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Dear John,

I’m writing to you with my latest update on the response to the Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic in Harrow. I have recently been inundated with many queries and concerns. Neighbours have asked me where they can donate food and ways to provide support. I hope that the below e-mail can provide a useful guide to these questions and more. This situation is evolving, and we are seeing a variety of strategies being used by different governments around the world as they work to mitigate and deal with the effects of this pandemic. The most up to date advice from the UK Government is regularly available here.

As the Covid-19 crisis continues I will continue to provide regular e-mail updates and, as always, if you ever need to get in touch about the issues covered here – or anything else – please contact my office on 0207 219 4243 or e-mail me at [email protected]. Be sure to share this message with friends, family, neighbours and local businesses in order to strengthen our collective response to COVID-19 in Harrow.

People of all ages can catch the Coronavirus, and all can help in preventing its spread.

The Government advice is:

• People experiencing a new continuous cough or a temperature above 37.8° should stay at home for fourteen days from when their symptoms started

• Anyone living with someone with a new continuous cough or a temperature above 37.8° should also stay at home for fourteen days from when symptoms started

• Please do not visit GPs and other NHS facilities if you want advice on Coronavirus, if you think you may have Coronavirus, please contact the NHS online or phone 111.

• People should avoid "non-essential" travel and contact with others, in London this advice is likely to adjust over the weekend

The Government has advised we each take the following steps:

• Ensure personal hygiene, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds as regularly as possible, especially after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose

• Stay away from others if experiencing the symptoms mentioned above, new continuous cough or high temperature

• Avoid social gatherings, and social spaces like pubs, theatres and restaurants

• Those with increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) should be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures. Look after the most vulnerable and elderly friends, family members and neighbours, ensuring non-face to face contact is maintained and support is provided in a safe and appropriate way.

The Covid-19 pandemic also has huge implications for the UK’s economy and has the potential to negatively impact the personal finances of many. I understand that over the next week the government is to introduce emergency legislation to extend Statutory Sick Pay and measures to support self-employed people, including in the gig-economy, to receive welfare payments for periods of self-isolation.

For those that are in employment, you are entitled to statutory sick pay from day one, if you need to take time off work due to becoming unwell from coronavirus, you'll be entitled to your usual sick leave and sick pay.

For those not in employment or who have recently been made redundant, it’s vital to know your rights and get a plan in place - this could include sorting your finances and making a debt audit, and making sure you’re receiving all the help you’re entitled to – Money Saving Expert have compiled a helpful Redundancy Help guide as well as a vital Benefits Checker to see what you may be entitled to.

For additional guidance on sick pay, mortgages, rental help, energy top-ups, event cancellation – this useful guide is being regularly updated by Money Saving Expert.

Guidance for Business is available here and HMRC have set up a help line specifically for the self-employed and businesses that are struggling at this time - 0300 456 3565

The following local organisations are continuing to operate in Harrow:

1. Harrow Citizens Advice Bureau: Operating both phone and email. The telephone times have been extended and extra lines made available. Advisors are working from home

2. Harrow Law Centre: No face to face appointments. Reduced telephone contact due to not having the ability to forward calls to external numbers. 020 8427 9477

3. StepChange: Have opened a separate page for those struggling with/worrying about their finances relating to Covid-19 - https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/debt-and-coronavirus.aspx

Voluntary Action Harrow, Young Harrow foundation and Harrow Community Action are working with Harrow Council to help coordinate a Harrow wide response to the Coronavirus outbreak – a database is being compiled of people who are willing to volunteer during the Coronavirus Outbreak. Voluntary Action Harrow will use this to inform you of other organisations looking for volunteers. Please sign up here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CoronavirusHarrow

A Covid-19 Community Support Facebook group has been set-up, coordinating action within WhatsApp groups for every ward in Harrow – you are welcome to join the Facebook group here and if you are not a Facebook member but would like to join your ward’s WhatsApp group – e-mail [email protected] with your postcode and the coordinators will add you to the correct group.

Harrow Coronavirus Community Fund

Harrow Giving has set up a fund to support front line organisations that are working with the affected communities. Initially this may be to help with food distribution or to ensure organisations have the capacity and resources to support their most vulnerable clients.

http://virginmoneygiving.com/fund/HarrowCoronavirus

Harrow Giving is a local charity that funds small local projects to make a positive difference to the lives of Harrow residents. Harrow Giving is a trading name of Harrow Community Action (registered charity no. 1167770) and is administered by Voluntary Action Harrow Co-operative.

Harrow Carers

Harrow Carers are seeking volunteers to help unpaid carers care for vulnerable people in Harrow, they will need:

- Drivers to distribute urgent food & supplies

- Care workers to help care for the vulnerable

- Befrienders to telephone and support unpaid carers

- People to teach carers how to use digital platforms in order to stay in touch with loved ones

Contact [email protected] or call 020 8868 5224 if you can assist Harrow Carers in any way

St Mary’s Church - If you are in need of support or company – a visit (where possible), a telephone call, help with shopping etc. St. Mary’s would like you to get in contact. You can do this in a variety of ways via the Church Office. The Office is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am – 2pm but the messages will be checked daily.

Email: [email protected], Tel: 020 8423 4014 (answerphone: leave your contact details)

Harrow Council has formed a Coronavirus Response Group of Senior Officers to ensure the continuity of critical services; that vulnerable residents who are most susceptible to Coronavirus are looked after and at potential measures to support residents who may face severe hardship by the possible financial shocks (i.e. loss of wages) caused by Coronavirus. You can find out the information from Harrow Council on their response to Covid-19 here and I would also suggest following Harrow Council on twitter for latest updates here . Headstone Manor, Harrow Arts Centre and all Harrow libraries have all now closed until further notice. Leader of the Council, Graham Henson issued a statement on the council’s plans and preparations this week and Cllr Adam Swersky has outlined the council’s current plan here.

I appreciate that whilst this outbreak of Covid-19 is currently dominating a lot of our thoughts, other concerns and problems do not disappear. However, to help reduce the spread of infection, I am asking members of the public who need to contact my office to do so by phone or email rather than in person and further, I will now be holding surgery appointments exclusively by telephone and Zoom video conferencing. This is a temporary measure and a sensible precaution to protect vulnerable people. Please be assured we continue to offer a full service of advice and support to members of the public who need it.

As always, my office can be contacted on [email protected] or by telephone on 0207 219 4243 (Monday-Friday).

Best wishes,

Gareth

Keeping Safe

Help to get through the pandemic

Helping local people

Harrow Council

Help from me