COVID-19 Roadmap Bulletin - London Borough of Hounslow
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COVID-19
Roadmap Bulletin April 2021
Dear Resident,
The start of 2021 has been difficult. Health and care colleagues have responded to large numbers who
experienced the severest health impacts of Covid-19. Many residents have died. Our carers protected our
older and vulnerable residents and, alongside GPs, nurses and pharmacists, have rolled out the vaccination
programme prioritising those most at risk. The impact of vaccination is that we are not seeing infection
outbreaks at the scale we responded to in January and, even though cases continue, thankfully they are in
single figures among older and clinically vulnerable residents, because most are vaccinated.
However, ‘most’ is not all. Many who could be protected are not. If you are eligible for a vaccination and
have not had yours, please think about protecting yourself. If this is true of an older friend or relative, encourage them to read
information that gives them the confidence to be vaccinated. If you have questions or concerns - let’s talk about it. Speak to
your GP or contact me and my team via publichealth@hounslow.gov.uk. If a conversation helps inform, or - even better - leads
to a vaccination to protect one person, that is a wise investment of time. Please trust me when I say there are fewer people with
severe symptoms among those vaccinated. That is very different from three months ago.
12th April saw the start of the opening up of shops and services. As we follow the government’s four-step roadmap out of
lockdown, I ask you to focus on three key things: testing, vaccination and following the rules. The promise of a summer return to
COVID-19 rules-free life can only be kept if we don’t blow it, and that means working to roll out vaccination, make testing easy
and accessible for all, and following the rules as they change through the roadmap.
I would not be acting in the Borough’s best interest if I did not remind you all that this is a fragile time. Yes, infection rates are
low, allowing health and care services to resume normal non-covid care. Easing of lockdown has started. Schools have returned
from Easter. But, as easily as they reduce, infection numbers can and will increase if we don’t work together. It seems silly to say,
but viruses spread. We all know that; and they will spread if people are careless and become complacent. There have been 543
Covid-19 deaths in the Borough of people who tested positive within 28 days. Over a third of those were in January alone. We
must act together to reduce the risk of high rates reoccurring. We need cooperation from each and every resident.
It’s been a long time since this began. Almost all of us have suffered in some way; physically, mentally or financially. It’s been ‘all
hands on deck’ as most people have done their utmost to keep Hounslow as safe and healthy as possible.
I know people are tired of being asked “please keep following the restrictions”, but that is the only way we can get back to
seeing our loved ones and returning to normal life, hopefully by 21 June. We can be optimistic about the Borough’s future. It may
mean that we have to take a step back at times and reassess our response, because COVID-19 will be with us for the foreseeable
future. We must learn to live safely with it if we are to build a better Hounslow and fully reopen safely when the time is right. In
the meantime, the Council will continue working hard to keep you safe and informed, and will maintain financial support and
assistance with access to food.
Take the opportunity to consider what support you need for physical and mental wellbeing, whether that is accessing fitness
through One You Hounslow or accessing mental health support services. And for those who feel unsafe - in your own home
because of domestic violence, or in the workplace because of a lack of COVID-19 safety - please look on the website for
information or contact the council directly.
There have been amazing, positive moments even in this difficult time. For example, the number of people in the Borough
who signed up to Work Hounslow’s initiative to train for NHS roles has been staggering. And we’ve all seen so many instances
of neighbours looking after one another and people who have been champions for their community, sharing information and
advice. To each of those, thank you. Please keep going. You are making the difference.
It is that same, positive commitment we need now to get us to the end of the roadmap. Get Tested. Get vaccinated. Follow the
rules and be kind to each other.
Don’t Blow It.
