DEMOC Campaign Update – June 2020

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Update & leafleting

Thank you to all who have come forward to help with leafleting.  This is great to help us expand our campaign.  We would now like to reach even further parts of the town, so please provide any help you can in specifically in Addiscombe, New Addington, Thornton Heath, Norbury and South Norwood.

Following government guidelines we are not yet ready to meet-up as a group to do this, but rather we can arrange passing the leaflets across (in a socially distanced manner) and ask people to deliver them on their own.

If you are allowed, and feel able to deliver some leaflets, please let us know what area and how many you would like to deliver and we can advise some roads and pass across leaflets.

We would ask you to follow any guidance at the time you start deliveries and of course take any precautions you need to be safe.

Volunteers can sign-up at http://eepurl.com/gxtcpf

 

If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), ask for a test to check if you have the virus.

If the test is positive you’ll be contacted by text, email or phone and asked to log on to the NHS Test and Trace website.

 

Trees on Ashburton Playing Fields

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Those of you who have been using the Ashburton Playing fields during this lockdown period will have noticed that many of the approximately 50 newly planted trees are looking extremely stressed. I contacted the Council’s Trees & Woodlands office about 3 weeks ago to make them aware of this as we hadn’t seen any sign of the trees being watered during the extremely hot and dry April/May period.

The Officer I’ve been communicating with said that weekly watering would normally have started at the beginning of April, but due to Covid-19, and the new Health & Safety regulations, their Contractor was carrying out urgent work only, meaning things that might be a threat to life.

She said that watering began again in May and is now back on a weekly routine, but acknowledges that many trees may be lost – though they will continue to be watered weekly in the hopes that some will recover next season. She confirmed that any trees lost will be replaced, and also asked if I could let anyone who uses the Playing Fields know what was happening.

Rachel Carr, a local resident, has also written a post about this on the All About Shirley Facebook group.

NGAIRE SHARPLES

A Message from the Shirley North Safer Neighbourhood Team

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Things seem to be getting back towards ‘normal’ life now that lockdown restrictions are easing.

Please remember to wear face coverings if you travel on public transport and in areas where you cannot maintain a two metre distance.

Click here for instructions on how to wear and make a cloth face covering.

Here are a few things we have been dealing with recently;

Tuesday 19th May – assisted colleagues on the Addiscombe East ward who sectioned a young man who was experiencing a mental health crisis. Lots of residents were concerned about him and his behaviour. He remains under section in a mental health hospital where he is receiving the treatment he needs.

Friday 22nd May – We searched a group for drugs on Woodmere Avenue. A large amount of nitrous oxide canisters were seized from them – they also obliged when we told them to clear up all the canisters they had dumped all over the road (the little silver tubes sometimes seen around).

Thursday 4th June – We carried out a drugs warrant on the ward. One person was dealt with for possession of cocaine and another for possession of cannabis.

Monday 8th June – Arrested two people for handling stolen goods after searching a car and finding 40 bottles of vodka and whiskey which they could not prove they had purchased; this investigation is ongoing.

Monday 8th June – Friday 12th June – We were part of an operation into the theft of catalytic converters in Croydon and Sutton – we have some good leads and ongoing investigations into a number of thefts.

Monday 15th June – Searched 9 people for drugs on Woodmere Avenue – one male has been charged and sent to court for possession of cocaine and cannabis.

As always please let us know if there is anything you think we need to be aware of.

Report crime by calling 101 or in an emergency call 999.
Remember, you can also report crime online on our website: https://www.met.police.uk/

Government Changes to Lockdown Regulations From June 13

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The UK has been in lockdown since March 23, but a number of measures are being lifted throughout June.

At the the start of the month, primary schools for some year groups were reopened, and the public were told that they could meet up to five people from another household outside or in gardens, subject to social distancing rules. Car showrooms and outdoor markets were allowed to reopen.

On Monday June 8, some dentists across the UK were opened, and the two-week quarantine period for travellers returning from overseas was implemented.

On Saturday June 13, people can set up support bubbles.

A bubble is defined as a group of people with whom you have close physical contact.

Single adults living alone – or single parents whose children are under 18 – can form a support bubble with one other household. The second household can be of any size.

Nobody who is shielding should join a bubble.

