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Due to the evolving situation, we have postponed our regular resident newsletter, and will instead be sending daily updates and information about what the council is doing and how to stay safe in these challenging times. For updates and advice, please visit our website at www.kingston.gov.uk/coronavirus.
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What is social distancing?
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Social distancing measures are steps you can take to reduce social interaction between people. This will help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
They are to:
- Avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough
- Avoid non-essential use of public transport when possible
- Work from home, where possible. Your employer should support you to do this. Please refer to employer guidance for more information
- Avoid large and small gatherings in public spaces, noting that pubs, restaurants, leisure centres and similar venues are currently shut as infections spread easily in closed spaces where people gather together.
- Avoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media
- Use telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services
Everyone should be trying to follow these measures as much as is practicable.
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To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and to ensure the council can continue to provide support to residents and service users, Guildhall 2 will be closed to the public from Tuesday 24 March 2020 for the foreseeable future.
We know you will want to stay in touch, so we have set up some helpful numbers to help you make contact with various services. These are:
General enquiries - 020 8547 5000
Housing (Homelessness) - 020 8547 5003
Adult Social Care - 0208 547 5005
Achieving for Children- 020 8547 5008
Job Centre Plus
Enquiries - 020 8914 7001
Universal Credit - 0800 328 5644
The building will continue to be open as normal for use by staff. A security guard will still be on hand in reception to ensure any visitors who arrive at Guildhall 2 with urgent needs, have access to the relevant council services.
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We know some residents are concerned about the impact COVID-19 (Coronavirus) may have on their personal finances and their ability to keep up with their housing costs.
The Government has confirmed that no one should be evicted or lose their home because of financial difficulties caused by the current situation.
Banks are due to release information on 'mortgage holidays' in the near future.
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Transport for London travel update
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In line with Government advice, TfL have asked that people do not travel unless their journey is absolutely essential. Please help reduce the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) by avoiding public transport where possible.
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As the country continues to feel its way through the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis, the council is very much aware of the importance of supporting key workers. This includes ensuring parking is available.
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Health and Wellbeing - tips and advice
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Whether self-isolating, working from home or observing social distancing guidelines it is important to look after your health and wellbeing.
We've compiled a list of helpful information to keep you and your family healthy and connected.
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Schools and early years settings closures
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We have added information to our support and advice pages regarding schools, nurseries, childcare settings, childminders and key workers.
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Following the Government announcements on the importance of social distancing we have taken the action to close children's playgrounds. This includes playgrounds on housing estates.
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Supermarket opening times
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A number of supermarkets have amended their opening hours. This is to allow for restocking and to ensure that NHS staff and the most vulnerable are able to get the items they need.
New opening hours can be found on our support and advice page.
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Funding to stengthen care for the vulnerable
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The Government has announced £2.9 billion funding to strengthen care for the vulnerable. The funding will help patients who no longer need urgent hospital treatment to return home, making at least 15,000 beds available during the coronavirus outbreak.
The funding comes from the £5 billion COVID-19 fund announced by the Chancellor in last week’s budget. £1.6 billion will go to local authorities to help them respond to other coronavirus (COVID-19) pressures across all the services they deliver. This includes increasing support for the adult social care workforce and for services helping the most vulnerable, including homeless people.
£1.3 billion will be used to enhance the NHS discharge process so patients who no longer need urgent treatment can return home safely and quickly. The funding will cover the follow-on care costs for adults in social care, or people who need additional support, when they are out of hospital and back in their homes, community settings, or care settings.
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DEFRA Food supply statement
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The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has released the below statement.
"We are confident in the resilience of our supply chains and have already introduced a number of measures to support supermarkets with their response to coronavirus. That includes:
- Relaxing competition laws so retailers can work together to keep shops open and stocked by: sharing data on stock levels, distribution depots and delivery vans and pooling staff where necessary.
- Working with local authorities to extend delivery hours so shelves can be replenished more quickly.
- Extending driver hours to help deliver more goods to stores across the UK and to allow supermarket delivery drivers to meet the increased demand for home deliveries.
- Waiving the 5p plastic bag charge for online purchases to speed up deliveries.
- And we will continue to do whatever it takes to ensure people have the food and supplies they need.
Why are you not doing more to stop panic buying?
Our food supply chains remain resilient and we continue to work closely with the industry to ensure that everyone - including vulnerable groups and older people - can continue to get the food and groceries they need. There is plenty of stock available, and as the PM said yesterday: “Please be reasonable in your shopping, be considerate and thoughtful of others as you do it.”
But it’s not working. Has the PM seen the pictures of the empty shelves?
There is plenty of stock available, but if people buy more than they need then others will be left without. We have NHS staff and others on the frontline fighting this virus. We all have to play our part to support them and we ask people to shop considerately and look out for our family, friends and neighbours during this difficult time."
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In order to help limit the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and ensure that staff are deployed to support critical areas, a number of services have revised opening times or will be closed for the foreseeable future.
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Mayor of London's statement on rough sleepers
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Londoners sleeping rough will be given vital protection from coronavirus as the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, with support from the Government, secured 300 hotel rooms in which they can self-isolate over the coming weeks.
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Information from Government
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Full, up to date Government information can be found online.
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Kingston Library will be live streaming their Rhyme Time for children on Facebook at 11am on Wednesday.
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Find out more about how to support your neighbours and the vulnerable members of the community.
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