Kelly O’Neill
Director of Public Health,
Hounslow Council
four steps out of lockdown
STEP 1 – 8 MARCH & 29 MARCH STEP 2 – NO EARLIER THAN 12 APRIL
EDUCATION EDUCATION
8 MARCH
- Schools and colleges open for all students - As previous step
- Practical Higher Education courses
SOCIAL CONTACT SOCIAL CONTACT
8 MARCH 29 MARCH
- Exercise and recreation - Rule of 6 or two - Rule of 6 or two households outdoors
outdoors with household households outdoors - Household only indoors
or one other person - Household only indoors
- Household only indoors
BUSINESS & ACTIVITIES BUSINESS & ACTIVITIES
8 MARCH 29 MARCH - All retail
- Wraparound care, - Organised outdoor sport - Personal care
including sport for all (children and adults) - Libraries and community centres
children - Outdoor sport and leisure - Most outdoor attractions
facilities - Indoor leisure inc. gyms (individual use only)
- All outdoor children’s - Self-contained accommodation
activities - All children’s activities
- Outdoor parent and child - Outdoor hospitality
group (max 15 people, - Indoor parent and child groups (max 15 people,
excluding under 5s) excluding under 5s)
TRAVEL TRAVEL
8 MARCH 29 MARCH
- Stay at home - Minimise travel - Domestic overnight stays (household only)
- No holidays - No holidays - No international holidays
EVENTS EVENTS
8 MARCH - Funerals (30)
- Funerals (30) - Weddings, wakes, receptions (15)
- Weddings and wakes (6) - Event pilots
STEP 3 – NO EARLIER THAN 17 MAY STEP 4 – NO EARLIER THAN 21 JUNE
EDUCATION EDUCATION
- As previous step - As previous step
SOCIAL CONTACT SOCIAL CONTACT
- Maximum 30 people outdoors - No legal limit
- Rule of 6 or two households indoors (subject to review)
BUSINESS & ACTIVITIES BUSINESS & ACTIVITIES
- Indoor hospitality - Remaining businesses, including nightclubs
- Indoor entertainment and attractions
- Organised indoor sport (adult)
- Remaining accommodation
- Remaing outdoor entertainment (including
performances)
TRAVEL TRAVEL
- Domestic overnight stays - Domestic overnight stays
- International travel (subject to review) - International travel
EVENTS EVENTS
- Most significant life events (30) - No legal limit on life events
- Indoor events: 1,000 or 50% (plus pilots) - Larger events
- Outdoor seated events: 10,000 or 25% (plus pilots)
- Outdoor other events: 4,000 or 50% (plus pilots)
2
Helping you to get
tested twice weekly
Thousands of residents, who do Approximately 1 in 3 people with want to thank every single one of
not have COVID-19 symptoms, have COVID-19 have no symptoms and you who is getting tested regularly
been getting tested to make sure could be spreading the virus without because you are helping to save lives.
they are not spreading the virus realising. Rapid tests provide quick and We recommend you get tested twice
without knowing. More than 18,000 free testing and you get your results by weekly to help keep you and your
‘rapid tests’ have been taken at our email or text within 40 minutes. loved ones safe.”
community mass testing sites in
Hounslow since the beginning of Hounslow’s Director of Public Health,
the year, with everyone now able to Kelly O’Neill, said: “Rapid tests are
benefit from the variety of testing playing an important role in reducing
sites on offer. infection rates in the borough. We
THERE ARE RAPID TEST SITES AT:
Hounslow Heston Isleworth Staines Rugby
House Library* Library* Club
7 Bath Road New Heston Road Twickenham Road Snakey Lane
Hounslow TW3 3EB Hounslow TW5 0LW Isleworth TW7 7EU Feltham TW13 7NB
*Whilst libraries re-opened from 12 April, Heston Library and Isleworth
HOW TO GET A RAPID TEST: Library will remain in use as rapid test sites only until further notice. Thank
you for your understanding.
Book online:
www.hounslow.gov.uk/rapidtest
Scan the QR code with
your smart phone
020 7084 9697
Walk-in:
Monday - Sunday
WE ALSO HAVE MOBILE
TESTING UNITS AT:
Danehurst activity centre
Brentford on Mondays
Tesco Superstore
Feltham on Mondays
Best Western Hotel
Chiswick on Thursdays
Sainsbury’s These locations
Chiswick on Fridays can be subject
to change at
Tesco short notice Mobile Testing Unit
Osterley on Fridays
3
Local resident Maya
Lodhi was delighted
to receive her Covid
Vaccine
Vaccination
Over one hundred thousand Hounslow
residents and healthcare workers have
now received their first COVID-19
vaccination to protect themselves,
their loved ones and the community,
as the roll-out of the vaccination
roll-out
programme continues at pace.
