Tag Archives: resilience

Coronavirus

Posted on by
Reply

The coronavirus is in the headlines today.  Here is the latest information from London Resilience.

Hand hygiene can be important in preventing the spread of infection.

Wuhan novel coronavirus briefing, situation as at 23 January:

Background

On 31 December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was informed of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.

On 12 January 2020 it was announced that a novel coronavirus had been identified in samples obtained from cases and that initial analysis of virus genetic sequences suggested that this was the cause of the outbreak.

Public Health England (PHE) is currently using the name Wuhan novel coronavirus (WN-CoV), in the absence of internationally accepted names for the virus and the disease/syndrome it causes. Further information on the disease is available here.

Key messages:

  • There are currently no confirmed cases of Wuhan novel coronavirus in the UK. Health partners have been carefully monitoring the situation in Wuhan for some time and have put in place proportionate, precautionary measures.
  • The risk to the UK population has been assessed as low.
  • Based on the emerging evidence regarding case numbers, potential sources and human to human transmission, the risk to travelers to Wuhan is moderate. The UK has updated its travel advice to advise only essential travel to Wuhan.
  • PHE is working with the WHO and other international partners, have issued advice to the NHS and are keeping the situation under constant review. The NHS is well prepared to manage and treat new diseases and PHE has developed a diagnostic test becoming one of the first countries outside China to have a prototype specific laboratory test for this novel disease.
  • Enhanced monitoring is now in place from all direct flights from Wuhan to the UK (although these flights are currently cancelled). The enhanced monitoring package includes a number of measures that will help to provide advice to travelers if they feel unwell.
  • The risk to visitors to Wuhan is moderate reflecting an increase in the number of cases being identified in China and evidence that the virus has limited spread from person to person. If you are traveling to the area, you should maintain good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene and should avoid visiting animal and bird markets or people who are ill with respiratory symptoms. Individuals should seek medical attention if they develop respiratory symptoms within 14 days of visiting Wuhan, either in China or on their return to the UK. They should phone ahead before attending any health services and mention their recent travel to the city.
  • Further information is available here and will be kept under constant review and updated accordingly.

Find a useful video on Coronavirus: what’s the difference between pandemic and epidemic here.

Mayor of London: security for places of worship

Posted on by
Reply

We’ve just received an invitation from the Mayor of London’s office (the Countering Violent Extremism team at MOPAC).

The Mayor is organising a gathering on security for places of worship next Wednesday evening.

Everyone is welcome.  Please sign up so that your name is on the Guest List.  The event is free of charge.

This event will focus on extremism, but we will share information from our training course on being prepared for other threats as well.

What: Multi Faith Security Advice

Where: City Hall, SE1 2AA

When: Wednesday 8 May 5.30pm – 8.30pm

Further information is below, but remember to register in advance so that you can enter City Hall.

______________________________

The Mayor of London would like to invite you to City Hall to attend an important workshop on safety and security for places of worship on Wednesday 8th May in London’s Living Room at City Hall from 17:30 – 20:30.

This session, which is being hosted by City Hall and delivered in collaboration with Faith Associates and the Faiths Forum for London, will see specialists from civil society, the police, designing out crime experts, central government, charities sector and faith communities who will deliver advice on practical steps that can be taken to mitigate safety and security risks for places of worship premises and their worshippers.

Doors will open at 16:30 for a 17:30 start. The session will end at 20:30 which will include a networking opportunity with specialists and experts. Refreshments will be served.

The Mayor’s number one priority is keeping Londoners safe and he is doing all he can to ensure the safety and security of London’s faith community.  Tragic recent events in Christchurch, Sri-Lanka and San Diego have shown the targeting of faith communities by violent extremists and this event will share expert advice on how to mitigate this risk.

Please register for this event as spaces are limited. Please register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/multi-faith-security-advice-seminar-at-city-hall-tickets-61038372415

Safe | Secure | Resilient – Brexit Briefing

Posted on by
Reply

Register here to join us on Thursday 21 March 6pm-8pm at New Scotland Yard, Victoria Embankment, SW1A 2JL, for briefings from DS Shabham Chaudhri and DC Richard Fidge of the Metropolitan Police and to share ideas on building a positive environment together in our neighbourhoods & boroughs.

Bring photo ID for entry to New Scotland Yard.  Allow 10 mins to clear security.  Registration by 11am on 20 March is essential.

Please pass on this invitation to others who might find it useful.

Preparing for EU Exit

Posted on by
Reply

Our meeting at City Hall last week brought people from Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim & Sikh communities together for some thoughtful discussion.

We are very grateful to Jeremy Reynolds of London Resilience for briefing us on preparations for leaving the EU and for listening to a range of concerns as well as our positive ideas for resisting any negative impacts on our local communities.

Local authority and police officers also joined us.

Have a look at our EU Exit page, which is now updated with links to useful sources of information suggested by Jeremy and others. There are also suggestions for action, with links. We will keep this refreshed as new material becomes available.

Concerns included hate crime on public transport (eg “Wait till Brexit – we’ll get rid of you”), uncertainty & not knowing who to ask, trade down in small businesses & worries about import/export, impact on donations to foodbanks, paralysis at the top trickling down to local level, fear experienced by anyone perceived to be foreign (whether they are British or not), antisemitism playing into the situation (“you’re controlling/benefiting from all this”), concerns that Islamophobia & antisemitism in the major political parties not really being dealt with properly, people being asked to prove their status before treatment in the NHS (& embarrassment about this stopping British people going for treatment until things are worse), EU nationals can register but you don’t get a piece of paper only a number, people are confused over benefits, public services are fully stretched and also preparing for EU Exit, no-one wants to stir up unnecessary fear by voicing uncertainty, visible differences (eg minority religious clothing) v invisible differences (eg when speaking) create further fractures, uncertainty about travelling to continental Europe and getting back to the UK, worries about EU Nationals employed by churches, fears of panic buying and public disorder.

Having channels of communication open means we can be prepared. There are suggestions on our EU Exit page. Preparing for Brexit builds our capacity & our social capital. It encourages the public sector, churches, mosques, gurdwaras, synagogues & temples to be in touch and to

  • bring together local residents
  • resist any negative impact on community relations
  • support the vulnerable
  • share information

We are planning one more briefing meeting before 29 March. In the meantime, please keep in touch and add your own suggestions of useful material/organisations as a reply to this post or by email.

PS Apologies for the intrusive ads; we need to upgrade the LBFN site.