Tuesday 14 December 2021
 The expectation is that by the time you read this the new Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus will have become the dominant strain of this awful pandemic in London.
Please do not make the mistake of thinking Omicron can't hurt you. Already we have seen hospitalisations of people who have caught Omicron and yesterday the first death was reported.
That's why on Sunday night the Prime Minister announced a national mission to try to curb the spread of COVID infections in the UK. He believes that a tidal wave of the new variant is coming.
So my message today is to do three things to limit the spread of Omicron: get fully vaccinated, test regularly, and work from home if you can to limit the number of people you meet.
We now know that two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination are not enough to give the level of protection necessary to be best protected against Omicron. So, book a booster dose if you haven't already done so.
If you haven't yet accepted the offer of a first vaccination, or never went and got your second dose, its not too late. Please go and get a vaccination now to not only protect yourself but your family, friends and anyone you come into contact with.
Daily testing for anyone double-jabbed who comes into contact with a COVID-19 case also starts today (Tuesday).
Those fully vaccinated should take a daily lateral flow test for seven days.
Unvaccinated adults must continue to self-isolate for ten days if they are a contact of someone with COVID, and anyone who tests positive or develops symptoms will need to self-isolate.
If you can, work from home. If you can't and still have to go into work, consider taking lateral flow tests regularly to manage your own risk and the risk to others.
Read more on vaccinations, testing, and the latest weekly figures for Havering in our COVID-19 update section below.
If you want to contact me directly, you can email me.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
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Construction will kick off at the beginning of January on a planned new lesiure centre for Rainham.
Following the closure of the Chafford Sports Complex, the council agreed to construct a new leisure centre to replace the dated building which the Council did not own.
The state of the art centre will include a range of facilities such as a dance and spinning studio, a 72 station fitness suite and a six lane swimming pool.
It is expected to be completed in May 2023.
The new centre, which will be built on a part of Rainham recreation ground, will lead to some impact to local residents while construction takes place.
To make sure that the construction is done safely, the Viking Way Council pay and display carpark and much of the Rainham Recreation Ground will be temporarily closed.
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Free swimming for school-aged children during school holidays will return for Christmas.
The availability is part of Havering Council’s commitment to 60,000 free swimming sessions for school aged children and young adults until summer 2022.
Bookings can be made now for free sessions from 20 December.
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 From tomorrow (Wednesday) until Christmas Eve a free mini Christmas funfair will be open each day from 10am to 4pm (3pm on final day).
There will be a number of rides for the family to enjoy, including a cliffhanger ride, fun house, mini bumper cars, train ride, crazy cars, and tea cups. In addition, on Saturday, there will be a free mini Christmas concert. (See banner above).
Unfortunately due to unforeseen transportation issues the ferris wheel will no longer be present at the free mini fairground.
Romford Market stalls are also open every day until Christmas Eve.
Advertorial
Are you missing out on free childcare for your 2 year old?
You may be entitled to claim a maximum of 11 hours free childcare per week throughout the year, or a maximum of 15 hours per week during term time.
You may qualify if:
- you have a child aged two years (funding will be available from the term after their second birthday)
- your family is living on a low income or claiming income based benefits
For more information and to apply click here.
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 Every week Havering Council publishes a report on coronavirus in the borough. It includes data on infection rates and testing, as well as the vaccine roll-out. It also compares the 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 1,604 cases reported in the last week, 280 more cases than the previous week.
This corresponds to a COVID-19 infection rate on 10 December of 618 new cases per 100,000 population. This is higher than the equivalent figures for the whole of London (609/100,000) and the whole of England (521/100,000).
The total number of those who have died in Havering with COVID-19 now stands at 976 after three more deaths were recorded in the week ending 3 December.
Vaccines
The latest figures show that nearly 81 per cent of all adults aged 18 or over in Havering have had at least one dose of the vaccine, with just over 77 per cent receiving two doses.
Nearly 67 per cent of people aged 50 or over in Havering have also now received their booster dose. This is above the percentage recorded for the whole of London or the whole of England.
Hospitals
As of 13 December there were 91 inpatients admitted due to COVID-19 to our local hospitals. This is the highest level since February.
The trust that runs those hospitals, BHRUT, also publishes weekly data on the number of patients it is treating.
The Government also provides daily COVID-19 data broken down by town or even postcode level.
 The NHS vaccination programme will offer every adult the chance to book a COVID-19 booster vaccine by the end of the year.
Online bookings are now available for all those in their 30s and above. The national booking service will then open up to everyone aged 18 and over from tomorrow (Wednesday 15 December).
The NHS is prioritising bookings for boosters and is urging people to book a slot to guarantee their vital jab. Some vaccination sites offer a walk-in service for 18s and over - see banners above and below.
From tomorrow (Wednesday 15 December) care home residents in England will be allowed only three visitors and an essential care giver.
This is part of new Government guidance to slow the spread of Omicron.
Care home staff will have to take three lateral flow tests a week as well as a weekly PCR test under the guidance.
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If you feel unwell, stay at home.
If you’re feeling under the weather, don’t take the risk of meeting others if you can avoid it.
Postpone meeting friends, family and colleagues until you feel better. This can stop the spread of all winter viruses that make us unwell.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms it remains vitally important to book a PCR test.
You may be entitled to a one-off payment of £500 through the NHS Test and Trace Support Payment scheme if you are required to stay at home and self-isolate after a positive PCR test, or you are the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate.
