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Thu 14 January 2021:
Your regular update from Reading Borough Council on our response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how you can help
A message from Reading Borough Council leader Jason Brock

As lockdown continues, it is more important than ever that we all follow the rules. The latest figures show that the infection rate is still rising, with the current weekly rate (up to 8th January) now at 802.3 per 100,000 people.
 
Thames Valley Police have this week issued a reminder that where they encounter people who are wilfully and blatantly ignoring the laws around Coronavirus they will look to enforce.

Please ensure you know and follow the rules, otherwise you will be putting other people at risk. You will also be liable to be fined by the police.
 
Lockdown Rules
The lockdown rules state that you must not leave, or be outside of, your home except where necessary. You may leave the home to:

  • shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person
  • go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home
  • exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, and not outside the local area.
  • meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one
  • seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
  • attend education or childcare - for those eligible

The full guidance can be found on the Government website here.
 
Vaccine
There are reasons to be positive though, with the COVID-19 vaccine now being rolled out in Berkshire. You’ll hear directly from the NHS when you are able to receive it. Once you've had the vaccine, you must continue to follow the rules as you are still able transmit the virus. Please also keep an eye out for vaccination scams. There are a number of these doing the rounds; by email, text and over the phone where people are asked to give their personal and credit card details to either book or confirm their identity. Please do not do this, you do not need to provide bank details to book or receive the vaccine.
 
Self-Isolation
It is also important that you self-isolate when required. If you, or someone you live with, have coronavirus symptoms, or has a positive test, you must immediately isolate for 10 days. If you have a positive test result, or you are asked by NHS Test & Trace, you are legally required to isolate. You should not leave the house for any reason – for work, to go shopping or collect medicine. Arrange for essentials to be delivered to your door and only exercise in your home or garden. More information is below on how to self-isolate effectively, and also how to get the support you need during it.
 
Exercise and Playgrounds
If you are able to go out for exercise, please be careful around outside spaces. You still need to keep a distance, don't meet others, and don't take the virus home - wash your hands as soon as you get in. The new variant is more transmissible so it is important to be careful. With exercise important for the young and old alike, and playgrounds still open, there is some useful advice below on making sure you minimise risk when using them.
 
Additional Support
We remain fully aware that many people need help through this difficult time, and our information box below will hopefully be able to signpost you to any assistance you need, whether that is as a business in Reading, as a parent or someone who needs help with collecting medication or with mental health.
 
Please keep doing everything you can to get Reading through this lockdown.
FAMILIES URGED TO USE PLAYGROUNDS SAFELY
We are urging families across Reading to keep coronavirus safety at the forefront of their minds when visiting local playgrounds. This is due to the ongoing increase in the virus locally, with the infection rate per 100,000 for the week up to 8th January at 802.3. It was 221.9 in mid-December.
 
Playgrounds across Reading remain open at present, as per national guidance, as children and parents really benefit from use of outdoor spaces. However, this needs to be balanced against the risks and requires everyone to take responsibility for using playgrounds in as safe a manner as possible.

When using playgrounds, people are strongly encouraged to closely follow Coronavirus safety advice, to help avoid the spread of the virus. Anyone who should be isolating, or is displaying COVID-19 symptoms (cough, high temperature or loss of smell or taste), must stay at home and not visit a play area. Other advice includes:
  • take hand sanitiser with you, and wash your hands immediately before and after your visit
  • try to maintain a 2 metre distance from others at all times
  • if the playground is busy, please consider coming back when it is quieter
  • try to wipe down surfaces before and after use to minimise the spread of the virus on surfaces
  • put your rubbish in litter bins or take your litter home
Other outdoor facilities, such as outdoor gyms, tennis and sports courts, are currently closed. Please respect this closure and refrain from using these facilities.
SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO YOU DURING LOCKDOWN
 
BUSINESS
We continue to offer support for businesses that were required to close under Tier 2,3,4 and national lockdown restrictions from 2nd December. Guidance from central government was released yesterday in relation to the further support package offered during the current national lockdown, and details of this scheme will be available on our website shortly. A further application window is currently open to support businesses and self-employed individuals through the discretionary grant fund. Eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on our website, with the application window closing on Sunday 17th January.
 
