We are ramping up our communications on social media and signs are being printed to put around our parks and public spaces urging people to stay apart and limit the time they spend outdoors.
People in need of help
As always, if people need help accessing food or other essentials then please ask them to contactwww.worcestershire.gov.uk/here2help. They will then direct them to support locally.
Impact on services
We are keeping our public toilets and playgrounds open in-line with government guidance. We intend to maintain key services, as we have done throughout this pandemic, and have plans in place to redeploy staff to support that ambition if needed.
Parking in all of our car parks is now free until further notice. On-street parking restrictions and time limits in waiting bays remain in place and will be enforced.
We are, for the time being, no longer offering face to face pre-booked appointments in our reception but remain available by email or phone.
Libraries are offering limited services and Household Recycling Centres remain open.
Use of village and community halls
The guidance on the use of village and community halls has been updated. While most must close there are a small number of activities, they can still be used for in a Covid-19 Secure way, this includes hosting blood donation sessions, as polling stations etc.
Worcestershire public health is urgently looking for places to undertake rapid result Lateral Flow Testing of asymptomatic people.
In order for them to be able to do this they need your help. Please could you let them know if you have any indoor space available such as a community centre, village hall or sports hall, that could be used to support their extended testing programme. In order to enable their testing teams to use the indoor space you have it needs to:
- Have toilets
- Be accessible to wheelchair users
- Have heating
- Have parking or be near facilities where parking is available
- Be available for use until the end of March 2021
If you think you have a space that might be suitable please let their logistics team know on :
CV19PropertyFacilities@worcestershire.gov.uk
The Covid-19 vaccine has begun to be given to people in this area in accordance with the nationally set priority list.
The message is that the NHS will contact people in priority groups when it is their turn to receive the vaccine and they should not contact their GP practice, or local hospital, directly asking for an appointment.
Below is a table setting out the order of prioritisation and a statement explaining how this has been reached.
Covid-19 vaccine scam
The police have made us aware of a scam relating to the vaccine.
People due to receive the vaccine have received a text messages, claiming to be from the NHS, telling them they need to complete a form for their first vaccine and providing a link to a very official looking site. They are then asked to fill in an official looking online form looks and after completing it, they are then asked for their bank details.
This is a scam, and a despicable one at that. In other versions of the scam people are being cold called and being asked to pay a charge for the vaccine.
You do not need to provide your bank details to receive the vaccine and there is no charge. The NHS will not ask you to send a text or push a button on a keypad to confirm you want the vaccine.
Kind regards,
Tracy Perkins
Communities and Engagement Office, Strategy and Performance Team