From Monday 11^th January 2021, Covid-19 community testing is available targeted at people without coronavirus symptoms who cannot work from home, and their families, provided they live or work in Tendring district.

This will help prevent and reduce transmission in the community through increasing the testing capacity and giving people who are asymptomatic (someone who doesn’t have symptoms) an opportunity to be tested.

Around 1 in 3 people have coronavirus without symptoms so could be spreading the virus without knowing, so this testing is designed to identify these people and make sure they self-isolate.

Community testing means anyone can get a free test and play their part in keeping others safe. Even though we are targeting those who cannot work from home and their families, we won’t prevent others who live or work in Tendring from collecting tests.  

The more people we can test, the better we can fight the virus in our local area.

We would ask you to share this information with your local residents.

Find out more: www.tendringdc.gov.uk/communitytesting

As a new national lockdown is called by the Prime Minister, residents and businesses in Tendring are being urged to follow the rules.
On Monday (4 January) new restrictions were announced across England with people told to stay at home except for a few permitted reasons.
In summary people must only leave their home for specific purposes (such as getting food and medicine, medical treatment, or for work if they cannot reasonably work from home); can only exercise once daily, and only with one other person; and no household mixing except for support and childcare bubbles.
If exercising people should stay local to their village or town, while shielding resumes for the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable. Schools and colleges are closed, except for vulnerable or key worker children, and all non-essential retail, hospitality and leisure venues are closed except for takeaway, delivery or click-and-collect services.

The full guidance can be read online at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home, and restrictions are expected to be in place until at least mid-February.

With Tendring placed into Tier 4 of local Covid-19 measures last month, many of the restrictions were already in force in the district.
There are no new significant changes to Tendring District Council (TDC) services, but updates can be found at www.tendringdc.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Those who are shielding, or otherwise struggling to get supplies, can also call the Tendring Shield helpline on 01255 686700 for support.

Neil Stock OBE, TDC Leader, said it was now more important than ever to follow the national restrictions.
“I am not a fan of continued lockdowns or restrictions, which are damaging to people’s mental health and livelihoods – but we are now nearing, I hope, the final hurdle,” Cllr Stock said.
“As the Prime Minister set out last night we now have a road map to the lifting of restrictions, thanks to the vaccination programme, and we need to tighten up on restrictions now to protect the NHS until we get to that point.
“So let’s do everything we can to reach that goal – stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives, and if you must go out then remember hands, face, space. Stay local – we have fantastic beaches, parks and playgrounds right across the district, so there is no need to travel far to access beautiful open space.
“Together – as a council, as a community, as a country – we can get through this.”

The Chancellor has also announced this week a new package of business support grants, and TDC officers will be working through the details in the coming days to passport these to local businesses.

Details of new business grants, which come into effect as a result of the move to Tier 4 on Boxing Day, will go live this week; details can be found at www.tendringdc.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Cllr Stock added: “Just as it is vital we stay home to save lives, we also need to love local to support our economy. So please think of your local shops, whether for your essentials or when shopping online for other goods.
“Our Facebook group is still running – www.facebook.com/groups/ShopSafeTendring/ – where local businesses can post up how people can access them online, and I’d encourage people to use it.
“We know how important these business support grants are, and our team is continuing to work hard to process all of the applications to all of the schemes as quickly as possible.”
06/01/21

National lockdown: stay at home

You must stay at home. This is the single most important action we can all take to protect the NHS and save lives.

You must not leave your home unless necessary.

Stay 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household or bubble.

For more information see the Guidance issued by HM Government

Useful Links

• Link to NHS information – the first port of call for the public
• Link to the latest Government information and advice
• Link to Great Bentley Community Support Group GBSupport for local help & support

See CVST 4.1.21 for latest information

Help us to better understand COVID-19

Have you changed your day-to-day life to prevent you, or a loved one, from catching the Coronavirus? If so, we would like to know how and if you think your actions worked.

Have you become ill with Coronavirus or Coronavirus-like symptoms since the pandemic started? If so, we would like to know the treatments you have tried and if you think they helped.

To help beat COVID-19 and to take part in a survey by the University of Southampton – please click here: www.rtocovid19.com

As a thank you for your participation between now and March 2021 we are awarding over 60 vouchers (ranging from £5 to £500) as prizes to be won. See the survey for further details.

See RTO-Covid19 invitation with QR Code for further information or contact:

Dr Richard M Clarke
Research Fellow (RTO Covid-19 project)
Primary care, Population Science and Medical Education
Faculty of Medicine
University of Southampton
University Road
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
Email: [email protected]

Your local NHS is getting ready to deliver a COVID-19 vaccination programme and they need your help.
They are looking for volunteer stewards across Essex and Suffolk to be at the forefront of the local fight against the virus – you could be part of it!
As a volunteer steward, you will help the vaccination process run smoothly and safely.
Local vaccination stations will be open from 8am-8pm seven days a week. Volunteers are asked to commit to individual sessions of four hours plus 15 minutes handover time.
This is an exciting opportunity to play your part in protecting the community and saving lives.
If you are interested in volunteering please email [email protected]
For more information visit https://eput.nhs.uk/vaccine-recruitment
and see Covid Volunteer Steward Role Description V1
and FAQs Volunteer Stewards V1

See the Violence & Vulnerability Unit Update re community grant funding, support for young people, healing connections and awards

Please see CVST Update for the latest information