CHILDREN
With schools closed and remote learning in place until February half term, Brighter Futures for Children has compiled a list of activities, ideas and local services that may be of help to parents and their children. There is also further support for parents and carers on the BFfC website here.
 
WELLBEING AND MENTAL HEALTH
You can find a host of information on wellbeing, from staying active to keeping warm, on our Winter Wellbeing page.
 
There are a number of places to gain mental health and wellbeing support throughout lockdown:
* Compass Recovery College offers a range of courses that aim to promote good mental health and improve personal wellbeing. You don’t need a diagnosis or a referral and you can still sign up as a new student during this time. A member of the team will call back to chat about your personal situation and goals, and how Compass can help. Call 07739 823140 or email compass.opportunities@reading.gov.uk 
 
* Berkshire West Your Way offers individually tailored one-to-one and peer support to help people deal with the personal and practical impacts of mental health issues. Call 0118 9660240 or email berkshirewest-yourway@together-uk.org 
 
* Talking Therapies is a NHS service that offers support if you’re coping with challenges such as depression, stress, anxiety or phobias. Call 0300 365 2000 or email talkingtherapies@berkshire.nhs.uk 
 
* Depression Xpression is a depression and anxiety peer support group. Email depressionxpression@gmail.com or phone 07852 732194.
 
* No5 provides free, confidential counselling and support to children and young people aged 11-25. Call 0118 901 5668 or email info@no5.org.uk   
 
* Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) works with young people who are experiencing significant, severe and complex difficulties with their mental health. If you have urgent/significant concerns about your child’s mental health call 0300 365 1234 (8am to 8pm, Mon-Fri excluding Bank Holidays). Outside of these hours, please contact the Crisis Team on 0300 365 9999.
 
THE HUB
If you need additional support, the One Reading Community Hub is here for help with urgent food and prescription needs, getting a priority supermarket delivery slot, or other issues such as debt, loneliness, stress and anxiety. You can contact the Hub: The Hub is a partnership between Reading Borough Council, Reading Voluntary Action and voluntary and community partners in the town

NHS VOLUNTEER RESPONDERS SERVICE
A team of NHS volunteers are able to help people who need to self-isolate or are worried about going out by collecting their shopping, medicines and other important items, provide contact through regular friendly phone calls and give lifts to help you get to medical appointments. To arrange support for yourself or someone you know, call 0808 196 3646 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week) or click here.
 
GENERAL HELP AND SUPPORT AVAILABLE
A range of helpful contacts numbers and weblinks can be found here: https://www.reading.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-useful-information/
SELF-ISOLATION: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW


Stay at home
If self-isolating you must not leave the house for any reason – for work, to go shopping or collect medicine. Arrange for essentials to be delivered to your door and only exercise in your home or garden. Even if you don’t have symptoms you may have the virus – 1 in 3 people do not have symptoms but can still spread it.

Avoid others
If you are self-isolating, stay as far away from other members of your household as possible. We appreciate this is a very hard thing to do, but if you can:
  • keep your distance - sleep alone and use a separate bathroom if you have one (or clean bathrooms after use)
  • wash your hands regularly
  • if possible, avoid using shared spaces such as kitchens and other living areas while others are present
  • don’t prepare food for others and take your meals back to your room to eat
  • wear a face covering when spending time in shared areas inside your home
  • open windows to ventilate shared rooms
If you are struggling and don’t have access to any support whilst isolating, call the One Reading Community Hub  0808 189 4325 or visit our The Hub webpage. 

If you have to self-isolate and are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result you may be eligible for an Isolation Support Payment of £500. Find out more on our website here. 
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST COVID-19 RESPONSE NEWS FROM READING BOROUGH COUNCIL

With the latest advice and service information changing regularly, you can keep up to date by following our dedicated page to the Covid-19 response here: https://www.reading.gov.uk/coronavirus
Please also follow us on Facebook and Twitter (links below) for regular updates.
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