Haringey Council's reaction to the new national lockdown

Cllr Joseph Ejiofor, Leader of Haringey Council, and Haringey’s Director of Public Health, Dr Will Maimaris, have urged residents to follow the new Covid-19 lockdown rules announced by the prime minister last night.

NHS services are in danger of struggling to cope with the number of new cases.

In Haringey, local hospitals are already seeing more Covid-19 patients than the first wave as over the Christmas break there were more than 2,500 new cases a week in the borough.

Under the new lockdown rules the public are being told to: stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.

You can only leave home to:

• shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person
• go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home
• exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area
• meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one
• seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
• attend education or childcare - for those eligible

You are also permitted to leave home to take a Covid-19 test.

For the full list of what you and cannot do during the national lockdown visit the Government’s website (external link).

The Prime Minister said that if you are clinically extremely vulnerable, the government is advising you to begin shielding again and you will shortly receive a letter about what this means for you.

Reacting to the decision, Cllr Ejiofor, said: “After everything we have all been through over the last year, this latest national lockdown will be incredibly tough for so many people. But it is the right decision.

“Covid cases have hit a record high and this is a virus that is killing people every day. Our NHS hospitals are being stretched to the limit and as a nation, and a borough, we must take the strongest action to defeat it. I would please urge everyone to follow the new rules – to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. The quickest route for us to come out of this lockdown is for infection and transmission rates to reduce significantly, and the quickest way for this to happen is for all of us to fully follow the Covid regulations and the public health guidance.

“If you do need to leave your home, please ensure that you wash your hands regularly, wear a mask and social distance from others. There are centres available for those who need to be tested regularly because of their work, and there is a clear process to apply for financial support for those who may need to self-isolate because of a positive test.

“We know this will be a difficult time for our residents and businesses once again, but the council is there to support you and help is available through our Connected Communities and Haringey Together schemes. Let me reiterate. Haringey Council is here to help. But we must also say, that we will firmly, fairly and assiduously enforce the regulations in our borough.

“I am also aware how incredibly tough this period will be for our young people and school communities who face even more uncertainty and pressure. I want to thank all of our teaching staff for their incredible efforts during this period and helping to keep our young people educated through online learning.

“Haringey’s greatest strength is its people and as we have shown over the past year, I have no doubts that we will keep supporting each other and look to protect our loved ones.”

Dr Maimaris added: “No one underestimates the huge mental strain that another lockdown will have on many families and individuals.

“The past year has been very tough on everyone.

“Telling people they must stay indoors is only being brought in because of the critical state that we now find ourselves in.

“The sooner that we can bring the numbers under control, the faster that we can begin the road to normality; to see our friends again and shops reopen.

“While we must obey the law to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities, I would suggest that you do make the most of your daily exercise and get out of your home once a day, within the rules. It may seem a small thing, but it will make a big difference to your well-being.”

Meanwhile, with the schools closed, Haringey Council is doing all we can to help families of children unable to attend to classes.

Free school meals will still be provided for those who would normally get them and we are working to address digital poverty.

Our Digital Divide Appeal in partnership with Haringey Giving will offer support for children and young people in the borough who don’t have regular access to laptops, WiFi and other technology at home. We are working closely with schools to support in any way we can.

Across the borough the vaccination programme is being rolled out to:

• All residents in older adults care homes and their carers
• Everyone over the age of 80
• All frontline health and social care workers
• Everyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable

The Prime Minister said: “By the middle of February, if things go well and with a fair wind in our sails, we expect to have offered the first vaccine dose to everyone in the four top priority groups identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.”

In the meantime if you need any help and support as a result of the lockdown or Covid-19 you can contact our Connected Communities hotline who will do what they can to help you.

Connected Communities: 020 8489 4431 (Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) or go online here.

And for more advice on how to cope during lockdown check out Haringey Together pages found here.