An update in the coronavirus emergency from Greenwich Council’s public health team, with special advice on what to do if you need to self-isolate.

In the past seven days, there have been 2,447 confirmed new cases of coronavirus in Greenwich borough. There are signs that lockdown is beginning to work, with cases lower than they were a week ago. However, numbers are still very high across the country, and are even higher in London – including Greenwich. We need to stay safe and avoid our health system being overwhelmed by following the guidance explained in this update.

242 people are in hospital right now in the borough because of coronavirus. Hospital numbers remain high and are not yet reducing. To have to go to hospital because of coronavirus means your case is very serious, and these high numbers are putting a strain on our hospitals and everyone who works in them.

A national lockdown is in place across the country. This means everyone must stay home except for when it is absolutely necessary to leave.

It has never been more important to take every measure we can to fight the virus. Everyone needs to stay at home, except for essential activities. If you do need to leave home: Wear a mask. Make space. Wash your hands.

You can read all the details about the lockdown at gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home.

Self-care at home if you test positive

If you do test positive with coronavirus, try not to panic. There are things you can do at home to help you recover.

It’s common for symptoms to re-emerge when you think you’ve recovered. Don’t worry if this happens – continue to rest and look after yourself and the likelihood is you’ll feel better in a few days.

If you have a high temperature, it can help to get lots of rest, drink plenty of fluids (water is best), and take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you feel uncomfortable.

If you have a cough, it’s best to avoid lying on your back. Lie on your side or sit upright instead. You can also try at home cough remedies such as lemon and honey or cough medicine.

If you’re feeling breathless, it can help to keep your room cool. Try turning the heating down or opening a window. Do not use a fan as it may spread the virus. You could also try:

• breathing slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth, with your lips together like you’re gently blowing out a candle
• sitting upright in a chair
• relaxing your shoulders, so you’re not hunched
• leaning forward slightly – support yourself by putting your hands on your knees or on something stable like a chair

Try not to panic if you’re feeling breathless. This can make it worse.

NHS.uk has more information about self-care at home, and a helpful video on what to do if you’re feeling breathless.

If you feel breathless and it’s getting worse, get medical advice from the NHS 111 online coronavirus service.

Getting tested for coronavirus

If you have coronavirus symptoms: (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste), even if they’re only mild, it’s important to get a test and stay at home until you get your result.

There are several local testing centres – please go to gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test to book a test. Booking is essential for all testing centres. Order a home test kit if you cannot get to a test site. If you have problems using the online service, call 119. Lines are open 7am to 11pm.

Rapid testing centres
If you can’t follow the Government guidance to stay at home and have go to work, you can get a test very quickly in a number of walk-in centres around the borough, including at The Valley.

The test takes five minutes, and the results are emailed to you in 30 minutes. It will tell you if you have Covid-19, but no symptoms, so that you can protect those around you by self-isolating for 10 days until the virus clears from your body. Book a rapid test here.

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.

Support if you test positive and have to self-isolate

If your test result is positive, you and your household will need to stay at home and self-isolate for 10 days (this has changed from 14 days). This is important to stop the virus spreading and to 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 14 days. Find out if you are eligible to apply for this payment or call 0800 470 4831.

Training available

If you’re interested in helping your community through volunteering, 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[at]royalgreenwich.gov.uk.

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Local residents who are not showing coronavirus symptoms can now book fast, free tests at The Valley this weekend to see if they have Covid-19.

The tests are being made available as part of a borough-wide community testing programme and are also available at locations in Greenwich and Eltham. Results will be sent to you within 45 minutes.

A testing station was set up at The Valley last weekend to test school students and staff, but there are slots available for all without symptoms this weekend. So to save you making an unnecessary journey to the Old Royal Naval College, you can book a test at The Valley at the Greenwich Council website. Results will be sent by text within 30 minutes.

If you have symptoms, don’t use this service – go straight to the standard testing service instead at gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test, or call 119.

Many people with the virus don’t show symptoms, so the fast lateral flow tests are useful at picking up these cases. If you get a positive test, you should always act on it – but don’t be reassured by a negative test, because analysis shows lateral flow tests only pick up half the active infections. It’s better than nothing – if people self-isolate as a result of taking these tests, then they have done their job – but not fool-proof.

A major incident has been declared in London because of the pressure the health service is coming under.

In Greenwich borough, 1,092 people out of every 100,000 had a positive test in the seven days to 2 January – you can see local breakdowns on the Public Health England dashboard. The highest rate in the country is across the Thames in Barking & Dagenham, with 1,615 positive tests per 100,000. The Office for National Statistics believes 1 in 30 Londoners are infected.

If you need to self-isolate but need help with shopping or other services, get in touch with Greenwich Council’s community hub or call 0800 470 4831. If you cannot 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. Find out if you are eligible to apply for this payment or call 0800 470 4831.

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PLEASE SUPPORT THE CHARLTON CHAMPION

We tell the SE7 stories you won’t read elsewhere. We can’t do it without your help.
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An update from Greenwich Council’s public health team on the developing coronavirus situation…

As of yesterday, there were 1,188 confirmed new cases of coronavirus in Greenwich borough. Cases are increasing rapidly across London and the South East, and this is happening in Greenwich too. We need to tackle this increase by following the guidance explained in this update.

