Overall
As you will know, the Government has instructed everyone to stay at home, in order to protect the NHS and save lives. The critical thing is to stop the disease spreading between households. That is why people will only be allowed to leave their home for very limited purposes.

You must stay at home, only leaving for the following very limited purposes:

• Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible.
• One form of exercise a day – for example, a run, walk or cycle – alone or with members of your immediate household.
• Any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
• Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.

Healthcare
At the moment, the NHS advises anyone with a new continuous cough or a high temperature to stay at home for 7 days.  You do not need to contact 111 to tell them.  If your symptoms do not get better after 7 days, your condition gets worse or you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service.

Please ensure you check the NHS and gov.uk websites for all the latest information, as well as Herefordshire Council's  pages offering up-to-date information and guidance about local services:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/

Supporting the Vulnerable
If you can lend a hand to support the vulnerable in Herefordshire, you can do so here: https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/covid19help

The dedicated telephone number is: 01432 260027 & the email address is: talkcommunitycovidresponse@herefordshire.gov.uk

People wishing to volunteer/vulnerable people needing support
If you are vulnerable and need support from volunteers, please click here: https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/info/200207/family_support/883/coronavirus/4 or here: www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable.

Herefordshire Council have set up a telephone number for people at home/self-isolating who need assistance: 01432 260027.  Details will be taken and passed to the relevant local coordinator to make the necessary arrangements. 

The NHS has issued a call for volunteers to sign up to become an NHS Volunteer Responder and join an army of 250,000 volunteers helping the most vulnerable people in our communities. Doing so will mean you can make a real difference to some of the households who have been most affected by the outbreak – from delivering essential prescriptions to calling to check on the wellbeing of those self-isolating.

Shopping
Most major supermarkets now have a dedicated shopping hour in the morning for the elderly, the disabled and their carers, along with special provisions made for NHS staff.   Please check individual supermarket websites for regular updates and opening hours, as well as making use of food delivery services where possible.

New stock is arriving regularly at supermarkets to keep up with increased demand.  Let’s all only buy what we need, be polite to supermarket staff and be aware of those who might not be as able to go out and get their shopping.  We are lucky to have such a strong and supportive community in Hereford -- if you are able to, do please check in on anyone you think might be struggling.

Parking

Herefordshire Council have announced that ALL on and off street parking charges will be suspended in Herefordshire. The council have also announced that the Bus Station car park in Hereford will close to the public to ensure emergency services workers have access to parking.  The changes will come into effect on 1 April and will last for up to three months.

The Government will provide free car parking to all NHS staff at hospitals, as part of our efforts to ensure health workers have whatever they need during this unprecedented time.

Business Support/Self-Employment Support

The Government have launched a new website that helps businesses and the self-employed find out how to access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply:  https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/

HMRC have launched a helpline to help businesses concerned about paying their tax due to coronavirus (COVID-19).  Full details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tax-helpline-to-support-businesses-affected-by-coronavirus-covid-19

Any businesses in Herefordshire who can help with the Prime Minister's call for ventilator production please contact @businessgov helpline on 0300 456 3565 or email ventilator.support@beis.gov.uk

We all need to work together to overcome this, by remaining practical, calm and considerate.  We will get through this blight.

If you need assistance with any urgent casework, I can still be contacted on: jesse.norman.mp@parliament.uk or via 01432 276 422.  And if there is anything else my team and I can do to help, please let us know.

With all good wishes, 

Jesse