Community Connectors Newsletter
Published: 06 January 2021
The latest community newsletter from Sevenoaks District Council with Covid related news
Community Connectors 6 January 2020 |
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| | UK in new national lockdown |
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Set against rising COVID infections and COVID related hospital admissions, the nation was put into a third lockdown from midnight on Tuesday 5 January. Under these restrictions, we must now stay at home. This is the single most important action we can all take to protect the NHS and save lives. We must not leave home unless necessary and we should stay 2 metres apart from anyone not in our household or bubble. The coming weeks are likely to be a challenge for everyone and we’ll need to work together to get out of lockdown as soon as possible. We will be urging our communities to follow the Government’s latest guidance and we’d encourage you to do the same by sharing the Government’s latest posters and social media graphics with your contacts.
View the national lockdown restrictions in full. |
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National lockdown and Council services |
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Our services will continue as normal during the lockdown, including waste and recycling collections. Following Government advice, our reception will remain closed to the public. However, you can still access our services by phone, post or online and arrange an appointment if there is a need to speak with one of our colleagues. Call us on 01732 227000 or visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk |
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Symptom-free testing sites open across Kent |
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Rapid-result Coronavirus testing for people who don’t have symptoms is being rolled out across Kent this week. The testing will find people who don’t currently have symptoms, who may be unknowingly spreading the virus. The sites are part of a rolling programme to help reduce the rates of transmission in Kent. Fourteen test centres are being provided across Kent, including in Swanley and close to the District in Tunbridge Wells, Dartford and Gravesend. All testing sites will be open daily from 9am to 7pm Monday, starting on Thursday 7 January. Anyone who lives or works in Kent can book a test. Once all 14 sites are open, there will be capacity for over 13,000 tests across Kent each day.
You can book a test online. |
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Help is a click or a phone call away |
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The ‘Care for our Community – Sevenoaks District’ voluntary scheme is available if you or someone you know need help during lockdown. Around 1,500 volunteers have signed up to the scheme helping those in need by collecting their shopping and prescriptions, having a friendly chat and more. Help may also be available for those who are struggling financially to buy food. Sign up at www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/requesthelp or by calling us on 01732 227000. |
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COVID-19 vaccines are being offered to around one million adults in Kent and Medway. However, the vaccination programme will take several months, so we’re all being asked to be patient. Nationally set criteria is being used to co-ordinate who is offered the vaccines and when and you’ll contacted when the vaccine is available for you. With the NHS under extreme pressure, we’re being urged not to call our GP or any NHS services with general queries about when we’ll will be able to get the vaccine. Visit the NHS Kent and Medway CCG website for details. |
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Latest local COVID-19 data |
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The latest data we have from the Government and Public Health England is dated 31 December. All areas of Kent are continuing to show 7-day case rates in excess of 470 per 100,000 population, with some areas substantially above this. The case rate in the Sevenoaks District to 31 December was 740 per 100,000, up from on 715 on 23 December. This is substantially above the England rate of 537.5 per 100,000. At 31 December, there were currently 1,284 active cases in the District. These are associated with clusters in residential dwellings and care settings.
View the latest national COVID-19 data. |
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What do you think of this newsletter? |
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