The global Coronavirus outbreak will be one of the biggest challenges we face as a community and a country – we need to work together to get through this.
Volunteering
It is likely that opportunities to volunteer to help the community will come up in the near future. I am building a database of volunteers who could help, or who might need help, which I will pass on to local charities.
In the mean time, if you would like to do something to help people on your road who have to self isolate, then please do. I have created a template note that you can deliver to homes on your road saying that you would be happy to help them if needed. Please feel free to download it here and print off copies.
This might include elderly residents and those who are at risk, and may need to self-isolate for an extended period of time. If you can volunteer, or feel like you will need help due to your age or vulnerability, then please fill out my survey here – https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/coronaviruschrisphilp – I will then pass your details onto relevant third party charities, who may contact you in the near future. If you are in urgent need of help, please email me direct at chris.philp.mp@parliament.uk
Government Advice
As you will be aware, the Government is now asking for people with symptoms of Coronavirus to self-isolate. It’s important that anyone with a high temperature or a new, persistent cough to self-isolate for 14 days. You don’t need to phone 111 or see your GP, if you feel like you have these symptoms then you should self isolate.
Now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel. We need people to start working from home where they possibly can, and you should avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other social venues, such as gathering with families and friends outside of your own home. This advice is particularly important for people over 70, for pregnant women and for those with some health conditions.
If you, or anyone in your household, has either a high temperature or a new and continuous cough, then you should stay at home for fourteen days. That means that if possible, you should not go out even to buy food or essentials, other than for exercise, and in that case at a safe distance from others. If necessary, you should ask for help from others for your daily necessities. And if that is not possible, then you should do what you can to limit your social contact when you leave the house to get supplies.
More information is available here https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response
You may be interested in the helplines below:
As a Minister I am working in the Home Office and Ministry of Justice on the national response to the Coronavirus.
