THE PLAYING FIELD HAS NOW RE-OPENED BUT THE PLAYGROUND REMAINS CLOSED. PLEASE DO NOT USE ANY OF THE EQUIPMENT. WE ARE AWARE THIS IS DISAPPOINTING BUT THE GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES ISSUED ON JUNE 26TH ARE SERIOUS AND RIGOROUS AND WE HAVE A LOT TO DO TO TRY AND MAKE IT COVID 19 SAFE BEFORE WE EVEN THINK ABOUT OPENING IT UP. PLEASE BEAR WITH US.
THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED VERY REGULARLY WITH GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES, USEFUL LOCAL INFORMATION AND CONTACT NUMBERS.  THERE IS LOTS OF INFORMATION BY CLICKING ON THE LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE
IN THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, HERE IS A LIST OF PEOPLE YOU CAN CONTACT IF YOU NEED TO :
The following have agreed to be contactable and help with picking up urgent supplies, prescriptions and/or shopping or just available for a chat :
Mrs Liz Brown - 01328 830519 or abbot.farm@hotmail.com
Mrs Jan Hewitt - 01328 830652 or janethewitt@hotmail.co.uk
Mrs Liz Brady - 01328 830830 or 07973 820632 or lizsdavenport@gmail.com
Mrs Alex Smith (Arthur Howell the Butchers) - 01328 830239 or alex@arthurhowell.com (to bring back provisions from Wells - milk, bread, cakes etc, meat and pies)
The Rector, Rev Ian Whittle, can be contacted on 01328 830246 for anyone wishing to talk.
If there is anyone else in the village who would like to be included in the CONTACT LIST please contact Liz Brady as above.
Please pay attention to the advice as it is issued by the government and delegated authorities and if in doubt please check the village noticeboards or contact any one of the above.
If you're struggling with your mental health or know someone who is, then don't hesitate to use the link button just below this! 
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MESSAGE FROM ELIZABETH BRADY, CHAIR OF BINHAM PARISH COUNCIL JUNE 24th 2020    

BINHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Coronavirus
BINHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Coronavirus
June 24TH 2020
The government’s aim remains the same – saving lives and livelihoods. However, there is concern as we move to the next stage that all that has been achieved might jeopardised if we do not continue to optimise social distancing and hand hygiene. There is a very fine balance of risk of contracting COVID-19 in our population.  This virus has not gone away and by not paying attention to what is asked of us it will return.
 
Non-essential shops have now opened.
 
‘Support Bubbles’ (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-people-from-outside-your-household) are designed for those who live by themselves or if you are a single parent with dependent children so that . you can expand your support network of only one other household of any size and must be exclusive. If someone in your support bubble is showing coronavirus symptoms, or otherwise self-isolating, everyone in your support bubble should stay home.
 
The Prime Minister announced easing of lockdown restrictions on 23rd June in England.  He reiterated that the public must continue to follow social distancing guidelines  and hand hygiene measures to keep the coronavirus under control. The Government will not hesitate to apply the handbrake, or reverse measures, should the virus begin to run out of control.
 
As from 4th July, the following changes to enable people to see more of their friends and family, help businesses get back on their feet and get people back in their jobs were announced:
  • Social distancing of 2 metres remains the preferred option but where it is not possible to stay two metres apart, guidance will allow people to keep a social distance of ‘one metre plus’. This means staying one metre apart, plus mitigations to reduce the risk of transmission such as wearing face coverings.
  • The following can open provided they adhere to COVID secure guidelines
    • pubs, restaurants and hairdressers
    • outdoor gyms and playgrounds, cinemas, museums, galleries, theme parks and arcades,
    • libraries, social clubs, places of worship and community centres
    • accommodation sites so people can enjoy staycations in England
  • Two households can meet up in any setting with social distancing measures,
  •  “Close proximity” venues nightclubs, soft-play areas, indoor gyms, swimming pools, water parks, bowling alleys and spas will remain closed.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-easing-of-lockdown-restrictions-23-june-2020  
These changes are designed to reopen much of society and the economy, but it is essential that everyone goes about their lives in a manner which reduces the risk of transmission, whether they are at work, leisure, or using public services.
  • You should wash your hands regularly. This will help to protect you and anyone you come into contact with and is critical to keeping everyone safe
  • It will be against the law to gather in groups larger than 30 people, except for a limited set of circumstances . Police will have the power to break up groups larger than 30, apart from these exceptions (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-people-from-outside-your-household-from-4-july)
 
Village news:
Some disturbing incidences have been noted in our surrounding countryside, so a gentle reminder about
  • Scams, the latest being cyber-crime by suspicious email messages. If you believe you have suspicious emails then do not hesitate to contact  National Cyber Security Centre immediately and do not answer said emails (www.ncsc.gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails).
  • Fraud: If you think you have been a victim of fraud then also contact www.actionfraud.police.uk or call  0300 123 2020.
 
