COVID-19: Where To Find Important Information and Guidance
Luton Borough Council:
Updates and information can be found on the Council website: https://www.luton.gov.uk/Health_and_social_care/coronavirus/Pages/default.aspx
Brown bins, glass and food waste collections are suspended. Both the tidy tips are closed as are all community centres.
The current status of Council Services available can be found via the following link: https://www.luton.gov.uk/Health_and_social_care/coronavirus/Pages/Service-specific-updates.aspx
If you need any further information or support from your local Councillor during this time, their details can be found on the following page:
https://democracy.luton.gov.uk/cmis5public/Councillors/tabid/63/ScreenMode/Ward/Default.aspx
Please note that your local Councillors must follow Government advice in relation to social distancing. This means that there may be some matters that we will be unable to resolve until the social distancing period has ended.
Easy Read Coronavirus Guide:
An easy read coronavirus guide is available via the following link:
Translated Guides – Washing Your Hands:
Handwashing posters in 14 different languages are available via the following link:
Social Distancing:
Guides on social distancing are available via the following links:
- Social distancing – https://www.luton.gov.uk/Health_and_social_care/coronavirus/Lists/LutonDocuments/social-distancing/Social-distancing.pdf
- Stay at home for seven days – https://www.luton.gov.uk/Health_and_social_care/coronavirus/Lists/LutonDocuments/social-distancing/Stay-at%20home-home-for-seven-days.pdf
- Taking your daily exercise – do it on your own – https://www.luton.gov.uk/Health_and_social_care/coronavirus/Lists/LutonDocuments/social-distancing/Taking-your-daily-exercise-do-it-on-your-own.pdf
- Taking your daily exercise – take a wide berth – https://www.luton.gov.uk/Health_and_social_care/coronavirus/Lists/LutonDocuments/social-distancing/Taking-your-daily-exercise-wide-berth.pdf
Guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on when and how to use masks is available via the following link:
Stay At Home Advice:
If you are in a household with possible coronavirus infection, advice and guidance on self-isolation is available on the GOV.UK website via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance
Coronavirus – Latest NHS Guidelines:
These can be found translated into 34 languages via the following link:
Helping Others:
Volunteering – how to give help or get help
Volunteer to Help Vulnerable Residents
If you feel you can offer help to someone who needs it, such as elderly residents, pregnant women and vulnerable families, please email volunteering@luton.gov.uk.
Volunteer to Help the NHS
Information on volunteering to be an NHS Volunteer Responder is available via the following link:
https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHS
Volunteer to Help Your Local Foodbank
Information on how you can volunteer to assist your local foodbank as available via the following link:
Supporting Family and Friends
The government has released guidance for individuals supporting family and friends who are self-isolating. Under the government’s stay home policy, providing care or support to vulnerable friends and family is one of the four reasons to leave the home.
The guidance outlines how you can do this safely, by minimising the time spent in a vulnerable person’s home and maintaining a two metre distance from people outside of their own household.
The guidance is available via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-how-to-help-safely–2
Getting Help
If you’re a vulnerable person – aged over 70 and/or with underlying health conditions – and require urgent help, please contact 01582 547659.
Anyone else needing assistance of any kind at this time is urged to click the link below to see a list of trusted help networks operating in your area.
https://www.luton.gov.uk/Health_and_social_care/coronavirus/Pages/Coronavirus-help-in-your-area.aspx
Health Services:
Changes to Luton children’s community health services
See the link below for changes and cancellations to children’s community health services such as MASH, 0-5 services, nursing and others.
https://www.cambscommunityservices.nhs.uk/luton/childrens/coronavirus
Changes to Luton adult’s community health services
See the link below for changes and cancellations to adult’s community health services such as safeguarding nursing and other services.
https://www.cambscommunityservices.nhs.uk/luton/adults/coronavirus
Urgent dental care
All dental practices have been requested to establish (independently or by collaboration with others) a remote urgent care service, providing telephone triage for their patients with urgent needs during usual working hours, and whenever possible treating with advice, analgesia, and antimicrobial means where appropriate.
The regional commissioner will then inform the Directory of Services (DOS) lead so that 111 are up to date with the correct information.
Whilst the system is still being worked out, the best advice we can give to residents today is to call your dental practice in the first instance. Even if they are physically closed, they should be taking calls. Failing that, please call 111 for emergencies.
Clinicians returning to NHS and care professions to help
If you are a doctor, nurse, midwife, pharmacist or other health and care professional considering returning to the NHS to assist during this period, more information on how you can do this is available here: www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/returning-clinicians/
Advice for Claiming Benefits and Contacting the Benefits Team:
Information around claiming benefits during the coronavirus crisis and contacting the benefits team is available via the following link:
Advice for Businesses, including the Self-Employed:
Advice for Businesses on the following issues is available here – https://www.luton.gov.uk/Health_and_social_care/coronavirus/Pages/Advice-for-businesses.aspx
- Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)
- Retail business relief
- Commercial rent
- Filing of accounts
- VAT and Income Tax payments
- Income Tax
- Self employed
- Food businesses
- Businesses trading internationally
- Advice and guidance available locally
Acas – free employment law helpline and webinars
Acas are the workplace experts, funded by BEIS. They are advising employers and their workers through the Acas Helpline 0330 123 1100. They are running weekly live Twitter Q&A sessions with Acas experts (every Friday at 10:30).
There are also advisory webinars for employers. with multiple dates available. These free webinars will provide practical advice for employers to help manage the impact of Coronavirus in the workplace.
Coronavirus Scams:
The coronavirus situation is unfortunately an opportunity for criminals to exploit those with fears about COVID-19 and prey on those who are older, vulnerable or isolated from family and friends.
Please remain vigilant and take extra care during these difficult times by reading and following the advice given on this page:
https://www.luton.gov.uk/Health_and_social_care/coronavirus/Pages/Beware-of-coronavirus-scams.aspx
Other Information Sources:
Citizens Advice Bureau – Advice on Coronavirus related issues:
Useful information on various coronavirus related issues can be found on the Citizens Advice Bureau website, via the following link: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/resources-and-tools/search-navigation-tools/Search/?q=%22coronavirus%22+OR+%22COVID-19%22&c=SERP-PUBLIC
Government WhatsApp Service:
The new free to use service aims to provide official, trustworthy and timely information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19), and will further reduce the burden on NHS services.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-coronavirus-information-service-on-whatsapp
Sport England – #StayInWorkOut campaign
With people mostly confined to their own home following the latest government advice, Sport England’s ‘Join the Movement’ campaign will give people fun and creative ideas on how to get active at home and encourage them to share their own experiences and join the movement online using the hashtag #StayInWorkOut. The campaign will have its own online hub to give access to a range of home workout options. For more info check: www.stayinworkout.org .
