COVID-19 previous updates - 31 March

31 March 2020

Calling all businesses - donations needed! | Leader’s letter to residents | Food takeaway and delivery guidance | Business grants update | Mental health support | Dogs on leads

Calling all businesses - donations needed!

The food distribution hub at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is running low on supplies and we would be grateful for any urgent donations of food and essential items from businesses to support our vulnerable residents over the next couple of days.

If you are able to support us with immediate donations please contact connectedcommunities@haringey.gov.uk to arrange a pick up.

If you are able to offer longer term support please visit the page below:

Haringey Together - I want to help

We are so grateful for the community’s amazing response so far. Thank you.

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The Leader’s letter to residents on coronavirus

Cllr Joseph Ejiofor has written to residents to ask for support to protect our fantastic community in Haringey and support the NHS.

• Leaders letter to residents about Coronavirus (PDF, 138KB)

Food takeaway and delivery guidance

Due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak we understand that businesses may want to change their business model and diversify their food activity during this difficult time.

We have published advice that is intended as guidance for businesses who want to provide takeaways and meals via a delivery service.

The following guidance will give you all the information you need on service planning, cooking and hot deliveries, allergy information, food packaging and delivery, cash payments and use of delivery staff/vehicles. See our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Food Delivery and Takeaway Guidance page for all the information.

Please note: if you are not already registered as a food business and you want to provide meals to the local community you must contact the Commercial Environmental Health team first to discuss your intended activity, contact Frontline.

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Business grants update

Supporting Haringey’s diverse and dynamic business community is a priority for the council. We are working hard to make sure all eligible businesses receive funding from the two grant funding schemes - the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund - from early April onwards. 

Many businesses will receive these payments automatically but if you:

• Do not currently pay your business rates by direct debit and pay by cash or cheque
• Pay by direct debit and require the grant to be paid into a different account

You will need to fill in an online form to confirm your bank details - see all details on our COVID-19 Business support page

If you haven’t heard from us, and believe you are eligible, by 20 April 2020, please contact us at COVIDsmallbusinessgrant@haringey.gov.uk.

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Mental health support during the coronavirus pandemic

It is completely understandable that many of us will be feeling anxious as a result of the coronavirus outbreak - and measures introduced by the government to stay in our homes, to slow the spread of the virus, may also require some transition time as we all adjust to our ‘new normal’.

We want to reassure those people in our communities with additional and complex needs who rely on vital care and support, that the council is working hard to ensure that care and support remains available for all those who need it. 

Following the outbreak, there will be a number of changes to our services as we follow government guidelines to ensure that the appropriate safeguarding measures are put in place, to protect our staff and service users. We will be updating our dedicated webpage regularly with these updates: 

• Coronavirus/COVID-19 advice: Health and Wellbeing

Services updates

• Face-to-face appointments: the government requires us to adhere to social distancing, so face-to-face appointments will be limited as much as possible and, where possible, services are being adapted to continue over the phone and online. 
• Home Care: for direct services, like home care, our care providers have plans in place to ensure that people continue to get the care they need. 
• Care workers: we know that care workers will be affected too, so we are also working with providers across Haringey and the wider sub-region, with our NHS partners, to support them and do whatever we can to increase the overall care and support available in our communities. 
• Haringey Wellbeing Network: this service will now operate via telephone and email until further notice: 07508 511 128 / HaringeyWellbeingNetwork@mih.org.uk 
• MIND in Haringey: this service will now operate via telephone and email until further notice: 0208 340 2474 / admin@mih.org.uk

Online support 

• Virtual Hub: the council is working closely with the NHS to set up a virtual Hub to ensure that all those identified by GPs as vulnerable and in need of shielding receive additional support including for access to food, medication and mental health and wellbeing. This Hub will be available in coming weeks. 
• Good Thinking (external link): an online resource which provides digital mental wellbeing support for adults in London. They have dedicated pages to offer support throughout the coronavirus outbreak.
• MIND (external link): the charity has a dedicated page on their website to support those struggling with mental wellness during the outbreak. Their regular services remain open and staff are staying in touch with people by phone and email
• Public Health England guidance (external link): PHE has published guidance for the public on how to manage the mental health challenges of COVID-19. It includes sections concerning people with learning disabilities, autism and dementia, as well as how to deal with mental health crises or emergencies at this time.
• NHS online support (external link): the online hub has some useful tips and advice for taking care of your mental wellbeing and physical health whilst staying at home during the outbreak. 
• Young Minds: a platform providing dedicated mental health support and advice to young people who are anxious, concerned or stressed following the coronavirus outbreak. 
• Kooth (external link): For those who need it during this difficult time, Kooth.com provides free, online mental health and wellbeing support to 11-18-year olds, and up to 25 years for those with additional needs.
• Mencap (external link): A charity working with people with a learning disability – and their families and carers. 

You can continue to make contact with Haringey social care as normal via the Adults Social Care or Children’s Socials Care web pages.

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Dogs on leads

There is currently no concrete evidence that household pets can be infected with the coronavirus.

It is still very important though that dogs are kept on leashes at all times, and not allowed to roam free in our parks and open spaces to ensure their owners don’t inadvertently go within two metres of other park users in an effort to retrieve them.

Dog owners are also being advised to consider their canines in their preparedness plans and make sure their needs are catered for in the event that they themselves fall ill and have to self-isolate at home. Animal welfare charity, The Dogs Trust, has produced some helpful guidance on what you should do with your canines when you’re out in public places (external link) and at home (external link).

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Previous updates:

• 30 March:
  • Social distancing in parks | Tottenham & Wood Green Cemeteries | Bury Road car park
• 29 March:
  • Kooth – wellbeing support for children and young people
• 28 March:
  • Waste collection services update | Mall Wood Green car park now free
• 27 March:
  • Social distancing | Proud to care | Access to food in Haringey | Increase in military vehicles visible in London | Home moves put on hold | Haringey claps our NHS and social care staff | Shielding the most clinically vulnerable from coronavirus
• 26 March:
  • Changes to parking restrictions | Coronavirus Scams | Bruce Grove Youthspace | Keep your distance
• 25 March:
  • Using public transport | Business closures enforcement | Parking changes - update | Managing the impact on Community Organisations
• 24 March:
  • Reuse and Recycling Centres | Price hiking | New rules on social distancing | Translations of Government advice and guidance | Previous updates
• 23 March:
  • Wood Green Library and Customer Service Centre | Parks | Waste | Stop all unnecessary travel | Library closures | Parking restrictions
• 22 March:
  • S-cool online resources for remote learning
• 21 March:
  • Marcus Garvey Customer Services Centre and Library | Changes to parking restrictions
• 20 March:
  • Haringey parks | Support for businesses | Update from London Fire Brigade Haringey | Cancellation of marriage appointments | ‘Key Workers’ list published | Free School Meals
• 19 March:
  • Social distancing | Schools | Transport | Museum and Archives | Energy industry support
• 18 March:
  • Schools | Business support | Service update
• 17 March:
  • Government advice to stop spreading the virus | What to do if you feel unwell
• 4 and 13 March:
  • What can I do?

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