The past year has been incredibly challenging for everyone in our community, but we have also seen our community come together in amazing ways to support each other.
I want to say thank you to all our amazing NHS and social care staff, who have been at the heart of fighting Covid-19 and are doing a fantastic job rolling out the vaccines. I would also like to say thank you to all key workers, from supermarket workers to police, firefighters and teachers, and many more, who have all done a such a fantastic job throughout this pandemic to keep supermarkets running, keep our streets safe and continue to educate school children.
As we begin to lift restrictions, I am calling for recovery that will secure jobs in Hull, lift people out of poverty and create a more equal and prosperous society.
Guidance on what you need to do
Remember we all need to follow the basic rules of hands-face-space and if you have any symptoms, stay at home and book a test immediately.
It is important that you check NHS and Government advice regularly, things can change quickly as we follow the roadmap out of lockdown, which you can read about here:
You can find the up to date advice from the NHS here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
And locally in Hull here:
https://www.hullccg.nhs.uk/13677-2/
Getting Tested
There are now lots of way to get a test, please see the updated guide here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested
Help in Hull
Hull City Council provide help, support and information relating to Coronavirus. You can find out what help you can get, with practical and financial support and more here:?
Or call 300 307?
You can also get free and independant advice on rights at work, money problems and local sources of help from your local Citizens Advice. You can call them in the following ways:
For Specialist Debt advice please call: 01482 226 859
For all other advice please call: 0800 144 88 48
For email advice use: e-advice@hull-eastridingcab.org.uk
http://www.hullandeastridingcab.org.uk/
Mental Health
The impact of covid has been devastating to so many of us. If you are facing difficulties with your mental health, please do not feel as though you are on your own to deal with these feelings, there are a number of organisations that can help you at this distressing time.
I urge you to reach out to one of the following:
NHS Humber Mental Health Response Service
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Telephone: 01482 301701
www.humber.nhs.uk/services/MHRS
Hull Samaritans
Tel 116 123 free from any phone
Tel 0330 094 5717 local call charges apply
Email: jo@samaritans.org (response time is 24 hours)
https://www.samaritans.org/branches/hull/
Hull & East Yorkshire Mind
Call to find details of support near you. Lines are open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday on 0300 123 3393
Vaccinations
It is so important that we all attend our vaccine appointment when we are called.
Our local NHS teams have done an incredible job getting jabs into arms, it is a magnificent effort by the NHS and our community.
No one will be excluded from the vaccination programme. Please be patient, people are being vaccinated according to priority order set by the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation. There is a risk to vaccine wastage when individuals do not attend clinics. In order to avoid minimise wastage some individuals outside of the prioritised groups may receive a vaccination.
If you are worried you have been missed from the programme, it is not too late. You can contact the National booking either online at www.nhs.uk//covid-vaccination or call the national booking line on 119 to book an appointment at a large vaccination site. The telephone booking line is available between 7am and 11pm.
Watch out for fraudsters!
There have been reports around the country of fraudulent messages being sent to people offering a vaccine in an attempt to steal personal and financial information. Remember:
The vaccine is free of charge, and everyone will be offered one by the NHS.
The NHS will never ask for banking details, account numbers, pins or passwords, or for copies of personal documents such as a drivers licence, passport or pay slip.
If you receive a message requesting this information it is a fraudulent message.
The NHS will never arrive unannounced at a person's home offering a vaccination, particularly in exchange for payment.