 A Message from Thurrock Council Leader, Cllr Rob Gledhill
The situation in Thurrock is now more serious than it has ever been. We must all do even more to control the spread of coronavirus after terrifying increases in the numbers of people in the borough testing positive.
We are now dealing with a new strain of the virus which is around 70% more infectious than the original coronavirus. In Thurrock it has caused a massive increase in the number of people infected and unless we all take action it will continue to spread.
The overall rate in the borough is doubling every five days and the rate of infection in the over 60s, who are more likely to suffer a serious illness as a result of contracting COVID-19, has nearly tripled in just a week.
The statistics below show just how quickly the rate of infection is growing. The rate among children aged 11 to 18 years-old has doubled in the last week and nearly doubled for adults aged between 18 and 49 years-old.
To illustrate just how worrying this increase is when we came out of the second lockdown just three weeks ago there were 206 out of 100,000 people in Thurrock testing positive. Yesterday that figure had climbed nearly six-fold to 1,196.
There is a similar picture for many authorities throughout the south east including our immediate neighbours in Basildon and Havering.
This is not the news any of us wanted for Christmas but it is the reality of the situation we are in. The pandemic has now entered a new phase and unless we make sure we are doing what we can to slow the rate of infection the NHS could easily become overwhelmed.
Basildon Hospital services are now under unprecedented demand, the number of people needing treatment in hospital and in intensive care for COVID-19 is rising rapidly. The hospital has been forced to pause some planned surgery, giving priority to patients with the greatest clinical need and cancer patients.
Over the weekend everything has changed and our behaviour must change as well. The new strain means the amount of virus that infected people spread when they cough, sneeze and breathe is drastically increased. This means that the virus spreads far more easily and creates far more risk.
We must now all act as if everyone we come in contact with has the virus and we ourselves have it. By taking hands, face, space advice seriously and not travelling unless absolutely necessary then we can become part of the solution. If not then, unfortunately, you become part of the problem.
Thurrock is facing a situation every bit as grave as that which we faced in March this year and we must all react appropriately.
We all need to be cautious, caring and considerate and make sure we stay at home unless it is absolutely essential to go out. If we do go out we diligently follow the advice and go above and beyond in protecting ourselves and others.
With the emergence of another new variant new rules have come into force meaning that anyone who has returned from South Africa in the last two weeks, or has been in contact with anyone who has been to South Africa in the last two weeks, must self-isolate immediately.
I know this a difficult message, especially at this time of year, but I take this opportunity to wish you all a safe and happy Christmas.
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Cases in Thurrock are at an unprecedented high, and Thurrock is today ranked 1st of 149 upper tier local authority areas (where 1 is the local authority with the highest prevalence). Overall rates are at 1,196 per 100k as of 22 December. There has also been an increase in rates in over 60s, going from 97 a week ago to 184 on 22 December.
This rapid increase in our figures can mainly be attributed to the new strain of COVID-19 which has been discovered and is now thought to be over 70% more infectious than the original strain.
This strain originated in Kent and has spread to North East London and South Essex and is now the most dominant form of coronavirus in this region and in Thurrock. Research suggests that it could lead to an absolute increase in the R rate by between 0.4 and 0.9 compared to the previous variant.
The new variant is currently leading to an 8% rise in the daily rate in those aged 60+ and an 11% rise per day in infection rates in those aged under 60. At this rate of growth every five days the number of people infected will double.
Highest rates of infection remain in those aged 11-18 In the last seven days 911 people in this age group have tested positive in Thurrock.
There is no evidence to date of high rates of hospitalisation or death in those infected with the new variant or that the current vaccine will be ineffective against it, although research is on-going.
At present, it is believed that current public health advice relating to social distancing, handwashing and mask wearing is sufficient to control transmission but only where compliance is adhered to strictly.
Tier 4 means a number of council services are impacted through legislation, and in some cases closures are going beyond national tier 4 advice because of the extremely high number of people testing positive for COVID-19 locally.
Measures being undertaken while Thurrock is in tier 4 will impact the following services:
- Civic Offices will remain closed for face to face services and public meetings. Support for vulnerable residents is available by phone or online. Public meetings can be viewed online through the council’s website
- all community hubs and libraries will close completely until further notice
- all children’s centres are closed to the public
- children’s short-break and outreach services are closing. Alternative arrangements are being made for the most vulnerable families using these services. The Oaktree Contact Centre will remain open to continue to offer contact with children and their parents
- Thameside Complex – Thurrock Museum, the Thameside Theatre and library are all closed. Registrars will remain open to register births and deaths appointments only. Marriage and civil partnership ceremonies cannot take place under tier 4 rules unless they are under exceptional circumstances
- all leisure centres are closed until further notice
- household waste collections will continue on their normal day aside from the changes which will take place as a result of the Christmas holidays. The bulky waste service is running as normal
- Grangewaters is currently closed
- Inspire Youth Hub in Grays is closed and all drop-in sessions and face-to-face meetings cancelled – young people seeking career advice will still be able to carry out interviews by phone and service users will be issued with Career Action Plans
- Linford Household Waste and Recycling Centre will remain open as usual, however there could be increased waiting times caused by the need to adhere to strict social distancing guidelines
 Free NHS tests are available to anyone who has any symptoms of COVID-19 or has been asked to as part of test and trace. Appointments must be arranged in advance and no one should just turn up at a test centre. You can make an appointment online or by calling NHS 119.
All children aged between 11 and 18 years-old, and anyone who lives with them, should get tested whether they have symptoms or not. These tests are available by making an appointment online or through NHS 119 or by collecting a home testing kit from Stanley Lazell Hall, Dell Road, Grays.
These kits are only available for those aged between 11 and 18 and their families. No appointment is necessary and they can be collected and returned to the centre between 9:30am and 4:30pm on 29 December, 30 December and from 4 to 7 January. This centre is closed on all other dates between 24 December and 4 January.
Anyone who has picked up home testing kits from Stanley Lazell Hall can also drop them back to any of the Mobile Testing Units in Thurrock between the hours of 10.30am and 2.30pm. They are open every day, including Christmas day, and are located at:
- Tilbury Cruise Terminal, Tilbury
- Crown Road Car Park, Grays
- Grover Walk Car Pak, Corringham
Postal tests are also available, but as Royal Mail is experiencing issues locally which is causing delays we recommend you do not order a postal test until the New Year and instead use one of the other options available.
You can find out more by visiting Thurrock Council's website
 If you are classed as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable under the current coronavirus tier 4 guidelines you need to make sure you take extra care to stay safe:
More advice is available at GOV.UK: Tier 4: Stay at Home
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