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Thank you for your Roadmap to Recovery support

Thank you to all residents and businesses for your part in continuing to stay safe as Step 2 of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown came into force on Monday, 12 April.

It's been wonderful to welcome residents back to our town and village centres, and we'd like to acknowledge the hard work of local businesses to remain Covid-safe as they re-open.

Keep it going - let's all play our part and take this next step safely

Local cases of Covid-19 have been coming down thanks to everyone's vigilance and the vaccination rollout. 

However, to keep the case numbers down, it is very important that we continue to stick to all of the rules. Indoor socialising is not allowed right now, and you should only meet in groups of up to six people, or two households, outside. 

When you visit a shop indoors or take public transport, you must wear a face covering at all times, unless you are exempt. Even if you wear a face visor, you still need to wear a face covering underneath your visor to keep those around you protected. This is because face visors or shields do not adequately cover the nose and mouth, and do not filter airborne particles.

You should continue to work from home if you can, and minimise the number of journeys you make where possible.

Please also take up your free vaccine jab when you are eligible.

These measures are crucial for keeping everyone safe and protected from the virus, and staying on track with the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Support for local businesses to re-open

We have been focussing on distributing the new one-off Government Restart Grants to local businesses as quickly as possible to help them to re-open. Grants up to the value of £18,000 are being awarded to individual businesses across West Berkshire that were forced to close due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Since the scheme was announced last month, we have processed almost £6.5m worth of grants that is now being paid out to businesses that fall into non-essential retail, hospitality, accommodation, personal care and leisure categories. 

Covid-19: local cases data

As of 15 April there have been 6,320 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in West Berkshire. In the last 7 days we have had 24 new cases (although zero were recorded for yesterday), with a current weekly case rate of 15.1 per 100,000 population.

We are continuing to see a downward trend in our cases, which is encouraging. If you are meeting up with friends or family this weekend continue to keep each other safe by remembering Hands. Face. Space and Fresh Air. Let’s take this next step safely.

Today’s Weeknotes

Council Leader Lynne Doherty and Chief Executive Nick Carter reflect on the death of The Duke of Edinburgh, the reopening of shops and hospitality, and the appointment of a new support agency for diverse ethnic communities here in West Berkshire. 

Get your free twice-weekly rapid testing

Rapid Covid-19 tests (also known as lateral flow tests) are now available for all, providing you do not have Covid symptoms. Using this method for regular testing in the months ahead can help us all get back to normal.

Please note: If you have Covid-19 symptoms you need to book a PCR test for Covid-19 by either calling 119 or visiting: www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.

Getting rapid Covid-19 tests for your employees

If you are a business owner who has registered for free rapid tests (lateral flow tests), you have until 30 June 2021 to order the tests for use in the workplace or for your employees to collect and take home.

Businesses that did not register previously now have two options available to them:

1. They can either pay a government-approved provider to provide tests or run a testing site,
2. Or they can ask their employees to get rapid lateral flow home testing kits or have twice weekly rapid lateral flow testing at one of our four testing sites.

For more information about approved providers, click here.

See more information about home testing options and community test sites in West Berkshire.

Book your COVID-19 vaccination if you’re eligible

You can book your Covid-19 vaccination now if you are aged 45 or over. You are also entitled to book now if you fall in one of the other categories listed below:

The Covid-19 vaccine is available to you if:

•  You are 45 years old or above
•  You are at high risk from Covid-19
•  You are an eligible frontline health or social care worker
•  You have a condition that puts you at higher risk
•  You have a learning disability
•  You are a main carer for someone who is at high risk from Covid-19

Book your vaccination now if you are in one of these groups and you have not had your first dose. Call 119 or use the button link below to complete your online booking.

Fasting and Covid-19 vaccinations

The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) has advised that taking the Covid-19 vaccination does not invalidate the fast. There is no material of animal origin (including porcine content) in either the Pfizer BioNTech or Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

BIMA has also certified that the Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective.

Watch our Covid information events

We held two events online this week to provide an update on Covid-19, with the events attended by members of the public. If you weren't able to attend either of the sessions, they have been made available for replay as follows:

Local Outbreak Engagement Board Meeting: Controlling the spread of Covid-19

Our most recent fortnightly public Local Outbreak Engagement Board meeting took place this past Monday. Topics discussed included local business preparations for Covid-secure reopenings and the Covid-19 vaccination programme. We also provided an update on the Covid-19 data for our district, our local outbreak control plan, and our Covid-related communications activities.

Facebook Live: Plans for district's recovery from Covid-19

Council Leader Lynne Doherty and Executive Director Joseph Holmes were online last night on our Facebook page to provide an overview of how we are supporting our district's recovery from the impact of Covid-19 and to answer your questions.

Support for mental health and wellbeing

Emotional Health Triage

Our free Emotional Health Triage service helps children and young people under 19 years old get help for mild to moderate mental health problems.

Free online event: Mental Health and Wellbeing in West Berkshire

Greenham Trust’s next Community Forum will be held on 30 April, 10 to 11.30 am. The free online event will cover mental health and its impact to our wellbeing - particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. The forum will also highlight the resources available to help everyone affected by mental health issues across West Berkshire.  The Community Forum will be presented by Laura Farris, MP for Newbury, and chaired by Chris Boulton, Chief Executive Officer of Greenham Trust. Members from our public health team and a number of local support charities and voluntary organisations will be speaking at this event. There will be an opportunity to ask any questions.

Free Recovery in Mind courses for adults

Have pandemic worries or other concerns set you on a spiral of negative thoughts? Learn how you can stop distorted thinking patterns - which can result in low moods and stop you achieving personal goals and activities in your life - by signing up to a free online course from Recovery in Mind:  www.recoveryinmind.org

Covid-19 Information telephone line

Do you know someone without access to the internet, but who would like to find out the latest local information about Covid? If so, please provide them with our Covid-19 information telephone line number: 01635 503788.

Callers will be able to select their desired topic from an audio menu, or alternatively they will be able to request to speak to our Community Support Hub if the information that they need is not listed.

This phone line is kept updated in line with changes to the Government’s Covid-19 Roadmap out of lockdown.