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The Leader and Chief Executive have been reflecting on the new three-tier lockdown arrangements in today’s Coronavirus Weeknote.
This week’s blog looks at the new arrangements and what it means for West Berkshire, as well as talking about a new website providing more details about cases in Berkshire.
You can now sign up to receive the Coronavirus Weeknote direct to your inbox each week - do so by adjusting your subscription preferences.
 Please nominate deserving individuals and groups for the Community Champion Awards 2020!
These awards honour individuals and community groups who have gone above and beyond to support residents throughout West Berkshire. Four new Covid-specific awards have been added to recognise the fantastic contributions by locals throughout the pandemic.
This year we're delighted Volunteer Centre West Berkshire and Greenham Trust are each supporting an award.
See the award categories and make your nominations here.
Closing date: Friday, 20th November.
All of the awards will be judged by an independent panel.
The winners will be presented with their award at a virtual ceremony to be held in January 2021. Their details will also be recorded in an exclusive book called the "Roll of Civic Awards" which will be available for future generations to review.
 Flu kills around 11,000 people across the UK each year and puts many more in hospital. This year the biggest ever flu vaccination programme has been launched with the aim of reaching around 30 million people.
The groups eligible for a FREE flu vaccination are:
- those aged 65 years and over
- people who have long-term health conditions, such as: A heart problem, chest complaint or breathing difficulties, a kidney disease, lowered immunity due to treatment, diabetes, heart, liver disease, neurological conditions, those seriously overweight (BMI of 40 and above)
- pregnant women
- those in long-stay residential care homes
- those who receive a carers allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get ill
- members of a shielding household. Full list here.
- pre-school children (aged 2 to 3 years on 31 August 2020)
- primary school aged children and those in Year 7 (aged 4 to 11 on 31 August 2020)
- Frontline health and social care workers
This year, early demand for flu vaccine has been higher than usual. This has meant that while a lot of people have been able to get vaccinated, some people have not been able to get vaccinated straight away as some GP practices and pharmacies have used their early supplies of flu vaccine, due to the level of demand. If you are eligible for the free flu vaccine, you may get it either from your own GP practice or any pharmacy offering NHS flu vaccinations. They should be able to tell you when they expect to be able to offer you a vaccine.
Halloween is slowly creeping up on us and as with many things this year, our custom celebrations will take on a new look to ensure that we are keeping with COVID-19 guidelines.
The current advice is to forego the tradition of ‘trick or treating’ and instead go on a local ‘pumpkin trail’. For this, you go out as a family (all dressed up to scare) and look out for houses with Halloween decorations and pumpkins. Each time you see a pumpkin, you give your own child a treat from the supply you’ve taken along. That way your child still has all the fun and treats associated with Halloween, whilst remaining safe and protecting others.
Read more about how the fun 'COVID Safe' Pumpkin Trail works.
See additional safe Halloween activity suggestions for a spooky good time.
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Everyone appreciates and recognises the importance of Remembrance Sunday (which will be on 8 November this year). It is an opportunity to honour those who fell in defence of our country in two world wars and other military conflicts involving our armed forces across the world.
However, this year like so many other significant moments in our lives in 2020, adjustments will need to be made in relation to the current COVID-19 restrictions.
Read the Public Protection Partnership's Safety Guidance for Remembrance Sunday
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