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You can feel fine and have Covid-19 without knowing it
In this video, Magdalen Wind-Mozley, a mother and school governor from West Berkshire, talks about the risks of having Covid-19 without the symptoms. One in three people with coronavirus don’t have any symptoms but can still pass it on. That’s why it’s so important to look out for others by following the rules to avoid infecting people and risking their lives.
See video
The single most important action we can all continue to take is to stay at home to save lives. If you do need to leave your home for a legally permitted reason, such as essential shopping, exercise, attending a medical appointment, or travelling for work, make sure you’re clear on what you can and can’t do.
 Our community testing programme (Lateral Flow Testing) will begin on Monday,
8 February for critical and key workers, who will be contacted directly for appointments. Community testing helps identify people who may be infected with Covid-19 but don't have any symptoms, referred to as 'asymptomatic.' Anyone testing positive will be requested to self-isolate to help stop the spread of the virus. See details
If you own a business in West Berkshire and wish to obtain Lateral Flow Device tests for yourself and your employees, you must register directly with the Government. Find out more
Public Health Berkshire has launched a new Covid-19 vaccination page with lots of information such as FAQs, visuals and videos to help residents understand more about the vaccines and getting the jab.
Visit page
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Newbury Vaccination Centre has a dedicated Facebook page with regular updates and advice. The GP-led vaccination centre is delivering Covid vaccinations to the patients of nine GP surgeries in the West Berkshire area. Visit the Facebook page
Great Western Railway (GWR) is providing additional station stops on trains to Newbury Racecourse to help with the roll-out of the coronavirus vaccine, starting Monday, 8 February. The extra stops between Paddington and Bedwyn are intended to help those travelling to the new vaccination centre established at the Racecourse and will supplement the hourly timetabled services between Newbury and Reading.
Rail customers must follow Government guidelines and only travel for legally permitted reasons, which includes medical appointments. Please be aware that should you decide to travel by train, the station does not have any step-free access.
See further information from GWR
View GWR's safe travel advice
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Our Leader and Chief Executive reflect on the dual issues of community and finances. Read what they have to say about next year’s Council budget, the support being provided to local businesses and the recently announced winners of the Community Champion Awards. Lynne and Nick also pay tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore following his death, aged 100, earlier this week.
Read the Weeknotes to find out more
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If you need to have visitors into your home for a legally permitted reason during this lockdown, below are some ways to help you think about how to stay safe. It’s also worthwhile discussing any concerns and expectations with visitors before they arrive, and where necessary, opting for contact-free payments.
Eight Covid Marshalls will begin working across the district from mid February to help people to stay informed about the latest government rules and provide advice on Covid-19 restrictions. The aim is to help keep everyone safe by ensuring people aren't inadvertently breaking any rules. Read more information
Sessions are available from Emotional Health Academy and Time to Talk West Berkshire to provide guidance on adolescent mental health and emotional wellbeing, especially during the pandemic.
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Workshops are being held on 10, 17, and 24 February, 5.30 - 6.30 pm, to provide information to help you support your child or young person. Sessions will cover Anxiety, Resilience and Positive Behaviour. Tickets £5. See more information and how to book |
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Talks on 11 and 25 February and 11 March, 7.30 - 8.30 pm, will cover The Adolescent Mind, Understanding and Supporting Big Emotions, and Self Care. Tickets £5, or for how to qualify for free tickets, please contact Time To Talk at office@t2twb.org. See booking information
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Recovery in Mind teaches adults the '5 Ways to Wellbeing.' The free online sessions teach how to think more positively, learn ways to overcome anxiety, develop skills in self-compassion and more during Lockdown and beyond.
The course is available to adults 18 years and over living in West Berkshire, and a GP referral is not required. To find out more and register for this month, visit www.recoveryinmind.org
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Additional resources for mental health support
You can find a list of information and help available for people struggling with mental health and anxiety on the West Berkshire Council website
 For Valentine’s Day, West Berkshire Care Homes would welcome cards and messages for our residents, who haven't had much contact with the outside world due to the pandemic. Any post will be handled with care and quarantined in line with infection control measures to ensure the safety of all our residents and staff.
See more on Love Through the Letterbox including address details
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 We know that times are very tough for our retailers given that we are in still in National Lockdown.
Let's ‘Love Local’ and shop locally for Valentine’s Day gifts, vouchers, and food and drinks to show them our support. Check out our list of local shops, restaurants and hotels where you can purchase gifts and goodies online in time for the 14 February celebrations.
Please tell us about your favourite places through our social media channels so we can add them to the list and share the love.
See Love Local for Valentine's Day
And finally...
We encourage residents and businesses to reach out for financial support if they are struggling during the pandemic. Please visit the links below for further information:
COVID-19 Support for Residents
COVID-19 Support for Businesses
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