On March 17th 2021, and in line with Step 3 of the Roadmap, further COVID-19 restrictions eased in England.
Step 3 on the Governments Roadmap from 17th May:
Outdoors, most social contact rules will be lifted – although gatherings of over 30 people will
remain illegal.
Outdoor performances such as outdoor cinemas, outdoor theatres and outdoor cinemas can
reopen. Indoors, the rule of 6 or 2 households will apply – although we will keep under review
whether it is safe to increase this.
Indoor hospitality, entertainment venues such as cinemas and soft play areas, the rest of the
accommodation sector, and indoor adult group sports and exercise classes will also reopen.
Larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or
half-full (whichever is lower) will also be allowed, as will those in outdoor venues with a
capacity of 4000 people or half-full (whichever is lower).
In the largest outdoor seated venues where crowds can spread out, up to 10,000 people will
be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower).
Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals.
Other life events that will be permitted include bar mitzvahs and christenings.
For more details on step 3 of the road map click here.
International Travel: Passenger COVID-19 Charter
The government launched its Passenger COVID-19 Charter.
The Charter brings together all guidance on rights, responsibilities, and reasonable expectations regarding international travel whilst COVID-19 measures remain in place, giving consumers the confidence to book leisure, business, and other trips as international travel restarts.
Support for businesses
COVID-19 support is available to businesses. You may be eligible for loans, tax relief and cash grants, whether your business is open or closed.
Use the checker tool to find out what COVID-19 financial support is available for you or see a list of financial support measures for businesses
You can order free rapid lateral flow tests to test your employees twice a week in the workplace. You must register on or before 31 March 2021. You can register your business here: http://bit.ly/WorkTestLdnSE
New Social Media Assets
New assets have been added to the Coronavirus Resource Centre (CRC), summarised below:
- Roadmap – Spring 2021: including the easing of restrictions from 29 March
- Covid-19 Vaccine
- Workplace Testing
- Back To School translations
- Stay Home translations
New BBC Translated Videos
New videos from the BBC in 5 South Asian languages are now available on the below topics:
- Travelling Rules
- Lockdown Mental Health Tips
- Vaccine Scams
- Lockdown rules explained
- Test and trace
- Vaccine explainer
- Vaccine Q&A
- Vaccine myths busting
Travel Messaging
On 29 March, the Stay at Home requirement will end and a new message to “minimise travel” will be introduced.
The Department for Transport (DfT) have summarised key messages and assets below:
- Messaging after 29 March: As we approach the Easter period, the key message will be to minimise travel.
- From 12 April: As sectors reopen from 12 April, transport will be a vital facilitator. Ensuring people understand how they can travel safely will be crucial to minimise risks of transmission, protecting those working in reopening industries, and the wider public.
Eligible for a free NHS flu jab – you can now book your Covid-19 vaccine
If you live in NW London and were eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine this winter or are the main carer for an older or vulnerable person, you can now book your first Covid-19 vaccination straight away. Please note this is for first vaccinations only.
Please use the links below to book in at a vaccination centre near you.
Hammersmith Vaccination Centre https://novotelconferencecentre.nhsbookings.com/v2/
Wembley Vaccination Centre https://networkhouse.nhsbookings.com/v2/
Hayes Vaccination Centre https://oldvinylfactory.nhsbookings.com/v2/
Ealing Vaccination Centre https://cphouse.nhsbookings.com/v2/
Marble Arch Vaccination Centre https://etcvenues.nhsbookings.com/v2/
Science Museum, Kensington Vaccination Centre https://sciencemuseum.nhsbookings.com/v2/
DfE Guidance updated: Following the PM’s announcement on Monday 20th February 2021, the DfE has updated the out-of-school settings guidance to provide more information on who can attend out-of-school settings (OOSS) from 8th March, and what measures should be put in place to reduce the risk of transmission in OOSS. The updated guidance documents are available at the usual links here: Protective measures for holiday and after-school clubs, and other out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) & Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The updated guidance should provide you with all the detail you need, but the headlines are available from our website news post at:
NRCSE Guidance: NRCSE has also developed some useful guidelines for operating during the pandemic available here:
Public Message on the National Booking System
Letters inviting NW London residents to register for an appointment at large vaccination centres have now started to be sent out by the national booking service to people in the first priority groups.
