Coronavirus: Weekly update from Camden Council For the latest information and support from Camden Council and its partners, including updates to services: • Visit camden.gov.uk/coronavirus – includes information in different languages • Check the rolling newsfeed at camden.gov.uk/coronavirusnews • Follow Twitter @CamdenCouncil • Speak to someone at the Council directly by calling 020 7974 4444 (option 9).
SIGN UP to the Council’s coronavirus e-newsletter for regular service updates, news and support at camden.gov.uk/coronavirus-updates
£500 grant to support low earners to self-isolate If you’re self-isolating and you meet all of the below criteria, you may be eligible for a one-off payment of £500 – called a Test and Trace support payment – to support you to self-isolate and to make up for lost income: • You have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace; and • You are employed or self-employed, are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result; and • You are currently receiving benefits. Find out more and apply at camden.gov.uk/apply-for-test-and-trace-support-payment or call Camden Council on 020 7974 4444 (option 9).
Cases of coronavirus are rising London remains at a ‘high’ level of local COVID alert so it’s really important that you continue to follow public health advice to prevent further spread of coronavirus. For full details visit gov.uk/coronavirus
Face covering facts
As this pandemic continues, we are seeing many in our community struggling to make ends meet. Over half-term, the Council committed to help address food poverty by making supermarket vouchers available to all Camden families with children up to age 18 and in receipt of benefits. We are grateful to all the businesses and residents across the borough who stepped up with outpourings of help and support for families, demonstrating once again the strength and care in our community. There is a growing network of schools, businesses, faith, voluntary and community groups, and others, including this paper, working together to make sure no one in Camden goes hungry. I am proud that we are standing together to care for every child who grows up here and we will continue calling for national action. I also want to express my sincere thanks to those who have supported Camden Learning’s digital divide Crowdfunder so far – whether through donations or helping to spread the important message. Providing young people with the tools they need to continue to access learning is absolutely vital to giving every child the best start in life. There is still time to donate to the Crowdfunder, so please do give what you can at crowdfunder.co.uk/ end-the-digital-divide-for-camden-pupils Councillor Georgia Gould, Leader of Camden Council
Has your child had the flu vaccine yet? It’s really important that children are vaccinated against the flu to prevent them passing it onto others. Younger children (aged 2 and above) can get a vaccine through their GP. School-aged children will be vaccinated in school, so please look out for the consent form.
The child vaccine, administered via a nasal spray, contains a tiny amount of pork gelatine. If you’re uncomfortable with this, ask for the injectable vaccine, which is free from pork gelatine. To do this, or to ask about anything else, including your child’s allergies, please call 0203 317 5076.
Join online Q&A with Camden GPs
Camden Healthwatch is hosting an online Q&A with Camden GPs on Wednesday 4 November from 5.30 to 6.30pm. This will be a chance to hear how GP services are coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, residents’ experiences of accessing services and how we can all keep safe. A British Sign Language interpreter will support this session. Find out more and register at healthwatchcamden.co.uk/news
Coronavirus usually spreads through respiratory droplets from coughs, sneezes and speaking. Wearing a face covering is important because it covers up the nose and mouth, preventing these droplets reaching others and in turn preventing the spread of coronavirus.
Celebrating Halloween safely
Don’t forget that some people are exempt from wearing face coverings. This includes children under the age of 11, and people who have difficulty wearing one due to a physical or mental disability or illness – so please be kind when you see someone without one.
To protect yourself and your community, please consider giving trick or treating a miss. Coronavirus most commonly spreads between people in close contact with each other (closer than 2 metres) when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes, spreading the virus through respiratory droplets or small particles.
Unless you’re exempt, you must wear a face covering in all indoor public spaces. Remember that it must cover both your nose and mouth. If you don’t, you could face a fine. Visit gov.uk/coronavirus for more information.
camden.gov.uk/coronavirus
020 7974 4444 (option 9)
While you may not be able to celebrate Halloween in the same way this year, you can still have fun safely with your family.
Coming into contact with more people and touching potentially infected surfaces by doing things
like sharing sweets and ringing doorbells, and then touching yourmouth, nose or eyes, could put you at increased risk of coronavirus. You could also pass it onto people who are more vulnerable, as well as increase the anxiety of residents through repeated knocks on their doors. Instead, why not watch a scary film, go for a spooky walk dressed as zombies, or get into ghoulish garb for a spooky family dinner of worms (spaghetti) on toast and share your night with your friends on social media.