To find out the rates in your local are, view this interactive map
Spelthorne specific updates
• Spelthorne are now in Tier 2: High Alert, along with the whole of Surrey and all London Boroughs
• local testing – there will be a local Mobile Testing Unit at Sunbury Park, Green Street Car Park on 6-9, 16–18 and 29–31 December. Book a free test online; www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
• rate per 100,000 population (Last 7 days, up to 27/11/2020). Spelthorne = 110.8 (England = 158)
• leisure centres will be reopening as well as outdoor gyms and Staines Park Fitness Trail
• shops are now reopening including Elmsleigh Centre opening until 7pm, with Primark trialling opening until 10pm • places of worship can open but you must not socialise with people from outside of your household or support bubble while you are indoors there, unless a legal exemption applies
• meet Santa and Mrs Claus on Friday 4 December from 5.45pm, fun with Santa and Mrs Claus live from the North Pole! With children’s entertainment, Carol singing, and the Stanwell Christmas lights switch on. This Zoom event will be free to view, and a link will be posted at www.christmasinstanwell.org
Spelthorne Borough Council: Coronavirus update page for Spelthorne
• 2 business grants are still available.
- Local Restrictions Grant apply online now; www.spelthorne.gov.uk/LRSGO
- Additional Restrictions Grant apply online now www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/19844/Applications-open-for-Additional-Restrictions-Grant– closes 6 December
• Voluntary Support North Surrey can awards grants up to £500 to voluntary and community groups in the Borough who have been affected by the pandemic, or involved in the emergency response to the pandemic. For further guidance and an application form, please visit: voluntarysupport.org.uk/fundraise/latest-funds/
Latest national updates on guidance
As of Tuesday 1 December 2020: 1,643,086 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK and there have been 59,050 deaths. Further information on the data is available here
• local restriction tiers: what you need to know This sets out the local restriction tier system are in place from Wednesday 2 December, including what you can and cannot do in each tier. Updated: 23 November 2020
• UK authorises Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
• COVID-19: guidance for arranging or attending a funeral during the coronavirus pandemic Guidance for arranging or attending a funeral during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Updated: 24 November 2020
• the Government has set out specific rules for forming extended bubbles over Christmas.
Between 23 and 27 December:
• you can form an exclusive ‘Christmas bubble’ composed of people from no more than three households
• you can only be in one Christmas bubble
• you cannot change your Christmas bubble
• you can travel between tiers and UK nations for the purposes of meeting your Christmas bubble
• you can only meet your Christmas bubble in private homes or in your garden, places of worship, or public outdoor spaces
• you can continue to meet people who are not in your Christmas bubble outside your home according to the rules in the tier where you are staying
• you cannot meet someone in a private dwelling who is not part of your household or Christmas bubble
You should travel to meet those in your Christmas bubble and return home between the 23 and 27 December. Anyone travelling to or from Northern Ireland may travel on the 22 and 28 December.
How we can help ourselves and others (reducing loneliness and isolation)
The coronavirus outbreak has made it harder to be with others. Contact with family and friends continues to be limited, and social and leisure activities are restricted, which can cause feelings of loneliness – particularly if you are staying at home. You might be missing family and friends, colleagues or other everyday connections you had. It’s natural to feel like this, and you should not blame yourself for feeling like you are struggling, now or at any other time. It’s really important to remember these changes will not be forever.
Top tips to help reduce loneliness:
• explore ways to spend time together
• create a regular routine of checking in with others
• share your feelings but avoid comparing
• do more things you enjoy and/or learn something new
• volunteer to help others
• join an online community
Useful links:
• Top tips if you are feeling lonely during Coronavirus – Every Mind Matters
• Get help with loneliness – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• Loneliness during coronavirus | Mental Health Foundation
• Coronavirus: six facts about loneliness you need to know (redcross.org.uk)
• The Healthy Surrey website has contact details for local services
• Coronavirus – community and welfare – Surrey County Council
Working safely during COVID
working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) Find out how to make your workplace COVID-secure.
• personal protective equipment (PPE): A list of local contacts for care providers who are not on the PPE portal. Updated: 24 November 2020
• tier posters: Medium, High and Very High A series of posters displaying information about the various tiers of restrictions in England from 2 December 2020. Updated: 24 November 2020
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions Jobs that qualify for exemptions from self-isolation or passenger locator form requirements. Updated: 21 November 2020 • enabling safe and effective volunteering during Covid 19