Council calls on residents and businesses to do their bit to prevent local lockdown

#DoingMyBit – a major new Council public health campaign was launched today, (Monday 24 August 2020), at a special event at Havering Town Hall, Romford.

The Leader of Havering Council, Councillor Damian White, was joined by the Council’s Director of Public Health, Mark Ansell, and Chief Executive, Andrew-Blake Herbert, along with other Cabinet Members to officially launch #DoingMyBit.

They gathered to wave off a digital billboard van, sporting the new campaign images, as it set off around the borough to spread the #DoingMyBit message.

The van visited a number of locations across Havering, including Queen’s Hospital, Romford and the borough’s town centres from north to south.

#DoingMyBit will promote all the different ways in which residents and businesses are following public health advice and government rules to keep their, families, friends, colleagues and communities safe.

#DoingMyBit means:

• maintaining social distancing
• complying with NHS test and trace
• observing government quarantine measures when travelling
• isolating immediately and getting tested as soon as possible if you develop symptoms
• wearing a face covering in shops and on public transport unless you are exempt by government guidelines
• continuing to protect and support neighbours, family and friends and those who are highly vulnerable to the virus
• supporting local businesses who have been impacted by Covid 19.

Over the coming months, we  will ask residents and businesses to share their photos, stories and ideas of how they are doing their bit from across the borough using a wide range online Council channels.

We have also produced a campaign toolkit with posters, social media templates, and lots of other resources to help residents, businesses and our community partners to get involved and to do their bit to make the campaign a success.

During the campaign, residents should look out for posters and more digital ad vans across the borough with great examples of local people doing their bit.

We’ll also be holding online events to help residents with more advice on how to keep Havering safe.

Havering Council’s Director of Public Health, Mark Ansell, said:

“All across the borough, from Romford to Rainham, from Hornchurch to Harold Hill, residents are already doing their bit to prevent local lockdowns. However, we can’t be complacent and we must remain vigilant.

"The virus remains a very real threat and it’s crucial that we keep playing by the rules so that we protect each other, our jobs and our livelihoods.

“During this pandemic, the borough has come together to support each other and to help us on our road to recovery. We need to continue to work as a community to keep our borough out of lockdown.

“I look forward to seeing the many different ways that residents and businesses are doing their bit for Havering.”

Leader of the Council, Councillor Damian White, said:

“It’s been incredible to see so many examples of the Havering spirit over the last five months as the borough rallied together throughout the dreadful Covid 19 pandemic.

"I’m proud of how residents, businesses and community groups helped each other get through one of the most difficult times in modern history.

“That’s why with #DoingMYBit - we want  to shine a light on some of the great things local people are doing to protect each other to keep Havering safe.”

Doing your bit can also be simply showing kindness to each other and looking out for those around you.

Hornchurch resident, Stewart, 62, says:

“As someone who is blind, I rely on those around me to help me maintain social distancing while out in public spaces.

“It’s great to know people are pulling together and doing their bit to look out for each other as we work to keep the spread of the virus under control in Havering.”