from the Safer Transport team and the Council have also been to Ferry Lane, Rainham to check that drivers carrying waste had the correct licences to do so.
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If you are aged 40 or over, you can book your COVID-19 vaccination now.
Take up of the vaccine is a key way in helping to get things back to normal and will protect you, your friends and your family.
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Over 97 per cent of households in the UK have now responded to this year’s Census.
Thank you to those who took the time to make sure Havering was counted.
If you haven’t yet completed the simple online form, time is running
out. The online questionnaire will close on 17 May.
You will not be in any trouble for returning the census now. Only households refusing to complete the census run any risk of receiving a £1,000 fine.
Now the main field operation has ended, as in 2011, around 350,000
households across England and Wales will be invited to take part in the
Census Coverage Survey. This short, separate, interviewer-led survey
will enable the Office for National Statistics to get a final view of the response rates.
If you have any questions about Census 2021, visit the Census 2021 website or call 0800 141 2021.
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Regular, twice-weekly rapid testing for people without COVID-19 symptoms is available for everyone in Havering to help make sure you're not passing on the virus without knowing.
You can order home test kits or pick them up from test centres, some libraries and most pharmacies.
There are over fifty places in Havering and you can find out the nearest testing sites and collection points.
These local test centres include a new rapid testing site in Harold Hill, one in Upminster Methodist Church that opened yesterday, and third at the North Romford Community Centre which opened today.
If you aren't sure how to do a rapid test at home, visit one of these centres first and be shown by the professionals. You can then take a test kit home with you to use in subsequent weeks.
You can also order a test kit online.
You should still use testing even if you have had one or both doses of the COVID-19 vaccination.
Have symptoms?
It remains vitally important to book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
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Local Area Coordination (LAC) is a new service from Havering Council to support people in the community.
It is now available in Harold Hill, Rainham and South Hornchurch.
The LAC team work in the community and provide support, walking alongside people to achieve their vision of a better life.
They can help you make links in your community, or help with personal challenges such as debt, or struggles with mental health.
Local Area Coordinators are now being recruited for the Havering Park and Mawneys wards. If you live or work in those wards, and would like to be involved in the interview panels to help select the right coordinator for your area, Amanda Flower from the LAC team would like to hear from you.
Also, if you are interested in applying to be a Local Area Coordinator, please also contact Amanda by email.
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Are you or a loved one living with type 2 Diabetes?
Learn what long-term changes happen to the body, what you can do to prevent them and how to improve your quality of life.
Medical experts including Dr Anuja Shah, a GP, and Dr Shaine Mehta, a GP and Clinical Lead for Diabetes, will discuss the latest medical advances in treatment and understanding of the disease with a live session in Gujarati this Sunday, 9 May, at 8pm.
The session will also include a 10 minute COVID-19 update.
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Harold Wood library has now reopened.
The opening hours are Wednesdays 10am to 3pm, and Thursdays between 2 and 7pm.
Orange sacks for recycling will be available.
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Peabody, previously known as The Peabody Trust, is one of London's oldest and largest housing associations.
They operate a support service funded by Havering Council to provide an information and advice service to all residents in our borough, free of charge.
Take advantge of the Peabody – Here to Help service by booking a 20-minute consultation with one of their advisors to get support with benefits advice.
Support on offer includes advice on welfare benefits, debt, disabled transport, and housing.
Peabody are also Foodbank Voucher distributors and can provide support where needed to the most vulnerable of people experiencing severe financial circumstances.
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