Coronavirus: Weekly update
Marchmont Community Centre
From Camden Council
To keep you up to date with changes to council services and support available through the Council and its partners, you’ll find weekly updates here in the Camden New Journal. Visit camden.gov.uk/coronavirus for the latest on all council services and information on essential support, including how to access emergency food and financial support. The webpage contains information in different languages and formats. You can also check the rolling news feed at camden.gov.uk/coronavirusnews, Twitter @CamdenCouncil or speak to someone at the Council directly on 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
With lockdown measures having further eased last weekend, it’s been great to see people out and about in Camden, safely enjoying local businesses and spaces. However, we must remember that we are still not over this crisis and we need to work together to prevent a second wave. We can all make a huge difference by taking simple steps to enjoy Camden safely. You can read below about some of the measures we’re putting in place as we start to reopen spaces across Camden, and we ask you to continue to keep yourself and others safe by following the guidance. As a borough, there is a long road to recovery ahead, but I’m determined that we put in place bold and ambitious plans for our next steps. The cost of this crisis has been high – but has also shown the power of our communities to lead change and renewal. The collective response from our local community and voluntary organisations, and the grassroots activism we’ve seen over this period, demonstrates just what can be achieved if we harness the unique strengths of our communities. We are committed to helping to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy and society, that challenges inequalities in education, health employment and housing and delivers on Camden’s vision for a place in which everyone can succeed, and everyone has a voice. Councillor Georgia Gould, Leader of Camden Council
Council meetings You can now watch council meetings, which are being held remotely, live or as recordings at camden.gov.uk/councilmeetings This evening (9 July) Planning Committee takes place at 7pm, and on Monday 13 July, Full Council is at 7pm, where community representatives will join a discussion on Camden’s community response to COVID-19. Next Tuesday 14 July there is a Schools Forum at 6pm. While face-to-face councillor surgeries are currently suspended, they are still here to help. Visit camden.gov.uk/councillors or call 020 7974 2792 to get in touch.
Local businesses
Camden libraries Following the most recent Government guidance, Camden Council is working on plans to make sure Camden’s libraries can be opened safely. This will include a phased approach to reopening, with limited computer access available at two libraries first. This will be followed in the remaining libraries over the summer. Protecting residents and staff remains the main priority and the Council is working to make sure that safety measures are in place before reopening. There will be more information, including reopening dates, very soon. You can access the Council’s 24/7 digital library at camden.gov.uk/digital-library
camden.gov.uk/coronavirus 020 7974 4444 (option 9)
With many pubs, restaurants and other businesses starting to reopen, Camden Council has been working with local businesses to make sure there are safety measures in place. These include oneway systems, screens and hand sanitiser facilities. Please stay safe and follow the guidance, and consider: • Planning ahead before you visit a business to check it’s open, if it’s likely to be busy and if you need to book • Using cashless payment • Walking or cycling rather than using public transport. If you do use public transport, you must wear a face covering.
CORONAVIRUS
PROTECT YOURSELF & OTHERS
Playgrounds and outdoor gyms Camden Council has been working to make sure playgrounds and outdoor gyms in parks can be used safely. These spaces will begin to reopen this week with safety guidance in place. Please take these steps to keep yourself and others safe: • Keep 2 metres away from others, or use a face covering where a 2 metre distance cannot be kept, especially in outdoor gyms • Wash your hands before and after using the spaces and use hand sanitiser regularly • Avoid spaces when busy • Do not use playgrounds or outdoor gyms if you or anyone from your household has coronavirus symptoms. Full guidance will be in place on sites and can be found at camden.gov.uk/parks
Back to school plans The Government has published plans for how schools, nurseries and colleges should fully reopen to all children and young people from September. Limits on pupil numbers will be lifted to allow schools to open at full capacity but children will stay in class or year group-sized ‘bubbles’, while older children will be encouraged to keep their distance from each other and staff where possible. This is alongside other measures, such as regular cleaning and handwashing. Camden Council and Camden Learning are working with local schools to help them to safely reopen to all their pupils from September. Your child’s school should be in touch about arrangements for September before the end of term. Children and young people will be expected to attend unless there are particular reasons for not doing so. For nurseries, childminders, and other early years providers, restrictions on group sizes will be lifted from 20 July, before the start of the summer holiday. For more information, please visit camden.gov.uk/schoolschildren-and-families
NHS Test and Trace NHS Test and Trace prevents further spread of coronavirus by: • allowing people with coronavirus symptoms to get tested • tracing the recent close contacts of people who test positive so that they can also self-isolate. If you develop coronavirus symptoms, self-isolate for 7 days and organise a test – visit nhs. uk/ask-for-a-coronavirustest or phone 119. Self-isolating means not leaving your home at all. If you live with others who have symptoms, you’ll need to selfisolate for 14 days from the day
the first person started having symptoms. You may be able to stop earlier than 14 days if everyone in your household with symptoms gets a negative test result. If you have had close recent contact with someone who has coronavirus, you must self-isolate if the NHS Test and Trace service advises you to do so. If you are worried about being able to selfisolate, support is available from the Council – phone 020 7974 4444 (option 9). Visit nhs.uk/coronavirus for advice on symptoms, testing and self-isolation. If you’re worried about your health or coronavirus symptoms call NHS 111.
camden.gov.uk/coronavirus 020 7974 4444 (option 9)
King’s Cross Brunswick Neighbourhood Association (KCBNA)’s Marchmont Community Centre is working hard to support local residents over 60. It has started a weekly publication, the Lockdown Times!, featuring contributions from its members, and aims to inspire, entertain, inform and connect residents with the outside world and each other. Together with KCBNA’s youth team they are addressing issues like the Black Lives Matter protests, and sharing updates on local services, stories, online activities and much more. The centre is also working with Age UK Camden and the Surma Centre to help older residents with essential services like food and medicine deliveries, and telephone and Zoom befriending. To subscribe to the Lockdown Times! or find out more about support available, email diane.fisher@kcbna.org.uk or phone 07443 193 413.
Priority supermarket deliveries On Monday, the Government began to relax its guidance for residents told to stay home and shield from the COVID-19 outbreak. Despite this, Camden Council knows that some of you still have concerns about maintaining a safe social distance whilst out and about. To support you to stay home as much as you feel you need to, priority supermarket delivery slots will continue to be available to residents who need extra support. This service sets aside a number of daily delivery slots with Tesco and Iceland so that you can do your food shopping online. To sign up visit camden.gov.uk/priority-food-delivery or contact 020 7974 4444 (option 9).
How would you like to hear from the Council? Camden Council has launched a short survey to find out how residents would like to receive information and updates about its services. Understanding more about how residents use social media, email and printed publications will help the Council to make sure it’s getting the right information out, in the way that works best for you. Complete the survey at camden.gov.uk/communications
CORONAVIRUS
PROTECT YOURSELF & OTHERS