If you haven’t heard about yours yet,
don’t worry. The NHS will let you know
when it’s your turn. For those who
have received a vaccine you still need
to follow all the guidance including
social distancing, wearing face
CONTINUES AT
CONTINUES AT PACE
PACE coverings and hand washing.
4
get tested.
get the vaccine.
follow the rules.
DON’T BLOW IT!
Hands, face, space & StAY LOCAL
WHAT TO EXPECT
You may be contacted by the NHS, your If you receive a suspicious call, hang up. Visit www.ehcvs.org.uk/opportunity/
employer, or a local GP surgery, to receive Call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 covid-vaccination-marshall-12487/ for
your vaccine. Make sure your surgery has or the Police on 101 to report fraud or details.
your latest telephone number and address. identity theft.
On the day of your appointment bring your THANK YOU
invitation, a face covering and a pen to fill SAFE AND EFFECTIVE Every jab is a step towards returning to
in the forms. Wear a loose-sleeved top.
There are no medical conditions that stop a more normal life. COVID-19 can affect
After your appointment keep practicing you having the vaccine and it gives you people of any age. Protect yourself, your
Hands, Face and Space. the best protection against serious illness loved ones and the Hounslow community
from COVID-19. by having your vaccine.
You may experience mild, flu-like side
effects after your vaccination. Take As with any medicine, vaccines are
painkillers, like paracetamol, if you need to. highly regulated. The NHS does not offer SIGN UP
If you have a persistent high temperature,
or side-effect symptoms beyond 48-72
COVID-19 vaccinations to the public until TO OUR
independent experts have said they are
hours, seek medical advice. safe. There are no medical conditions that
HOUNSLOW MATTERS
stop you having the vaccine and it gives
E-NEWSLETTER:
Full protection only kicks in a week or two
you the best protection against serious www.hounslow.gov.
after your second dose, so come back for
illness from coronavirus. If you have uk/getconnected
your second appointment.
specific questions that are not answered or follow us on Twitter
by the NHS coronavirus vaccine website @LBofHounslow
STAY SAFE please contact your GP surgery. for more details about our
vaccine and testing sites.
Vaccinations are only available through
the NHS and are free of charge. The NHS SHARE YOUR STORY
will never:
Tell us why you had your vaccination
• Ask you for your bank account or and what it was like. Do you have any
card details. questions that you would like answered?
Email houccg.communications@nhs.net
• Arrive unannounced at your home
to administer the vaccine.
• Ask you to prove your identity
VOLUNTEER
Scan here using
by sending copies of personal Become a marshal at a vaccination hub. your smart phone
documents, like your passport.
5
Shopping
Shop local
and help
businesses
safely
bounce back
We have seen amazing
community spirit during the
COVID-19 pandemic and many
local businesses in Hounslow
when out and about as were at the heart of this.
We are celebrating the
stores reopen incredible contribution of these
businesses by encouraging you
to ‘Shop Local’ and explore the
diverse and unique products
and services available on our
doorsteps.
Soon the shops will reopen,
and when they do, we
encourage residents to shop
safely instore or online.
As shops, beauty, hair order to safely reopen. shop locally, support your local By supporting local
salons and restaurants businesses and walk or cycle businesses you will:
with outside eating areas But it is not only retailers wherever possible.
start to reopen on 12 April, who have to follow the • Shop safely
Hounslow residents are guidance. Local residents are • Save local jobs
reminded to continue to asked to respect the rules BUSINESS SUPPORT
TOOLKIT • Preserve the heart of
shop safely. to help everyone stay safe.
