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Death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh

We are saddened to hear of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, today.

Our thoughts are with Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family at this sad time, and the council will be writing to Buckingham Palace offering our condolences.

Due to Coronavirus restrictions and the importance of staying safe, sadly condolence books will not be available at civic buildings for people to sign in person.

An online Book of Condolence which residents can sign and pay their respects is available here: [link removed]

As a mark of respect, the Union Flag has been lowered to half-mast at all council buildings, and will remain so throughout the period of mourning.
Coronavirus: Step 2 starts on Monday

As well as outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households now being allowed, including in private gardens, and the the opening of outdoor sports facilities, Step 2 of the Government's roadmap begins on Monday 12 April.

This will mean the reopening of non-essential shops, public buildings, outdoor hospitality, most outdoor attractions, personal care premises such as hairdressers, indoor leisure facilities such as swimming pools and self-contained accommodation. There are also changes to the number of people allowed to attend weddings. For the most up to date information on Step 2 click here ([link removed]) .

Even with these changes, other lockdown restrictions will remain. For example, you should continue to work from home where possible, and overseas travel remains banned, aside for a small number of reasons. It is important to continue to abide by these restrictions so that Step 2 is a success.

Remember: Hands, Face, Space, Fresh Air.
Further information on the latest local guidance is available here: www.oldham.gov.uk/coronavirus
Check out our animation of local fishmonger, Mark Crossley
High Street businesses in Oldham can’t wait to welcome you back on Monday. To keep them open, please keep on following the guidance and looking after each other.
Check out Mark’s story here ([link removed] ) to find out why it’s important to shop local, shop safe.
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Stay safe during Ramadan
As Ramadan approaches, we know that some of you will want to spend time with your family and friends, but it’s vital that you follow the Government guidelines around social distancing to stop the virus spreading. One way to still connect with friends and loved ones is to host ‘virtual iftars’, using Zoom or FaceTime.

Remember, the disease is still with us so follow the government’s guidance and don’t put yourselves or your families at risk. Thank you and please carry on protecting yourself and those that you love.
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Worried about the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine?
You may have recently heard about some very rare blood clots affecting people who have had the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. This is being looked into but for people aged 30 or over and those with other health conditions, the benefits of being vaccinated outweigh any risk of blood clots. So, when the vaccine is offered to you, or you have your second vaccine appointment, please take it up – it is the best defence against the disease along with washing your hands, wearing a face covering and social distancing.

For those under 30 without other health conditions, it's currently advised that it's preferable to have another Covid-19 vaccine instead of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
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Get tested at your local pharmacy
If you're not displaying Covid-19 symptoms but need regular testing you can get tested or collect home testing kits from your local pharmacy. To find out where and when tests and testing kits are available click here ([link removed]) .
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Let's get Oldham's kids back in school
Poor attendance at school can mean lower levels of achievement for your child. This can then result in reduced employment opportunities in the future. Let’s help our children and young people get back into the classroom after the Easter break so that they can get back on track with their learning.
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More of our Libraries are opening from Monday
As part of Step 2, Chadderton, Uppermill and Royton libraries (in addition to the ones already open – Oldham, Lees, Failsworth, Crompton and Delph) are going to re-open from Monday 12 April. The opening times will be 10am–5pm and they will be open for bookable PC sessions and browsing.
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Thinking of driving to Dove Stone Reservoir? Don't
Over the Easter bank holiday, the amount of people travelling to Dove Stone Reservoir in Saddleworth created chaos, with traffic wardens handing out over 170 fines to people choosing to park illegally and dangerously. There are plenty of other beauty spots in Oldham to visit. Check out the list here ([link removed]) .
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It's almost local elections time...
There’s just over 1 week left to register to vote in this year’s local elections.

With the 19 April deadline fast approaching if you haven’t yet there’s still time to get registered and have your voice heard. You can also apply for a postal vote up until 5pm on Tuesday 20 April.

Visit [link removed] today to get signed up – it only takes 5 minutes.
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For more information and advice about council services, visit
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** Email (mailto:[email protected])
** Website ([link removed])

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Oldham Council . Civic Centre . West Street . Oldham, OL1 1UT . United Kingdom