This news roundup talks about:
- Vaccine Frauds,
- Warm & Toasty Newsletter,
- Train As a Healthcare Support Worker,
- Essex Family Support Service e-Bulletin,
- Fake National Insurance Calls.
News Roundup – Fraud Alerts & Newsletters
Treating COVID-19 at Home & Vaccine
Vaccine Sites
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.
Testing Centre Opens – How to Book & Help
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”
Lockdown 2021 – You’re Not Alone
Lockdown 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.
Winter Resilience – Coping with COVID
Winter 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”
Day 107 since Lockdown – the ‘Free Bus Travel’ edition
Day 107 since Lockdown
On day 107 we see Essex opening a free bus travel scheme. In other news we have:
- NHS Cadets scheme launched by local Chief Nurse,
- Essex Wellbeing Service to become a fixture,
- Holiday Scams:
- Property Rental Fraud. and
- Some ‘Bus’ music.
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”
Day 91 of (flagging) Lockdown – the Windrush edition
Day 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”
Day 86 of (stairway to) Lockdown – the ‘MC Escher’ edition
Day 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:
- An updated Health & Wellbeing plan,
- News about visiting restrictions at local hospitals,
- Expanded Business Support from Essex CC,
- Free Safer Cycling courses,
- Temporary changes to planning rules, and a
- Musical distraction.
Parish Council Work Continues During the Pandemic
Continue reading “Day 86 of (stairway to) Lockdown – the ‘MC Escher’ edition”
Day 77 of (where is) Lockdown – the Gardeners edition
Day 77 of (where is?) Lockdown
e is?) LockdownOn day 77 we start off with items of interest to gardeners and then quite a few more news items:
- National Garden Scheme reopens,
- Stay at Home, Grown your own scheme – get a starter kit,
- Today is the beginning of Carers Week,
- Update on the work of the NHS Volunteer Responders,
- How to get new recycling boxes & caddies,
- Essex Police enhance online services offering, and
- The Good Life – gardening in mud.
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”
Day 70 of (surreally) Lockdown – the De-Lockdown edition
Day 70 of (surreally) Lockdown
So, is this day 70 of Lockdown or is it day 1 of De-Lockdown? Heathlands School saw around 70 children attending today so, for them, it is pretty much over until the Summer Holidays in just over 7 weeks. Other news:
- Older Adults keeping active,
- HMG De-Lockdown updates,
- Beware fake test & trace calls,
- COVID-19 guidance for smokers & vapers,
- Some light reading (not), and
- Two bits of musical relief.
Older Adults Keeping Active
Sport England have published Active at Home, co-funded by them & PHE. It aims to help older adults keep up their activity levels while isolating Continue reading “Day 70 of (surreally) Lockdown – the De-Lockdown edition”