Haringey coronavirus (COVID-19) updates
School re-openings pushed back until 8 March at the earliest
Schools in England will not re-open after the February half-term holidays, with pupils and students likely to return to the classroom on Monday 8 March at the earliest, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed.
Speaking in the House of Commons this afternoon (Wednesday 27 January), the Prime Minister acknowledged he was “acutely conscious” that news of a longer delay would be “frustrating” for carers and parents who are having to juggle home schooling and working from home.
The arrangements for key workers’ children and vulnerable children remain unaffected and they can attend school as normal in the meantime.
The Prime Minister also announced that travellers to the UK from 22 “red list” countries will go into hotel quarantine to help minimise the risk of transmission from the new variants of the virus.
Meanwhile, in order to enforce self-isolation and the new border rules, there will be an increase in the number of police checks, according to the Home Secretary Priti Patel.
For further information on the revised timetable for school re-openings and the new restrictions on international travel, visit the Government website (external link).
Healthy changes in 2021
The pandemic has had some sort of an impact on us all, with many having to make changes to their daily routine and lifestyle.
Since the pandemic began, a third of people reported snacking on unhealthy food and drinks at least once a day (35%), almost a third (29%) of smokers agreed they smoked more since the second national lockdown and 23% of drinkers claimed that their alcohol intake has increased.
Public Health England has launched its Better Health new year campaign to encourage the nation to take simple steps to work towards a healthier lifestyle during the pandemic, whether it’s losing weight, getting more active, looking after their mental health.
Learn more here: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/ (external link).
Rapid test centres in Haringey move to seven days a week
Haringey’s rapid testing sites for people who do not show any of the Covid-19 symptoms are to move to a seven day a week operation from next month.
After listening to feedback from key and frontline workers, the decision has also been taken to extend the opening hours.
The borough currently has two centres at 48 Station Road, Wood Green, and at the Tottenham Community Sports Centre.
A third site is now due to open at Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY.
From Monday, February 1 the centres will be open every day:
Monday 8am – 4pm
Tuesday/Wednesday 8am – 8pm
Thursday/Friday/Saturday 8am – 4pm
Sunday 10am – 2pm
It comes as more than 5,000 tests have been carried out in Haringey since the start of the year – with 3.35% testing positive.
Dr Will Maimaris, Haringey’s Director of Public Health, said: “Around one in three people who have Covid-19 don’t know they have it, but they can still pass it on to other people, who may fall very ill.
“Since the start of the new national lockdown we made frontline and critical workers a priority for lateral flow testing. It is one of the essential tools to help reduce the spread – which even though the numbers are falling now – will need to be maintained for the foreseeable future.
“It’s also important that people know that if they are a low-income worker who tests positive, there is up £500 available from the self-isolation support payment.
“So far more than 165 people who unknowingly had Covid-19 but didn’t know it have gone into isolation. That’s 165 fewer people who are not spreading it in their communities.
“We will be opening up more sites soon to encourage people to take the tests and will be continually reviewing our hours to suit those most in need of them. So, I’d like to urge anyone who has to leave home for work to take the test at least once, if not twice a week - it will make a big difference.
“And I hope employers encourage their staff to do the right thing, as this will help us get numbers down and start to get life back to normal.”
See also case numbers and rates, health advice - including tests and vaccines, Council service updates, financial and other support for residents, business support, how you can help and COVID scams and misinformation.
Visit the Gov.UK and NHS websites for more help and support.
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