More information about the national booking service here
The letter will include a unique booking code and individual NHS ID number to support the booking – these will be needed from the letter to book the appointment.
Residents will not be able to book an appointment until they receive this invite letter, which will be sent when it’s your turn for a vaccination.
Letters will initially go to people in the top JCVI groups who are in reasonable travelling distance of the locations that are open, and who haven’t already been vaccinated through other NHS vaccination services.
People will only be able to book into the large vaccination centres and pharmacies using this system.
More large vaccination centres and pharmacies will open over the next few weeks, which will be added to the booking system.
Residents are being reminded that if they have already booked an appointment with their GP they should ignore this letter.
Public information is also available on https://www.nwlondonccgs.nhs.uk/coronavirus/nhs-covid-19-vaccination-programme/large-vaccination-site-locations
New Stay Home, Save Lives, Protect the NHS resources are now available.
With the rise in transmission rates across the country recently, and with increasing pressure on the NHS, it is now more than ever essential that people stay at home. This is the single most important action we can all take. These asset reinforce that message and include:
- Social animations
- Workplace animations
- Press adverts
- Additional social
- Chris Witty TV commercial including translated and BSL versions
Radio adverts including translated versions
New resources are available on the Campaign Resource Centre for the Covid-19 Vaccine campaign.
- General vaccine confidence – focuses on general vaccine safety and efficacy.
- Covid vaccine confidence – focuses specifically on the Covid vaccine; development, general information, facts, safety and efficacy.
- NHS vaccine information – includes information on the NHS vaccination programme such as it will be provided for free, no need to apply and you will be contacted.
- Vaccine deployment – targets the cohorts currently eligible for the vaccine.
For information about COVID-19, please visit: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
The Hammersmith & Fulham Clinical Commissioning Group have circulated some useful audio clips on the current updated Covid-19 situation in London, tips and advice. The audio is interpreted into the below languages:
Arabic:
Bengali:
Farsi:
French:
Kurdish:
Portuguese:
Somali:
Spanish:
Tigrinya:
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
H&F CAN is the volunteer community aid network launched by Hammersmith & Fulham Council to support vulnerable residents during the coronavirus pandemic.
Working with the voluntary and charity sector, and alongside the ward and street-level mutual aid groups, H&F CAN offers support to residents who don’t have friends or family close by to help them. Our taskforce of volunteers will help those most in need at the time of their greatest need.
Do you need urgent support with food, loneliness or isolation?
Or are you worried about a friend, neighbour or relative?
Freephone: 0800 1456095 (9am to 7pm)
Email: can@lbhf.gov.uk
For further information, please visit:
Volunteers
As you may already be aware, LBHF has set up H&F CAN, which offers residents a route to volunteer to help others during the Covid-19 crisis. It is very heart-warming that so far, over 1,000 people have registered to volunteer – what an amazing response.
In terms of deploying volunteers – those who have registered on the H&F CAN may be signposted to local organisations who may be able to use their help. As Covid-19 continues to evolve, local organisations are likely to receive increasing requests for help from both existing and new clients. If you think you may be able to make use of additional volunteers, please take a couple of minutes to complete a quick survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZFLQY6N
Information on volunteering opportunities, and local organisations who have already indicated that they can support additional volunteers, please follow this link: Volunteering opportunities 25.3.20
Supporting volunteers
Volunteers obviously need to be supported and trained. To support this, Sobus have produced a template Covid-19 volunteer handbook, which includes a template Volunteer Agreement, which Hammersmith & Fulham organisations are very welcome to adapt and use. COVID-19 Volunteer Handbook SOBUS
We have produced three short information videos for volunteers – you may well have your own training resources available, but you are very welcome to make use of these:
Covid-19 volunteering advice SOBUS
Volunteering and financial transactions: We also have a short guide for residents and organisations around Handling Money Safely – particularly for those that need help with shopping which will involve a financial transaction between the user and the volunteer.
Service updates
We are asking organisations to update us on their current service offer – including whether they are able to support residents with shopping, medicine collection or escorting to urgent appointments. The latest information we have received on services for Older People is attached, and will be updated regularly. We are planning to produce similar updates for services for BAME communities shortly.
The most recent Sobus Covid-19 bulletin with Covid-19 funding can be found here: Covid-19 bulletin May 2021
Business continuity planning: For advice and information on business continuity planning, please see the attached guide COVID-19 business continuity planning and Planning your exit strategy