Support bubbles must be “exclusive”. Once in one, you can’t switch and start another with a different household. People in each bubble can visit each other’s homes and go inside. They won’t have to stay 2m (6ft) apart and can even stay overnight.

Anyone in the bubble contacted as part of England’s test and trace programme must stay at home. If they develop coronavirus symptoms, everyone in the bubble must self-isolate.

From Monday June 15 more changes will be made to the lockdown regulations in England:

  • New guidelines on when wearing a face covering is compulsory come into force

From June 15, anyone using public transport in England will be required to wear a face covering.

All hospital visitors and outpatients will also need to wear face coverings, and hospital staff must use surgical masks.

There will be exemptions to the rules for very young children, disabled people and those with breathing difficulties.

Face coverings are not the same as the face masks worn by hospital staff.

Coverings can be made from scarves, bandanas or other fabric items, so long as they cover the mouth and nose.

Face coverings should also be washed with detergent after every use.

The government advises that face coverings should be worn in any situation where social distancing can not be maintained.

Several airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair have also introduced a requirement for passengers to wear face coverings.

Click here for instructions on how to wear and make a cloth face covering.

  • Non-essential shops can reopen

Non-essential shops will be allowed to reopen from Monday if they comply with social distancing rules.

Non-essential retail shops which can open from Monday include (but are not limited to):

    • Clothes shops
    • Shoe shops
    • Toy shops
    • Furniture shops
    • Bookshops
    • Electronics
    • Tailors
    • Auction houses
    • Photography studios
    • Indoor markets

  • Secondary schools can start reopening

Secondary schools and colleges in England are being asked to start providing face-to-face support to Year 10 and 12 pupils, as well as 16 to 19-year-old students who are due to take key exams next year, from June 15.

However, only a quarter of pupils will be able to attend at any one time in order to limit the risk of transmission.

  • Places of worship can open for private prayer

Churches and other places of worship are set to open for private prayer from June 15.

Individuals will be able to ‘reflect and pray’ while adhering to social-distancing rules – but worship groups, weddings and other services will still not be permitted.

Communal prayer will not be permitted until July 4 at the earliest, the government has said.

  • Zoos, safari parks and drive-in cinemas can reopen

Zoos and other outdoors attractions can open their doors from June 15 in the latest lockdown easing.

Attractions will not be allowed to reopen indoor exhibitions, such as reptile houses, and must ensure amenities including cafes are takeaway only.

They will also be required to introduce social distancing measures such as strict limited capacity, one-way routes and increased hand-washing facilities.

Other outdoor attractions that will be able to open their doors under the new guidelines include ones where visitors remain in their cars, for example safari parks and outdoor cinemas.

NHS TEST & TRACE: 

If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), you can ask for a test to check if you have the virus.

You can ask for a test:

  • for yourself, if you have coronavirus symptoms now (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)
  • for someone you live with, if they have coronavirus symptoms

Please help the NHS by only asking for tests for people who have coronavirus symptoms now.

You need to get the test done in the first 5 days of having symptoms. Do not wait. Ask for the test as soon as you have symptoms.

The test usually involves taking a swab of the inside of your nose and the back of your throat, using a long cotton bud.

You can do the swab yourself (if you are aged 12 or over) or someone can do it for you. Children aged 11 or under cannot do the swab themselves. Their parent or guardian will have to swab test them.

There is very high demand for tests at the moment.

People in hospital and essential workers, including NHS and social care staff, are getting priority.

Even if you are successful in requesting a test, we cannot guarantee you will get one. It depends on how many tests are available each day in different parts of the country.

If the test is positive you’ll be contacted by text, email or phone and asked to log on to the NHS Test and Trace website.

There you will be asked for personal information including:

  • Name, date of birth and postcode
  • Who you live with
  • Places you visited recently
  • Names and contact details of people you have been in close contact with in the 48 hours before your symptoms started

Close contacts are:

  • people you spend 15 minutes or more with at a distance of less than 2m
  • people you have direct contact with – such as sexual partners, household members or people with whom you have had face-to-face conversations at a distance of less than 1m

The contact must have taken place between two days before and up to seven days after symptoms appeared.

No-one contacted as a result of you testing positive for coronavirus will be told your identity. A parent or guardian will need to give permission for a call with under-18s to continue.