Hounslow Council has our community
It is essential that everybody
created tailor-made toolkits • Enjoy great deals
Work has been underway to continues to keep their to support local retail and
help permitted venues prepare distance and take extra care hospitality businesses.
that you may not get
for reopening. This includes to ensure proper hygiene and The toolkits contain vital elsewhere
wider footways to allow for cleanliness to contain the information and useful • Get a personalised,
social distancing, additional spread of coronavirus. resources about the
tailored shopping
Government guidelines.
signage on the high streets and Visit www.hounslow.gov. experience
guidance on the conditions When you do visit shops or uk/ShopSafeShopLocal • Support entrepreneurs
that businesses need to meet in other businesses then please
offering unique
products
! • Reduce your carbon
footprint by staying
local
KEEP YOUR WEAR A FACE FOLLOW SHOP OR RESTAURANT SAFETY
Spending money locally keeps
DISTANCE COVERING GUIDELINES
Please keep your Wear a face Stores and shops will continue to implement a the pound in Hounslow, and
distance from other covering over queuing system of individuals 2m apart. Please will ensure we maintain our
individuals with the your mouth and respect this and any additional policies that stores strong local communities, and
exception of those nose, unless may choose to implement, such as one-way systems build resilience as a borough.
that share your same exempt. and separate entrances and exits.
household. To find out more, visit
www.Hounslow.gov.uk/
BIN IT, DON’T ShopSafeShopLocal
DROP IT
Ensure that you
always use a clean
ONLY TOUCH IF
YOU ARE BUYING
USE YOUR CARD OVER
CASH WHERE POSSIBLE
REGULAR
HAND
handkerchief or tissue
to cough or sneeze KEEP IT
When in stores,
avoid touching and
If you are able to, it is a
good idea to use a debit,
WASHING
Wash or sanitise
into. Please ensure that
items such as tissues, LOCAL
picking up items credit card or a smart your hands disposable gloves and SUPPORTING
unless you intend to
purchase them.
phone to pay when you
are shopping.
regularly. face coverings are
disposed of responsibly.
BOROUGH
BUSINESSES
6
Coronavirus support and advice
Supporting clinically extremely
vulnerable residents That date has now passed, but as we continue along the
Hounslow Council’s number one priority over the entire government’s roadmap out of lockdown, Hounslow’s Clinically
period of the pandemic has been to provide the fullest Extremely Vulnerable residents remain a priority for the Borough
possible support as quickly and effectively as possible to when it comes to ensuring that information and support is easy
Clinically Extremely Vulnerable residents. to find, especially for those who plan to return to work.
The criteria for what it means to be Clinically Extremely Our Community Hub plays a vital role in supporting thousands
Vulnerable broadened earlier this year to include 1.7 million of residents across the borough and makes sure our most
more people nationally, over and above previously agreed vulnerable and isolated residents receive the food supplies
health risks with new factors including ethnicity, weight and they need and other essential support, which may range
potential deprivation by postcode. from befriending to more complex care. Read more at www.
hounslow.gov.uk/hub
All residents determined to be Clinically Extremely Vulnerable
were advised by the Government to shield until 31 March 2021 Although they no longer need to shield, we encourage CEV
as we worked hard to ensure they had adequate access to residents to get tested and get the vaccine when they are
support, COVID testing and vaccination appointments. eligible to do so.
Disposal of waste from Lateral Flow Testing at home
RECYCLABLE NOT RECYCLABLE
The outer cardboard packaging To safely dispose of the test kit, Disposable gloves and masks
and paper leaflets from the test kits place all of the items from the are not recyclable and should
can be recycled. test and the plastic packaging be put in the general waste
into a bag and then place in your bin.
general waste bin.
None of the plastic items or
plastic packaging should be
put into the recycling bin.
Key services available to you if you need help and support include:
General inquires – 020 8583 2000 For the most up-to-date government advice
and guidelines, visit:
Hounslow Community Hub – helps residents with getting food, medicine
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
and support – 020 7084 9697
If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness – 020 8583 3942 For support and advice available from the
hounslowhomelessnessprevention.commonplace.is Council and our partners please visit
www.hounslow.gov.uk/coronavirus
Rough sleeping – 0300 500 0914
COVID-19 scams and fraud – tradingstandards@hounslow.gov.uk For the latest updates and advice, sign up to
our coronavirus newsletter at
One You Hounslow mental health support – 020 8973 3530
www.hounslow.gov.uk/covid-updates
www.oneyouhounslow.org
Domestic violence – If you are in immediate danger call 999.
Or you can get in touch with Hounslow Domestic and Sexual Violence Outreach
Service by calling 07810 031 780
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