Camden Council COVID-19 weekly update [23 July]

Let’s keep each other safe From 24 July you will need to wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets Thank you for keeping Camden safe

Important updates from Camden Council on inside front and back cover, including summer activities for children and young people. Turn to the back page for a pull-out and keep poster for businesses.

camden.gov.uk/coronavirus 020 7974 4444 (option 9)

CORONAVIRUS

PROTECT YOURSELF & OTHERS

Coronavirus: Weekly update From Camden Council

Businesses in Camden are important parts of our communities – they provide vital services, employment, new ideas and creativity, and bring people together. Now our high streets and markets are opening again we know that business owners will want to know how to keep their staff and customers safe. If you are a business owner, more information is available on our website at camden.gov.uk/covid-businessess, so please check it out.

To keep you up to date with changes to council services and support available through the Council and its partners, you’ll find weekly updates here in the Camden New Journal.

Visit camden.gov.uk/coronavirus for the latest on all council services and information on essential support, including how to access emergency food and financial support. The webpage contains information in different languages and formats.

You can also check the rolling news feed at camden.gov.uk/coronavirusnews, Twitter @CamdenCouncil or speak to someone at the Council directly on 020 7974 4444 (option 9).

SIGN UP to the Council’s coronavirus e-newsletter for regular service updates, news and support, at camden.gov.uk/coronavirus-updates

We are also continuing to make changes to our streets and roads to enable people to walk and cycle at safe distances, particularly on our high streets and near schools. You can still let us know where you think work could be done to enable people to travel safely by visiting our Commonplace website at camdensafetravel.commonplace.is/comments One way we can all help to keep each other safe is by wearing a face covering in shops and supermarkets from 24 July when this becomes mandatory. Wearing a mask, washing your hands, keeping a safe distance, and staying home and getting a test if you have symptoms makes a huge difference to the risk of COVID-19. Together we can keep Camden safe.

Councillor Georgia Gould, Leader of Camden Council

A Camden summer sport, business and life skills.

Courses take place either online or in a face-to-face, socially distanced way. cmdn.co.uk

Although the school holidays might look and feel different this year, there is still lots to keep families entertained. Camden Council and local voluntary and community organisations have lined up a range of exciting activities for children and young people in Camden.

Here’s a taster of what’s on offer – check out the full guide on the Camden Rise website at camdenrise.co.uk Camden Summer University: Free courses for 13 to 19 year olds in arts, media, fashion,

Summer Reading Challenge: Four to 11 year olds can take part in this year’s challenge, which is all about silly stories. There’s lots of games, book suggestions and more, and you can read books for free online with the Council’s digital library. camden.gov.uk/summer-readingchallenge Canoeing with the Pirate Castle: Children and young people aged eight and over can take part in a range of paddle sport and canalbased activities boosting physical and social skills. Activities are adapted to comply with social distancing and group size Government guidelines. thepiratecastle.org/ holidayscheme

Camden leisure centres Camden’s leisure centres, gyms and indoor swimming pools will reopen this Saturday, 25 July, following the latest Government guidance.

Camden Council is working with its leisure partner GLL to make sure its facilities are COVID-19 secure. The Council’s leisure centres are introducing measures to enable social distancing and make facilities as safe as possible for residents and staff.

As part of the changes, leisure centre users must pre-book a slot for gym, swim or fitness classes and pay online or at the centres by card only. Watch a video that explains the reopening of centres and what to expect at camden.gov.uk/leisurecentres and find out more at better.org.uk/coronavirus Outdoor swimming The outdoor pool at Oasis Sports Centre reopened on Monday 20 July in line with Government advice. If you want to visit, you’ll need to book a slot using the Better app. Find out more at better.org.uk/coronavirus/booking or call the centre on 020 7831 1804.

