Day 18 of Lockdown
Given that we can’t meet up with friends or travel for pleasure, day 18 focusses quite a bit on Easter activities. There are also a few more serious bits. As usual, we start with the serious bits with the fun stuff at the end.
- Easter Message from Cllr David Finch.
- Sometimes if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it isn’t a duck – who’d’a’thought?
- Avoid Lighting Bonfires – pretty please!
- Support for Local Businesses.
- Museums From Home – kids’ activities.
- Outdoors Indoors.
- Virtual Easter Egg Hunt.
Easter message from Cllr David Finch
Thank you for staying home and saving lives.
The last few weeks have been challenging for everyone. Whether you are a key worker, or staying at home juggling work, childcare and home-schooling, I want to thank every single person who is complying with the current restrictions and social distancing guidelines. You really are helping to protect our NHS and save lives.
We only need to look at how much traffic has reduced on our roads to know that the majority of people across Essex understand the importance of the current restrictions, are only making trips for essentials like food or medicine and are exercising close to home.
Rules Don’t Apply to Some?
Inevitably there have been some who think that these rules do not apply to them. I have a stark message for you if you are one of the minority. Coronavirus is a killer. By ignoring the restrictions you risk your own life, and those of others.
I understand that the current curbs on normal life are hard for many. Not being able to see family members and friends is especially challenging, even more so during religious holidays and celebrations and while the sun is shining.
Whilst we want you to enjoy this long weekend, I want to ask residents – please – to continue to follow the Government’s guidance.
Please do not meet with friends and family. Please do not travel unnecessarily to beaches, beauty spots or country parks. Not following this guidance, even for a day, could have serious implications and lead to much stricter restrictions being put in place.
Not Just a Christian Holiday
As well as Easter, in the coming days and weeks there are also a number of other religious holidays taking place. Wednesday 8 April, for instance, was the start of the Jewish holiday of Passover. I would ask all our friends in the Jewish community to follow the social distancing advice and guidance from faith leaders, which means staying at home and not going on outings.
Leading faith organisations have produced some excellent advice on ways to pray and observe at home and we are working closely with faith leaders across Essex to share useful advice.
Staying home need not be a bore. If you have children, our friends at Explore Essex are holding a Virtual Easter Egg Hunt to share some Easter cheer. It’s very easy to get involved and join in. (Webmaster note – details are below).
I would like to thank the people of Essex for persevering through this difficult time. I wish you all a peaceful and happy Easter weekend.
It’s Not A Duck
Essex Welfare Services (EWS) has provided the following important information about a legitimate service that might be mistaken for a scam. It isn’t a scam:
ECC has established the EWS as part of PROVIDE (a health and social care service). EWS has been set up to assist the most vulnerable in the community to allow them to access shopping, medicine and other support.
This week and going forwards, GP surgeries will be
- calling,
- sending out SMS text messages or
- posting letters
…to those who are 70 or older or are offered a flu jab due to pre-existing medical conditions. This is because these people are identified as being vulnerable and having to self-isolate for prolonged periods of time; potentially they therefore require additional support.
National Shielding Helpline
You may potentially receive a call from the National Shielding Helpline on 0333 3050466 – this is NOT a scam. However, the phoneline is not live and you may receive a message saying they will try again soon.
When they call back, the caller may ask for some details such as your name and NHS number to confirm they are speaking to someone who is deemed as vulnerable, but they will never ask you for details such as you National Insurance Number or bank details.
There are concerns that this service has not been widely publicised and therefore people are leaving reviews on trust sites saying that this is a scam due to the caller asking whether the person is vulnerable or not. It is important that this misinformation is not spread as it could lead to vulnerable individuals missing out on essential support.
For more information, or to refer someone to EWS, please click here.
Avoid lighting bonfires during coronavirus crisis
We know it’s hard right now for residents to have to manage their rubbish and recycling, because of our reduced collection service, but we would please ask you not to burn it.
There are serious health implications linked to bonfires. Smoke from bonfires can aggravate pre-existing respiratory conditions, like asthma and COPD. That is why we are asking residents to think about their neighbours and not to dispose of waste by burning it.
For advice on how to reduce, reuse and store your recycling, click here.
Support for local business
More than £20m has been awarded to help local businesses weather the storm of the coronavirus.
Over 50% of local firms who are eligible for the Government’s Small Business Grant and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant have so far received the grant. We are working hard to distribute any remaining grants to local businesses by 1 May.
To find out more about eligibility for Grants or Relief, please visit www.colchester.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Information is still needed from some businesses, in order to award grants. Please read the information online and email your details to [email protected].
For further information about the council’s response to the coronavirus, please visit www.colchester.gov.uk/coronavrius .
Museums From Home launched
With Colchester Castle, Hollytrees Museum and the Natural History Museum closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the friendly museum team wanted to ensure everyone could still be inspired by its unique collections.
That’s why they’ve createdMuseumsFrom Home, to offer fun activities that can help educate and entertain the younger members of the household.
With topics ranging from art to nature, archaeology to social history, discover creative ideas that bring Colchester’s Museums directly to you.
Click here to take part: cimuseums.org.uk/museumfromhome.
Bring the Outdoors Indoors!
Colchester Borough Council’s friendly Parks team is bringing the great Colchester outdoors to you! Each week the team will be sharing some fun activities that can be tried at home or when out taking daily exercise with your household.
Although mainly aimed at children, anyone can give them a go! Get messy, get creative and most importantly get inspired by the great outdoors. Find out more and discover activities here.
Virtual Easter Egg Hunt
Announcing a new Virtual Easter Egg Hunt!
The Explore Essex team are sorry that we could not bring you the Chocolate Festival and accompanying seasonal activities this year. However, we’ve put our thinking caps on and created a ‘Virtual Easter Egg Hunt’ for children and adults alike; this will help to share a little Easter cheer in these unprecedented times.
You can use our colouring and design template to create your own egg-citing Easter egg. Then share it in your window ready to be spotted by families during their exercise outing. When you are out, help the children to spot the eggs in the windows to spread smiles.
You can download your template as a jpg here or pdf here.
But don’t worry if you don’t have a printer, or simply want to create your own! We want to help you get creative and have Easter-themed fun. Draw your own, use chalks in your driveway, share your creations in your window or front garden for all your neighbours to appreciate, and spread some seasonal joy.
Take a photo, or even a short video, and share them with us and all your friends and family. Upload to Facebook for us to see @exploressex and or @cressingtemplebarns and why not share how you created yours #essexegghunt #virtualegghunt
Make sure you are aware of the latest guidelines for daily exercise and social distancing here.
Hoping to help you stay safe, well and happy.
Love the Explore Essex Team.