87 people are in hospital right now in Greenwich because of coronavirus. Although this may seem a relatively low number, to have to go to hospital because of coronavirus means your case is very serious. We need to make sure that this number doesn’t rise, and eventually ends up at 0 by following the guidance in this update and supporting each other.

As you will be aware, the situation has developed significantly in the past week. Coronavirus cases have continued to accelerate very quickly, a new strain of the virus has emerged, and the government has placed much of the country, including Greenwich, in the highest Tier 4 restrictions.

Everyone needs to stay at home, except for essential activities.

You can read all the details about Tier 4 on the official website here: www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-4-stay-at-home

Free holiday meals for children will continue as planned. Find out more about the Holiday Meals service.

The festive period

For those who were planning to celebrate Christmas, Tier 4 changes mean you will probably not be celebrating the way you had intended. We hope that for those celebrating, and those not, there is an opportunity to at least get some rest over the next couple of weeks.

Thank you for all your involvement and hard work over the past few months – we could not have made the progress we have without you, and we thank you for helping to keep our communities safe at this difficult time. Here’s hoping for a happier 2021! Take care and stay safe, and we look forward to continuing to do lots of good work together in January.

Mental health support

Whether or not Christmas is part of your life, your mental health might be affected by it happening around you. It’s a time of year that often puts extra pressure on us, and can affect our mental health in lots of different ways. This year especially may be even harder due to the effects of coronavirus.

Mind has some great information specifically around coping with mental health at Christmas, and also specifically around Coronavirus and Christmas: mind.org.uk

Live Well Greenwich also has lots of local support, advice and information if you, or someone you love, are struggling at this time of year. Visit the Look After You hub for local support, ranging from top tips and self-help to support if you’re struggling to cope with difficult feelings or behaviours. livewellgreenwich.org.uk

You can also call 0800 470 4831 to talk to a friendly, local advisor. Open every day 8.30am – 6pm, but closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Sunday 27th December, New Year’s Day and Sunday 3rd January.

Getting tested for coronavirus

If you have coronavirus symptoms: (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste), even if they’re only mild, it’s important to get a test and stay at home until you get your result. Please go to gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. If you have problems using the online service, cal 119. Lines are open 7am to 11pm.

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.

Fast testing is now available for those without symptoms – this must be booked via the Greenwich Council website.

Support if you test positive and have to self-isolate

If your test result is positive, you and your household will need to stay at home and self-isolate for 10 days. (This has changed from 14 days.) This is important to stop the virus spreading and to 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 14 days. Find out if you are eligible to apply for this payment or call 0800 470 4831.

Training available

If you’re interested in helping your community through volunteering, a short training programme 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[at]royalgreenwich.gov.uk.

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PLEASE SUPPORT THE CHARLTON CHAMPION

We tell the SE7 stories you won’t read elsewhere. We can’t do it without your help.
– Please tell us about your news and events
– Become a monthly supporter at presspatron.com/charltonchampion
– Donate to our running costs at paypal.me/charltonchampion

With coronavirus spreading fast once again, Greenwich Council’s public health team is ramping up its work in Charlton. If you need help or assistance, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Here’s some information about where we are now, what you can do, and how to get help. And please spread the word.

New Tier 2 restrictions

London – including the borough of Greenwich – is in Tier 2 of the government’s restrictions. There are 3 tiers, or levels – tier 1 (medium risk), tier 2 (high risk), and tier 3 (very high risk).

With Greenwich in tier 2, this means that to keep everybody as safe as possible, we can no longer meet people from other households indoors, whether that is at home or in a pub or restaurant. The rule of six still applies when meeting people outdoors.

As well as following the tier 2 guidelines, there are 3 simple actions we must all do to keep protecting each other:

• Hands – keep washing your hands regularly
• Face – wear a face covering in enclosed spaces
• Space – stay at least two metres apart (or one metre with a face covering or other precautions).

Getting tested for coronavirus

If you have coronavirus symptoms: (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste), even if they’re only mild, it’s important to get a test and stay at home until you get your result.

In Greenwich, there are several sites where testing is available. Booking is essential for all testing centres. Order a home test kit if you cannot get to a test site.

Please go to gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. If you have problems using the online service, call 119. Lines are open 7am to 11pm.

Testing is not available at the emergency department at the hospital or at your GP practice, so please do try to get a test there.

Support if you test positive and have to self-isolate

If your test result is positive, you and your household will need to stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days. This is important to stop the virus spreading and to keep your community safe. See more information about self-isolating.

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, you may be able to claim a one-off £500 payment to help support you and your family during these 14 days.

Find out if you are eligible to apply for this payment or call 0800 470 4831.

Getting support

This is a difficult and worrying time for us all, and it’s normal to feel anxious and low. People may also now be more isolated than before, but there is still lots of support available, whether it’s financial, physical or emotional, and it’s okay to ask for this support.

Visit Live Well Greenwich for more information, advice and support or call 0800 470 4831 to talk to a trained, friendly advisor.

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PLEASE SUPPORT THE CHARLTON CHAMPION

We tell the SE7 stories you won’t read elsewhere. We can’t do it without your help.
– Please tell us about your news and events
– NEW! Become a monthly supporter at presspatron.com/charltonchampion
– Donate to our running costs at paypal.me/charltonchampion