School books, for those children who responded will receive their books very soon. Do share them with your friends as well once you have finished reading them.
Budgens Fire – A devastating fire on Saturday evening  20th June has completely destroyed the store in Holt. This store and its staff have been so dedicated during the COVID 19 pandemic . This is a tragedy, and we would be pleased to continue to provide help for those who would normally shop at Budgens. Alternatively, there is a direct telephone number 01263 516000 to contact them if you have any concerns about Budgens food deliveries.  A Pop up Post Office will function in the ground floor menswear dept at Bakers & Larners from Friday 26th June. Our thoughts are with all the Budgens staff affected by this catastrophe.
The Priory Church is open for individual private prayer under COVID Secure guidance. Arrangements are being considered to open for worship after  the 4th July.
 
The Chequers  - are working very hard to put measures in place and plan to reopen on the 4th July (fingers crossed) albeit with reduced opening times and days initially. Please do not be under any illusion that 'going to the pub' will be the same as it would have been before COVID. There will be maximum table sizes, no standing at the bar, registering upon entry, amongst other things to keep you and our staff safe in line with Government guidelines. We will however still welcome you with our same great customer service and friendly smiles. Watch out for further details on the boards outside. 
The Wells Recycling Centre is open - 1 April–30 September 9am–5pm on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday
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GUIDANCE : STAYING SAFE OUTSIDE YOUR HOME (updated 24 June 2020) (THIS WAS A LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE, BUT IT'S ARRIVED IN A DIFFERENT FORMAT SO IS HERE IN ITS ENTIRETY FOR EASE)
 
Keep your distance from people outside your household
·      Avoid being face-to-face with people if they are outside your household or support bubble·      Keep your hands and face as clean as possible·      Keep indoor places well ventilated·      Avoid crowded spaces·      Work from home if you can·      If you have to travel (for example, to work or school), think about how and when you travel·      Face coverings (You can make face-coverings at home. The key thing is it should cover the mouth and nose).·      Avoid shouting or singing close to people outside your household or support bubble·      Reduce the number of people you spend time with in a work setting·      Wash your clothes regularly·      When at work or in business or public premises, follow the advice on site 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-safe-outside-your-home/staying-safe-outside-your-home
 
Hot weather warning issued to people shielding and more vulnerable groups  (PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND)To enjoy the sun while staying safe:
  • drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol. Everyone is at risk of dehydration in hot temperatures, but babies, children and older people are particularly vulnerable
  • stay cool indoors: open windows when the air feels cooler outside than inside; shade or cover windows exposed to direct sunlight; move to a cooler part of the house, especially for sleeping
  • slow down when it’s hot: exertion heats up our bodies so plan any strenuous activities (such as exercise and gardening) outside the hottest time of the day, typically 11am to 3pm
  • cool your skin with water. You could use a cool wet sponge or flannel, cool water spray, cold packs around the neck and armpits, or a cool, wet sheet
  • stay connected and listen to the weather forecast. Knowing the forecast can help you plan ahead and adapt what you’re doing
  • dress appropriately for the weather. Protect yourself against the sun’s radiation and keep yourself cool by wearing thin cotton clothes
  • eat smaller meals, more often. Cold salads and fruit are the perfect summer foods

“COVID-19 Secure” guidelines:
Many measures require the development of new safety guidelines that set out how each type of physical space can be adapted to operate safely. The Government has been consulting relevant sectors, industry bodies, local authorities, trades unions, the Health and Safety Executive and Public Health England on their development and will release them this week.
They will also include measures that were unlikely to be effective when the virus was so widespread that full stay-at-home measures were required, but that may now have some effect as the public increase the number of social contacts - including, for example, advising the use of face coverings in enclosed public areas such as on public transport and introducing stricter restrictions on international travellers.

Many businesses across the UK have already been highly innovative in developing new, durable ways of doing business, such as moving online or adapting to a delivery model. Many of these changes, like increased home working, have significant benefits, for example, reducing the carbon footprint associated with commuting. The Government will need to continue to ask all employers and operators of communal spaces to be innovative in developing novel approaches; UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will welcome grant applications for proposals to develop new technologies and approaches that help the UK mitigate the impact of this virus.