Turn to inside back cover for more updates from Camden Council, including local support for residents and businesses

camden.gov.uk/coronavirus 020 7974 4444 (option 9)

CORONAVIRUS

PROTECT YOURSELF & OTHERS

Coronavirus: Weekly update from Camden Council... continued from inside front cover

Face coverings

Support in Covent Garden

As well as social distancing and washing your hands regularly, wearing a face covering is important to keep yourself and others safe. From tomorrow, 24 July, it will be mandatory to wear face coverings in shops, in addition to public transport and in hospitals. You should also wear a face covering in enclosed public spaces where you cannot safely socially distance. Keeping your face covering clean and practising good hand hygiene is essential to stop the spread of the virus. Here are some tips: • When you put on and take off your face covering, avoid touching the inside.

• Before and after you put on and remove your face covering, wash your hands or use hand sanitiser.

• If you have a cloth face covering, wash after every use.

• If you are using single-use face coverings, dispose of them in your rubbish bin at home, or a litter bin if you are outside.

If there is no bin, please take them home to dispose of.

For the latest guidance, visit gov.uk/coronavirus

Covent Garden Food Bank is supporting over 200 local residents with weekly food parcels and ready meals. Set up

by Covent Garden Community Centre and Covent Garden Dragon Hall Trust in April, demand is still high as many users work in the still closed-down entertainment industry, or are otherwise struggling from loss of income and financial hardship. Volunteers like Martin, who usually runs Argentine tango classes at 7 Dials Club, are also helping with delivering food shopping and collecting medicine.

The organisations are in daily contact with older residents, and have a regular newsletter. They’re also offering a wide range of regular services and community activities online, including pilates, flamenco and gardening, and hoping to restart some activities in person in mid-August. You can donate to Covent Garden Food Bank or find out more about support and activities by visiting dragonhall.org.uk or phoning 020 7691 1577.

Reopen your business safely

Improving Camden’s high streets and town centres COVID-19 has created new challenges for Camden’s high streets and town centres.

Over the coming weeks, more businesses and venues that were previously required to stay closed to the public will be able to reopen.

If you own a business that can reopen, you must follow COVIDsecure guidelines to protect your customers and employees.

To help you make your business safe to welcome back customers and staff, Camden Council has created a new reopening guide.

This includes practical steps to open your premises safely, including guidance on social distancing, making shops COVID-secure, NHS Test and Trace, and information on face coverings, which must be worn in all shops and supermarkets from tomorrow, 24 July.

You can find the guide at camden.gov.uk/covid-businesses

As lockdown eases and businesses follow new guidelines to reopen safely, people are spending more time in the areas where they live, using their local high streets to shop and socialise. If you’re visiting your local high street, please follow social distancing measures to keep yourself and others safe.

Camden Council is working on a new plan to improve high streets and wants to hear from local people. Share your feelings about your high street or town centre – this might include an idea to improve it or something that matters most to you about the shopping areas you visit.

Visit camdenfuturehighstreets.commonplace.is to have your say.

How would you like to receive updates from Camden Council?

Council meetings

Whether you prefer email updates, social media, or printed information like these pages in the Camden New Journal, take the short survey at camden.gov.uk/communications or call 020 7974 4444 to share your views.

Some council meetings have now restarted and are being held remotely.

You can watch live or as recordings at camden.gov.uk/councilmeetings This week’s meetings include Licensing Panel D today at 7pm.

Although face-to face surgeries are currently on hold, your local councillors are still here to help you. Visit camden.gov.uk/councillors or phone 020 7974 2792.

camden.gov.uk/coronavirus 020 7974 4444 (option 9)

CORONAVIRUS

PROTECT YOURSELF & OTHERS

Pull-out and keep poster for businesses

Enjoy Camden safely Wherever possible, please keep 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household or support bubble. Where you can’t keep 2 metres apart, you can stay at least 1 metre apart and follow measures to keep other customers and staff safe. s

If queueing inside or outside, observe the 2 metre rule where possible

You must use a face covering inside all shops and supermarkets*

Use the hand sanitiser or hand washing facilities provided in entrances

Do not visit if you have COVID-19 symptoms – stay at home

Do not touch goods unless you intend to purchase them

Please use contactless or card payment – try to avoid cash payments

*Although you do not need to wear a face covering in hospitality premises such as cafes, coffee shops, restaurants or pubs, the Government recommends you should also wear a face covering in other enclosed public spaces where safe social distancing isn’t possible.