COVID-19 advice
Current measures - from Tues 30 November 2021
- All international arrivals must self-isolate, take a Day 2 PCR test, and self-isolate until they receive a negative test
- All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate, regardless of their vaccination status. They will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
- Face coverings are compulsory in shops and public transport
- For more info and updates, visit the support pages on the .Gov website
The vaccine
The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is safe and effective. It gives you the best protection against coronavirus.
For more information about the vaccine visit NHS.UK
What to expect after your vaccination, includes information in other languages from the NHS
How to get the vaccine: The NHS Essex coronavirus vaccine website gives updated information on how to get a vaccine, and where the latest walk-in clinics are.
A lot of misleading and incorrect information on coronavirus and the COVID-19 vaccines has been published and shared on social media and through some press outlets. Full Fact is a registered charity whose website is run by a team of independent fact checkers and campaigners who find and counter the harm bad information can cause. You can visit the Full Fact website and get verified information on vaccinations and the pandemic by visiting the links below:
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
- Let air in - open windows regularly where possible
If you have coronavirus symptoms:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste
Testing
Who can get tested and how to order a test
Map of test centres in our borough
Reporting of positive COVID cases within your workforce
If you have a confirmed COVID-19 case within your business, please refer to the Guidance and Action Card for your sector and contact the Health Protection Team on 01702 212497 or email providecommunityaction@southend.gov.uk
Further information about this can be found under the heading "Businesses" further down this page.
Need help?
Contact numbers during this time
Languages
Please see advice on coronavirus in other languages on the Gov website
COVID-19 information is available in different languages and more accessible formats, to ensure no one is forgotten
The NHS in Essex is making sure everyone has access to useful information about COVID-19 and the vaccination programme. A range of materials in different languages including Polish, Romanian and Chinese, along with information in different formats including easy-read leaflets, and video, can be found on the recently launched Essex-wide website. This will help make sure that we reach as many of our diverse communities across Essex as possible.
The information available covers a range of topics including:
- general vaccination advice and guidance
- easy-read information for people with learning difficulties
- resources for people with sensory impairment
- information on why you have to wait for a vaccine and what to expect afterwards
- advice for older adults and pregnant women
- advice for using transport
- key information for migrants
You can access translated and easy-read information by visiting the information and support page.
Advice and support
- Symptoms and what you should do
- How to get a COVID test
- Contact numbers for help
- Financial support for residents
- Financial support for businesses
- Changes to council services
- Helping your neighbours
- Mental health support
- How to stay at home
- Scam protection and crime
- Advice for people from BAME backgrounds
- Test and trace info
Businesses
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.
- details of the government guidance
- 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 215005 and speak to our Regulatory Services Team.
Latest Day Service Provider Information
We are supporting our local day service providers to reopen, with planned opening for all on 5th April 2021. This is in line with local and national health and safety regulations. This will also require the social distancing measures and support bubbles being put in place. Whilst regular LFD and PCR testing is undertaken by staff.
Our providers have strict measures to follow and will be required to provide the council with a risk assessment and details of their expected daily business operations.
However as previously advised late last year, Public Health England has identified that the learning disability community is one of the most vulnerable communities and more likely to be more seriously ill or die from COVID-19 than the general population. Our approach is agreed to help protect the Southend learning disability community using all the past and current knowledge available to Public Health.
It was and remains the decision of our Director of Public Health for Southend that individuals can attend only one day service despite the fact that some of these people in the past might have attended up to 3 or 4 different services/venues across the week. This was decided to support the reduction and risk of COVID infection.
The COVID pandemic has not gone away and whilst I know that many restrictions have eased, it is important that we all remain mindful of the vulnerability of the people who attend these day services.
In addition, a further decision of our Director of Public Health is that people who live in care homes or supported living services should not access day services. The reason for this is that there is no routine testing available for those who attend and staff working in these settings. Unfortunately, COVID has come into several of our day services over the past 8 months and the lessons learnt from that have informed the decisions we have made.
We will continue to keep this under regular review. Should the position change and we can relax our guidance or consider the need to tighten restrictions urgently if there was a spike in reinfection rates, then we will communicate this to you.
If you have any queries or would like to speak to someone about the information then please contact Nicola Mickleburgh or Intergrated Commissoning.
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 01245 904033.
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.
Additional information
Family Carers Support during the Coronavirus
Information for Care Providers
Information for South Essex Homes Residents