Protecting the most clinically vulnerable people : Some people have received a letter from the NHS, their clinician or their GP telling them that as a result of having certain medical conditions, they are considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable.19 Throughout this period, the Government will need to continue an extensive programme of shielding for this group while the virus continues to circulate.20 The Government will also have to adjust its protections for other vulnerable locations like prisons and care homes,21 based on an understanding of the risk.
Those in the clinically extremely vulnerable cohort will continue to be advised to shield themselves for some time yet, and the Government recognises the difficulties this brings for those affected. Over the coming weeks, the Government will continue to introduce more support and assistance for these individuals so that they have the help they need as they stay shielded. And the Government will bring in further measures to support those providing the shield - for example, continuing to prioritise care workers for testing and protective equipment.

A more differentiated approach to risk : As the UK moves into phase two, the Government will continue to recognise that not everybody’s or every group’s risk is the same; the level of threat posed by the virus varies across the population, in ways the Government currently only partly understands.
As the Government learns more about the disease and the risk factors involved, it expects to steadily make the risk-assessment more nuanced, giving confidence to some previously advised to shield that they may be able to take more risk; and identifying those who may wish to be more cautious. The Government will need to consider both risk to self, and risk of transmitting to others.

It is vital that those who are showing symptoms, however mild, must continue to self-isolate at home, as now, and that the household quarantine rules continue to apply. However, as the Government increases the availability and speed of swab testing it will be able to confirm more quickly whether suspected cases showing symptoms have COVID-19 or not. This will reduce the period of self-isolation for those who do not have COVID-19 and their household members.
The Government also anticipates targeting future restrictions more precisely than at present, where possible, for example relaxing measures in parts of the country that are lower risk, but continuing them in higher risk locations when the data suggests this is warranted. For example, it is likely that over the coming months there may be local outbreaks that will require reactive measures to be implemented reactively to maintain control of transmission.

Reactive measures : If the data suggests the virus is spreading again, the Government will have to tighten restrictions, possibly at short notice. The aim is to avoid this by moving gradually and by monitoring carefully the effect of each step the Government takes.
The scientific advice is clear that there is scope to go backwards; as restrictions are relaxed, if people do not stay alert and diligently apply those still in place, transmissions could increase, R would quickly tip above one, and restrictions would need to be re-imposed.
 
 
Staying safe outside your homeThis guidance sets out the principles you should follow to ensure that time spent with others outside your homes is as safe as possible (unless you are clinically vulnerable or extremely vulnerable in which case you should follow separate advice on GOV.UK. It is your responsibility to adopt these principles wherever possible. The Government is also using these principles as the basis of discussions with businesses, unions, local government and many other stakeholders to agree how they should apply in different settings to make them safer. All of us, as customers, visitors, employees or employers, need to make changes to lower the risk of transmission of the virus. The Government has consulted with its scientific advisers to establish the principles that will determine these changes.

Keep your distance from people outside your household, recognising this will not always be possible. The risk of infection increases the closer you are to another person with the virus and the amount of time you spend in close contact: you are very unlikely to be infected if you walk past another person in the street. Public Health England recommends trying to keep 2m away from people as a precaution. However, this is not a rule and the science is complex. The key thing is to not be too close to people for more than a short amount of time, as much as you can.

Keep your hands and face as clean as possible. Wash your hands often using soap and water, and dry them thoroughly. Use sanitiser where available outside your home, especially as you enter a building and after you have had contact with surfaces. Avoid touching your face.

Work from home if you can. Many people can do most or all of their work from home, with the proper equipment and adjustments. Your employer should support you to find reasonable adjustments to do this. However, not all jobs can be done from home. If your workplace is open and you cannot work from home, you can travel to work.

Avoid being face to face with people if they are outside your household. You are at higher risk of being directly exposed to respiratory droplets released by someone talking or coughing when you are within 2m of someone and have face-to-face contact with them. You can lower the risk of infection if you stay side-to-side rather than facing people.

Reduce the number of people you spend time with in a work setting where you can.You can lower the risks of transmission in the workplace by reducing the number of people you come into contact with regularly, which your employer can support where practical by changing shift patterns and rotas to match you with the same team each time and splitting people into smaller, contained teams. 

Avoid crowds. You can lower the risks of transmission by reducing the number of people you come into close contact with, so avoid peak travel times on public transport where possible, for example. Businesses should take reasonable steps to avoid people being gathered together, for example by allowing the use of more entrances and exits and staggering entry and exit where possible. If you have to travel (to work or school, for example) think about how and when you travel. To reduce demand on the public transport network, you should walk or cycle wherever possible. If you have to use public transport, you should try and avoid peak times. Employers should consider staggering working hours and expanding bicycle storage facilities, changing facilities and car parking to help.

