Coronavirus Advice and Support

COVID-19 advice

The vaccine

The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is safe and effective. It gives you the best protection against coronavirus.

The NHS is giving the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to people most at risk, and then rolling out to other groups.

The NHS or your GP will contact you to make an appointment when it's your turn to get the vaccine. Please don't call them yet, they will be in touch by phone or letter when needed.

For more information about the vaccine visit NHS.UK

What to expect after your vaccination, includes information in other languages from the NHS

National lockdown restrictions apply. Please stay at home.

You must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary. You may leave the 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

Colleges, primary and secondary schools will remain open only for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. All other children will learn remotely until February half term. Early Years settings remain open.

Higher Education provision will remain online until mid February for all except future critical worker courses.

Full restrictions are on the Gov website

Protect yourself and others

There are three simple actions we must all do to keep on protecting each other

wash hands - keep washing your hands regularly
cover face - wear a face covering in enclosed spaces
make space - stay at least 2 metres apart - or 1 metre with a face covering or other precautions

If you have coronavirus symptoms:

a high temperature
a new, continuous cough
a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste

Get tested and do not leave home for at least 10 days after your test

Testing

Who can get tested and how to order a test

Map of test centres in our borough

Need help?

Contact numbers during this time

Languages

Please see advice on coronavirus in other languages on the Gov website

Businesses

From Monday 30 November, if a business has a confirmed case within their workplace, they must notify their local authority immediately.

To do this, please call 01702 212497 or email providecommunityaction@southend.gov.uk with details of your business name, address, contact number and anonymised information about the confirmed case. Please also give details of any close business contacts you believe may need to self-isolate too. Our Environmental Health department will then call you back.

Please note that if you have a confirmed case within your business, close contacts of that confirmed case will also need to self-isolate. It is not sufficient to send a worker for a COVID-19 test and if this returns a negative result, for them to continue working within your business premises. A negative test result is not conclusive evidence of non-infection due to the incubation period for transmission. Therefore, all close contacts will be required to self-isolate for 10 days from potential exposure to the virus.

Grants

Staff who are asked to self-isolate may be entitled to financial assistance, either through their employer or through the government. Please click here for more details of the government guidance or click here for details about the £500 self-isolation grant payment for people on a low income

If you would like support and further guidance in this situation, you can also phone 01702 215 005 and speak to our Regulatory Services Team.

Had a call from test and trace?

If you receive a call from someone claiming to represent the Essex and Southend Contact Tracing Service, you can call either of these numbers to verify that the call is genuine: 0300 303 2698 or 01376 319610.

Domestic Abuse

Are you experiencing domestic abuse and would like some information, advice or support?

If you are in danger, please call 999

If you are afraid of further danger if you are overheard calling 999, you can press 55 afterwards and the operator will transfer the call to the relevant police force as an emergency.

Please visit the Domestic Abuse page on Livewell Southend for more information on support available.