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NHS Declares Major Incident

Major Incident declared by NHS

NHS logo - NHS is declaring a major incident

The NHS has declared a major incident in relation to the administration of the COVID 19 booster vaccine. They will use a number of venues to ramp-up vaccinations, including

  • vaccination centres (existing and new);
  • local pharmacies;
  • PCNs (GPs);
  • Hospital Hubs,
  • Pop up centres,
  • drive-thru facilities (probably in unused retail parks e.g. B&Q Hythe), and
  • an outreach programme to large business premises.

However, the NHS desperately needs volunteers to help ensure the smooth running of the new and old vaccination clinics.   Please contact Community360, who will be supporting this aspect of the vaccination roll out, if you are interested. Telephone 01206 505250 or email [email protected].

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Treating COVID-19 at Home & Vaccine

Vaccine Sites

Covid-19 Virus - where can you get the vaccine?

If you want to find out how you might get your vaccine carry on reading. Click here to read about treating COVID-19 at home.

Health and care staff are working hard to open as many centres as possible as supplies become available. Essex & Suffolk NHS now have five hospital vaccination hubs (including Colchester & Ipswich). Also more than 40 GP-led services and, from tomorrow, two new large vaccination centres. These are in Wickford & Ipswich with more opening shortly.

Continue reading “Treating COVID-19 at Home & Vaccine”

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Testing Centre Opens – How to Book & Help

Covid-19 Virus

Covid-19 Virus

Covid-19 Testing Centre Opens In Colchester

A new fast testing centre is opening in Colchester for those who DO NOT have symptoms of Covid-19.  Colchester residents with no symptoms are being encouraged to get tested to help reduce the spread of the virus and the pressure it is putting on hospitals and the care system.

There is also a call for volunteers to help with the fight against COVID-19 which you can read below. Continue reading “Testing Centre Opens – How to Book & Help”

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Lockdown 2021 – You’re Not Alone

Lockdown 2021 sees relaunch of enhanced Care NetworkLockdown 2021 – You’re Not Alone

For Lockdown 2021, the West Bergholt Care Network has relaunched its scheme which aims to help those self-isolating or in need of a range of help from shopping to a chat.   It will, once again, take calls from any village resident in need of help during the COVID-19 emergency.

This time around, the organiser, Mervyn Donnelly, is keen to highlight two services:

  • If you are, or know, somebody who lives alone and feels lonely, Mervyn would like to set them up with a telephone-buddy who will keep them in contact.
  • With the vaccine now imminent for many of the more vulnerable, the Care Network is there to get you there and back for your appointment if you need a lift.  This is available for any other essential medical appointments as well.

Continue reading “Lockdown 2021 – You’re Not Alone”

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Winter Resilience – Coping with COVID

Winter ResilienceWinter Resilience

Colchester BC is launching a Winter Resilience programme to see us through winter with COVID.  The intention is to ensure all residents are prepared and/or have access to support when they need it.

Community360 minibus

This year they are going mobile and will be out and about in the community, so look out for the Community360 minibus in your area.  Soon they’ll be dropping off packs to Continue reading “Winter Resilience – Coping with COVID”

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Day 107 since Lockdown – the ‘Free Bus Travel’ edition

On the buses

On the busesDay 107 since Lockdown

On day 107 we see Essex opening a free bus travel scheme.  In other news we have:

Stop. Swap. Go!Stop. Swap. GO! campaign launched

A new sustainable travel campaign aiming to make it easier for people in Essex to switch from cars to sustainable travel, such as walking, cycling and using the bus, is launched today. Continue reading “Day 107 since Lockdown – the ‘Free Bus Travel’ edition”

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Day 91 of (flagging) Lockdown – the Windrush edition

John Easey with NHS Radishes display

Armed Forces day flagDay 91 of (flagging) Lockdown

Day 91 lockdown coincides with Windrush Day commemorating the Windrush generation and their legacy.  You can find out more about this on Wikipedia and I ‘tip a hat to it’ at the end of the update.  The day also sees the start of a week of activity leading up to Armed Forces Day on Saturday which is where we start; other items:

Flag Raising ahead of Saturday’s Armed Forces’ Day

Continue reading “Day 91 of (flagging) Lockdown – the Windrush edition”

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Day 86 of (stairway to) Lockdown – the ‘MC Escher’ edition

Family cycling

Escher impossible staircaseDay 86 of (stairway to) Lockdown

Day 86 starts off with an update from the Parish Council.  It is also MC Escher‘s birthday who was famous mostly for his ‘Impossible Stairs’ – navigating the pandemic sometimes seems a bit like this!

A couple of mini-snippets:

  • Recycling back to normal apart from textiles on 22nd June,
  • Colchester Zoo opens tomorrow pre-booked entrance only,
  • If you are going into town, remember to keep left on pavements.

After all that we have:

Quality Local Council AwardParish Council Work Continues During the Pandemic

Continue reading “Day 86 of (stairway to) Lockdown – the ‘MC Escher’ edition”

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Day 77 of (where is) Lockdown – the Gardeners edition

Day 77 of (wherNational Garden Schemee is?) Lockdown

On day 77 we start off with items of interest to gardeners and then quite a few more news items:

National Garden Scheme reopens

The National Garden Scheme has just started opening gardens.  You have to book a timed entry online (and pay Continue reading “Day 77 of (where is) Lockdown – the Gardeners edition”