Wash your clothes regularly. There is some evidence that the virus can stay on fabrics for a few days, although usually it is shorter, so if you are working with people outside your household wash your clothes regularly. Changing clothes in workplaces should only normally be considered where there is a high risk of infection or there are highly vulnerable people, such as in a care home. If you need to change your clothes avoid crowding into a changing room.

Keep indoor places well ventilated. Evidence suggests that the virus is less likely to be passed on in well-ventilated buildings and outdoors. In good weather, try to leave windows and doors open in places where people from different households come into contact – or move activity outdoors if you can. Use external extractor fans to keep spaces well ventilated and make sure that ventilation systems are set to maximise the fresh air flow rate. Heating and cooling systems can be used at their normal temperature settings.

If you can, wear a face covering in an enclosed space where social distancing isn’t possible and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet. This is most relevant for short periods indoors in crowded areas, for example on public transport or in some shops. The evidence suggests that wearing a face covering does not protect you, but it may protect others if you are infected but have not developed symptoms. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (cough and/or high temperature) you and your household should isolate at home: wearing a face covering does not change this. A face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used as part of personal protective equipment by healthcare and other workers; these supplies should continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against risks in their workplace, such as health and care workers and those in industrial settings like those exposed to dust hazards. Face coverings should not be used by children under the age of two or those who may find it difficult to manage them correctly, for example primary school age children unassisted, or those with respiratory conditions. It is important to use face coverings properly and wash your hands before putting them on and taking them off.
You can make face coverings at home; the key thing is it should cover your mouth and nose. You can find guidance on how to do this on GOV.UK.

You should follow the advice given to you by your employer when at work. Employers have a duty to assess and manage risks to your safety in the workplace. The Government has issued guidance to help them do this. This includes how to make adjustments to your workplace to help you maintain social distance. It also includes guidance on hygiene as evidence suggests that the virus can exist for up to 72 hours on surfaces. Frequent cleaning is therefore particularly important for communal surfaces like door handles or lift buttons and communal areas like bathrooms, kitchens and tea points. You can see the guidance on GOV.UK and can ask your employer if you have questions.
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YOU CAN SPREAD THE VIRUS EVEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE SYMPTOMS
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We have had the following information through from the NHS as part of a nationwide initiative called 'Improving Access to Psychological Therapies' :
Throughout this difficult time, it’s natural to be feeling unsure, concerned about the future and cut off from others. We are here to help, offering support by telephone, video call, instant messaging and webinar.
We offer a range of courses, talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy,counselling for depression, interpersonal therapy and couples counselling, and access to online social events to help us feel connected. Our social events are based around the ‘5 ways to wellbeing’ and range from quiz nights to gardening.  We also have a variety of regular online webinars which focus on ways to look after your mental health during the Coronavirus pandemic.
 Should you wish to talk to one of us directly, you can self-refer for a telephone assessment.  More information about this can be found here.  The Wellbeing Service is an NHS IAPT service which offers a range of psychological therapies to help and supportpeople to manage stress, low mood and anxiety, whatever the cause. We aim to reduce the onset of these difficulties, prevent deterioration, and promote recovery by offering a range of flexible services tailored to meet specific needs. Our Peer Support Workers have lived experience of mental health and use this expertise to support your recovery journey.
Our service provides support to anyone age 16 or over.  For more information please visit our website www.wellbeingnands.co.uk or call: 0300 123 1503
  For further information, please follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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NORFOLK YOUNG CARERS
We'd like to let you know that a new campaign has been launched aimed at Norfolk's young carers. Led by Norfolk Safeguarding Childrens Partnership and supported by carers organisations Carers Matter Norfolk and Caring Together, Heroes at Home recognises the vital role young carers play in supporting their loved ones at home and highlights the range of support available to help them. It is estimated that in Norfolk over 11000 children and young people from as young as 5 are cares, helping to look after or support a family member or friend who is ill, disabled or misuses drugs or alcohol. This figure is likely to be higher as many children do not identify themselves as a carer but may still fulfil a regular caring role for a family member.
For support and advice or a live chat online visit www.youngcarersmatternorfolk.org or call the Carers Matter Norfolk advice line on 0800 083 1148. This helpline is still  available during the coronavirus pandemic.
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KEEP SAFE AND WELL 
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As the lockdown eases, do keep an eye out on posters and info around the village.
UPDATED GOVERNMENT INORMATION IS AVAILABLE BY CLICKING LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE. LINKS WILL BE REMOVED ONCE THEY BECOME OUTDATED.