Latest Coronavirus update from Surrey County Council 24 March 2020

Latest closures

All 15 of Surrey’s community recycling centres are closed, but waste transfer stations are open to support waste and recycling collections.

Residents should check with their district or borough council for the latest collection updates and are asked to hold onto excess waste to prevent the service from becoming overwhelmed.

Physical barriers to prevent access to Surrey County Council’s countryside car parks are being installed from today. The council decided to close the car parks due to the large number of people visiting the countryside in groups.

Role of the Strategic Coordination Group (SCG)

Last Friday the Surrey Local Resilience Forum announced that it had declared the response of local partner organisations to the Covid-19 outbreak as a Major Incident - an event or situation with a range of serious consequences which requires special arrangements to be implemented by one or more emergency responder agency. The strategic intent of the LRF in the current crisis is to take all necessary steps to support health in reducing and preventing the occurrences of the outbreak of COVID19 which will deliver the best outcomes for the public’s health.

Surrey County Council Chief Executive reinforces Stay Home message

In a message to staff today, Joanna Killian reinforced the Government message to Stay at Home, Save Lives and Protect the NHS. We must do all we can to delay and suppress the spread of this virus, making it possible for our friends, family, and colleagues working so hard in the NHS, and in social care, to be able to cope with the demand for services now, and in the next few weeks.
Joanna thanked frontline workers, who are the only people under the guidance who are permitted to leave home, for doing all they can to protect the most vulnerable in the county. “Many of you, particularly those involved in front-line services in the community, caring for our most vulnerable residents, and those in Surrey Fire and Rescue services, will not be able to avoid this travel. Your roles are vital.”

Surrey Vulnerable People Hub

The Surrey Local Resilience Forum is coordinating measures to support the 12,000-12,500 most vulnerable in Surrey.
The Hub will also support the coordination and mobilisation of volunteers and will respond to the needs of our most vulnerable.
This may be supporting in the delivery of medicines and food.
The Hub will also support those who feel isolated in the coming weeks and months who are feeling frightened and concerned.
This work will bolster the work that is already underway by a team operating a community helpline.
More information on this will follow.

PM address to the nation on coronavirus 23 March 2020

From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction - you must stay at home.

Because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households.

That is why people will only be allowed to leave their home 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 household;
any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; and
travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home.

You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home