UK Government - Stay at Home!
Published: 24 March 2020
Last evening, Prime Minister Johnson addressed the nation and asked everyone to stay at home and only leave home for one of four reasons. The following is an excerpt from the Government's advice on their website.
You should only leave the house for one of four reasons:
- Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.
- One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household.
- Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
- Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.
These four reasons are exceptions - even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of your household.
These measures must be followed by everyone. Separate advice is available for individuals or households who are isolating, and for the most vulnerable who need to be shielded.
If you work in a critical sector outlined in this guidance, or your child has been identified as vulnerable, you can continue to take your children to school. Where parents do not live in the same household, children under 18 can be moved between their parents’ homes
Cambridgeshire County Council
Our local county council is working on a Community Hub. They have published some information on their website, but here is a taster of what they are working on:
Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, in response to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government direction, have launched a COVID-19 coordination hub to provide targeted support for those most at risk during the coronavirus outbreak.
The hub will have a specific focus on providing access to food, medicines and other supplies in the first instance. As well as co-ordinate the need to make sure there is adequate staff and resource capacity to serve a significant increased level of demand in critical service areas, such as the NHS and social care.
A plea is going out to people in our communities who will be experienced, qualified and/or willing to undertake public duties in a voluntary capacity who are willing and able to volunteer their time.
The hub will manage and co-ordinate the re-deployment of staff, community volunteers and resources to meet that demand, on behalf of the public sector. It will also pass on general offers of help and will work alongside existing voluntary and community groups to help maximise support for our local communities.
Most of us know someone who is aged over 70 or who falls within one of the other vulnerable groups listed by the Government. The hub aims to match people who can offer their time and specific skills with those who have been advised to self-isolate.
Please visit the website to register interest and for more information.
Longstanton Parish Council
You may be aware that Longstanton Parish Council is working with a large number of community volunteers to help the vulnerable at this time. The council has created a plan and co-ordinating effort between the Parish Office (based at home) with volunteers to ensure medicines, food and telephone support is provided where necessary. We will not be knocking on doors (well we can't) so if anyone needs support they must contact the parish office by phone 01954 782323 / 07397 272 969 or by email clerk@longstanton-pc.gov.uk. If you know of a neighbour who may need support, please let them know we are here for them if they need us. At time of writing, 24th March, we have provided assistance to 9 residents.
On Monday 23rd March, LPC took the decision to close the playground on the Recreation Ground due to the number of people using the equipment and not observing social distancing. Since this time, the Government has closed all playgrounds until further notice.