If you want to claim this payment check the eligibilty requirements and make your claim though registered charity DABD who operate the scheme on behalf of Havering Council.
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As cases of the Omicron variant continue to rise accross London, Havering Council is now offering free single-use masks to local retailers for them to distribute to staff and customers where necessary.
This will help reduce the spread of this new variant over the Christmas period.
From tomorrow (Wednesday 15 December), retailers can collect two cartons per premises from their local library.
You will need to bring evidence that you are a local retailer, such as a copy of your certificate of authentication, or a recent utility bill with the business address.
Romford-based businesses should contact the Romford Business Improvement District.
Please DO NOT approach libraries if you are showing COVID-19 symptoms, or have tested positive for the Omicron variant.
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 You can have your questions answered by experts at an online Zoom meeting tonight. It's free to register to attend.
Our local BHRUT hospitals are recruiting fifty additional ward clerks.
Increasing the number of ward clerks will allow clinical staff to concentrate on clinical duties and relieve pressure on the hospitals' nurses.
The role of a ward clerk is a great way to start a career in the NHS and develop skills.
BHRUT is looking to recruit locally, so if you're interested apply now.
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In March 2022 you will receive your Council Tax bill for the next financial year.
If you pay in full before 1 April will receive a 1.5 per cent discount off your bill. For Council Tax Band D properties, this could be as much as £28.40.
You can also get this discount if you pay by Direct Debit. Complete our online direct debit form and select the payment date as 1 April. You don’t need to do anything else, Havering Council will request the payment from your bank.
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Advertorial
Are you a parent of a child aged three or four?
If so, your child is due to start at an infant or primary school in September 2022 and you should apply now for your child’s place.
If you live in Havering, you can apply online.
If you live outside of the borough you should apply to the local authority you pay your Council Tax to.
If your child attends a school nursery then please remember that you must still apply online for a place in the Reception year.
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This year, over the festive season, recycling, refuse, clinical and bulky waste collections will be made on the usual collection days.
The only collection service that will see a change is garden waste collections.
Green bin collections will be suspended from Saturday 25 December until Monday 10 January.
Gerpins Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre in Upminster is open every day over the Christmas and New Year period, with the exception of Christmas Day.
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 Havering Rotary Club will be out collecting for local charities with their Father Christmas Sleigh until 24 December. Check the Club's Facebook page for the route details.
This is the 46th year the sleigh has visited the streets of Upminster and Cranham. If you wish, you can donate online.
Local mental health charity Havering Mind are once again presenting Havering Christmas Land (pictured).
Located in Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch, next door to the new Harrow Lodge Leisure centre, it features the historic Harrow Lodge House building lit up with lights.
You can also enjoy a Christmas walk in the ‘secret garden’ with thousands of lights, decorations and Christmas scenes, Santa’s grotto, and food and refreshments including mulled wine and German beer served nightly.
To book, visit their website.
Romford Evangelical Free Church are having various events and celebrations over the next few weeks including a family carol service at 4pm on Sunday 19 December. For more information on any of them, visit the church's website.
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Lastly, a Crafts Market devoted to local arts, crafts and Christmas stall holders is open now in the Liberty Shopping Centre in Romford.
This indoor market (pictured) can be found in the former Ernest Jones shop.
Stalls vary day by day, and it is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9.30am until 5.30pm until Thursday 23 December.
For more information send an email to Havering Council's arts team.
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All privately-owned e-scooters and e-unicycles, including those that can be folded or carried, are now banned on London’s transport network.
This is the result of safety concerns about these items following recent fires on Transport for London (TfL) premises and services.
A review found that the incidents that occurred were caused by defective lithium-ion batteries which ruptured without warning. This led to fires that caused toxic smoke to be released.
TfL consider that if this were to happen again and fires occurred in an enclosed area like a Tube train or a bus, there could be significant harm to both customers and staff.
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Living in Havering recently caught up with Chloe Prevost, one of the first young Havering residents chosen to take part in the behind-the-scenes paid work experience with production company, Mediorite.
Mediorite, an award-winning creative agency and social enterprise, are working with the Council to produce films and social media content on the Council’s regeneration schemes. You can view some of their films online.
The project creates paid work opportunities for young Havering residents, recruited locally, to gain industry experience.
Since her initial work experience, Chloe has been asked to get involved with further projects. Lucy, from Mediorite, said that Chloe was so good, they wanted to keep her on their contact list to be considered for future opportunities and she has already had more projects as a result.
Chloe said that flming with Mediorite taught her how the industry works and gave her more confidence.
If you’re a young person based in Havering, aged 17-25, studying media and interested in gaining more experience in the industry, please contact Lucy
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New City College has recorded a three-year rising trend of students gaining places at the UK’s ‘high tariff’ universities – those requiring the strongest A Level grades.
One of the biggest increases in high tariff placements was from NCC’s Havering Sixth Form in Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch.
At the Sixth Form there was a significant rise in the high tariff placements – from 54 students in 2018 to 73 students in 2021.
This year 91 per cent of the students who applied for higher education from the Sixth Form secured their places and it has shown an increase in the number of students progressing to university – from 565 students in 2018, to 706 students in 2021.
Magdalena Staicu, who progressed to study Law at the University of Warwick, is pictured with her Outstanding Achievement Award alongside the deputy Principal of Havering Sixth Form, Phil Hall.
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