Sent on behalf of:

Abu Bah - Engagement Lead, Thamesmead Moorings
Khadijah Ahmed, Engagement Lead, Plumstead and Glyndon
Philip Connolly, Engagement Lead, Charlton
Rahman Famuditimi – Engagement Lead, Woolwich
Abu Siddiki – Engagement Lead, Woolwich Riverside

We hope that you’re finding these weekly updates helpful. Some of the information included, around how to stay safe, where to get tested, and the support available, will be similar every week. However, each update will also include a different ‘hot topic’ which will be relevant to the current situation, plus an updated statistic for the local Greenwich area. 

As before, we would really like to encourage you to share the following information through:

1. friends or family who live in your area
2. local networks
3. neighbour or community groups you may be members of
4. with people who you come into regular contact with through your work or local groups

If you haven’t already, it would be really helpful if you could take a couple of minutes to fill out this survey, which allows us to understand how widely this Community Update is being used, and whether it is reaching everyone it needs to. Click here to access the short survey.

KEY MESSAGES 20/04/2021

 

 

Now that restrictions are easing and we’ve moved to the next stage of the roadmap, many of us are likely to be going out more often and meeting up with more people.

One in three people with COVID-19 do not experience any symptoms and may be spreading the virus without knowing.

To keep the virus rates low, it’s encouraged that everyone takes a coronavirus test twice a week, and that this becomes part of your weekly routine.

Rapid testing is a lateral flow test, made up of throat and nasal swab which gives you a result within 30 minutes. This means people who test positive for the virus can self-isolate immediately, which helps prevent the virus from spreading.

Ways you can get your free, twice-weekly test:

• Go to a community testing site 
• Collect a home testing kit at our community testing sites
• Order a home testing kit to be sent to your home

Also, please remember: Hands, Face, Space, Fresh Air.

We’re much safer in the fresh air because coronavirus particles are blown away. So meet others outside and keep a safe distance. The virus has not gone away, and cases could easily increase again if we don’t follow the guidelines. Let’s take this next step safely.

Most people experience grief when they lose someone important to them. It affects everyone differently. There's no right or wrong way to feel.

Changes have been made to several services, including end of life and palliative care, as well as funeral arrangements.

You may feel that you need some extra help and support during this time. There are local places that can help, such as Greenwich Cruse Bereavement Centre, Greenwich and Bexley Hospice as well as national helplines such as Samaritans and Sudden.  

Live Well Greenwich has lots of helpful links that can hopefully help you during this difficult time.

 

1 in 3 people have coronavirus without knowing, so to reduce the spread, you can now get tested whether you have symptoms or not. The more people that get tested, the more we can prevent the spread of this virus.

Rapid test (LFD test)
If you don’t have symptoms, you can get a rapid test. Anyone can get one of these. If you have to leave your home regularly, it’s recommended you get a rapid test 2-3 times a week. It only takes 5 mins and results are emailed to you in 30 mins. Visit www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/rapidtest to book.

Test if you have symptoms (PCR test)
If you have coronavirus symptoms (fever, new continuous cough or a loss of sense of smell or taste), no matter how mild, get a test. These tests can only be taken if you have symptoms and it takes a bit longer for you to get the results – usually a few days.

Booking is essential. Order a home test kit if you cannot get to a test site. Go to gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test, or call 119.

Please see below for information on where you can get both types of coronavirus tests in the borough:

 

Testing is NOT available at the Emergency Department at the hospital or at your GP practice, so please do not attend here trying to get a test. 

 

 

No single person or group of people are more likely than others to catch or spread Coronavirus. You or someone close to may have been unwell with Covid or you may well know someone who has. It’s a very infectious illness affecting so many and there is absolutely no shame to anyone testing positive. The most important thing is to make sure you stay as well as you can, if you do get it, and that you don’t pass it on to anyone else.

If your test result is positive, you and your household will need to stay at home and self-isolate for 10 days. This is important to stop the virus spreading and keep your community safe.

This can be stressful and worrying when you need to go to work. If you are unable to claim sick-pay from your employer and are a low income household, a one-off £500 payment may be available from the Government to support you and your family during these 10 days. Find out if you are eligible to apply for this payment or call 0800 470 4831 to talk to a friendly, local advisor from the Live Well Greenwich Community Hub.
 

 

If you’re interested in helping your community through volunteering, a short training is available to introduce and prepare volunteers for the role of Neighbourhood Champion. This is an opportunity to learn, ask questions, share information and practice.

For more information, please email victoria.smith@royalgreenwich.gov.uk. 

If you think it would be helpful to share these messages via WhatsApp or text message, we have a shorter version available for this purpose. If you would like this, please let us know your mobile number and we can share this with you for you to forward on – please email robin.clarke@royalgreenwich.gov.uk directly with this information.

 

If you would prefer not to receive these messages, you can reply to let us know and we will remove you from the distribution list.

The community working in partnership with the Royal Borough of Greenwich Public Health.