Your coronavirus update: Tier 3 from tomorrow, support for businesses, enforcement keeping us safe and the importance of protecting your family this Christmas

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Leader of the Council Clare Coghill green background

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Covid-19 is spreading rapidly across Waltham Forest, with cases still on the rise. In the last day we have seen 215 new Covid-19 cases and sadly, in the last seven days (as of 11 December) we have recorded seven Covid related deaths.

This risk of catching Covid-19 is high in all areas of our borough and we need you to take immediate action to protect yourself and our most vulnerable residents. As we move into Tier 3 from tomorrow, it's really important to limit your contact with others wherever possible and protect yourself if you do have to leave home by remembering hands, face, space.

With Christmas around the corner, I know it's tempting to socialise with friends and family indoors but with this comes huge risks to our health and safety. With the risk of spreading the infection even higher indoors, I urge you to remember this during the Christmas period and make sure you protect the most vulnerable people in your life. You can find more advice on how to reduce the risks of mixing at Christmas below.

By following the rules, we will be looking after each other. Please do join me in staying safe this winter.

Give a little to make a big difference

We’re overwhelmed to have received over 200 donations to our Christmas and Winter Crowdfunding campaign, with donations exceeding £31,000!

Thanks to everybody who has donated – every donation will go towards a Christmas gift for 1,600 young people and local charities supporting residents facing homelessness, food poverty, vulnerable families and loneliness.

We know that this is a tough time for many, but if you’re able to make a small donation this would help in our efforts to support as many vulnerable people as possible this winter.

For more details and to contribute, visit the website.

Donate to the crowdfunder

Are you experiencing symptoms? Get tested today

If you are experiencing coronavirus symptoms at the moment, you must stay at home and arrange a test.

We have two walk-in sites at Stanley Road car park, Leyton and Linford Road car park, Walthamstow.

These sites are now open from 7am - 9pm every day and you can attend without pre-booking.

We also have a drive-in site located at The Score Card car park in Leyton which is open every three days, but you will need to call 119 or book online for this site.

Please make sure you only attend for a test if you have symptoms.

More test site information

Do you run a business? We're here to help you.

As we move into Tier 3, we know how challenging this will be for our local economy.

To support you, we have extended the deadline for applications for the Additional Restrictions Discretionary Grant to Wednesday 23 December 2020.

This grant is available for:

market traders
businesses in the supply chains (i.e. wholesalers, manufacturers, business services)
businesses that were closed through November
businesses that were required to close but are not liable for business rates

Local Restrictions Support Grants of up to £3,000 are also available.

These are mainly for businesses legally required to close throughout November - including non-essential retail, leisure, personal care, sports facilities and hospitality.

Get business support

Council Services

Our teams are working hard to deliver services to our residents.

For the latest information on the Counci;'s service delivery, please visit our website.

Council services

Protecting yourself this Christmas is vital

Covid-19 cases are high in Waltham Forest, and we need you to keep safe this Christmas.

If you need to create a Christmas bubble (up to three households) from the 23-27 then please make sure you understand the risks attached with mixing indoors.

If you need to meet as a Christmas bubble you must take these measures to prevent the spread of the virus:

wash your hands frequently
clean touch points regularly, such as door handles and surfaces
keep socially distanced from anybody you do not live with as much as possible
make sure you let as much fresh air in as you can during a visit and after visitors have left, without getting cold, by opening windows and door
if you can instead, meet up outdoors with friends and family around Christmas
most importantly, keep socially distanced from anybody you do not live from now until Christmas. If possible, avoid meeting anyone at all socially until you meet your Christmas bubble

Remember, just because the government is allowing households to meet up at Christmas, does not mean it is safe to do so. Please choose carefully what decision is right for your family.

Be careful this Christmas

Our Community Help Network is available to support vulnerable residents

Jenise and tens of other Customer Service Advisors in our Customer Resolutions Centre continue to be available to help vulnerable people.

Residents can get help to access food, prescriptions, financial assistance, befriending support and much more through our Community Help Network (CHN) by calling 020 8496 3000 between 7am and 7pm, seven days a week.

For more information visit our website.

Visit CHN

Shisha venues closed due to health risks

This past weekend Momona, a café on Hoe Street was served with a prohibition notice for shisha-smoking. Shisha is specifically prohibited under local restriction covid rules and all Shisha venues in the borough were contacted advising that the must not operate.

Smoking shisha is considered particularly dangerous right now as it can exacerbate respiratory problems associated with COVID and also spread the virus between people.

If enforcement officers find any shisha-smoking venues still operating in the borough, owners will be subject to enforcement action (which will normally involve closure, as well as other formal action). The police may also issue fines of £200 per person found smoking in a venue.

Read Tier 3 rules

Information and advice regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) is changing quickly and its important you keep up to date with those changes. The Council will be using email newsletters to keep residents and businesses up to date.

If residents have questions please visit our website, and use live chat to talk to one of our team, it's quicker than phoning.

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