With residents concerned about the impact of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on Trafford and across the country, it is re-assuring that action is being taken to help reduce its impact on Trafford residents.
In Trafford, residents can call the Trafford Community response hotline on 0300 330 9073 for help with food shopping, getting energy (if on a pre-paid meter), getting essential medication, looking after pets or if a resident just needs someone to talk to.
The government has also introduced a raft of measures to help local residents. These include:
Writing to every household in the UK to urge them to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives; ramping up delivery of Personal Protective Equipment to local frontline medical staff so they are fully equipped to tackle Coronavirus; calling on 65,000 former nurses and doctors to re-join the NHS to help tackle Covid-19 and save lives; working to increase testing capacity to 25,000 hospital patients a day; launching a new scheme to recruit volunteers who can help the NHS support vulnerable people during the coronavirus pandemic – with 750,000 people now signed up; delivering the first food parcels to those people unable to leave their homes because of Covid-19; providing free car parking for NHS and social care workers; unveiling a major new package of measures to protect up to 1.5 million people in England who are the most vulnerable – enabling them to shield themselves and stay at home; setting out a plan for people’s jobs and incomes; introducing new emergency measures with the energy industry to keep gas and electricity flowing, looking after vulnerable customers who may be in financial difficulty due to Covid-19 and reaffirming the commitment to giving councils the support they need to contribute to the national effort.
Cllr. Nathan Evans, Leader of the Opposition on Trafford Council said “Amidst this pandemic, it’s reassuring to know that help is there for vulnerable Trafford residents when they need it. No Trafford resident should feel that they are on their own at this difficult time and I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the NHS and Council staff who are on the frontline and also to the voluntary sector which is also providing a crucial role in supporting those in need.
“The Government has also proved to be on the side of local residents as demonstrated through initiatives such as today’s announcement of the launch of a national voucher scheme for children eligible for free school meals, ensuring that no child goes hungry as a result of the Government’s measures to tackle the Coronavirus. This will be a relief for eligible hard-pressed local residents and I am delighted by this measure.
“I am also reassured that in combatting the virus, the Government has a scientifically-led, step-by-step action plan in place – taking the right measures at the right time and I would like to thank the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick for taking the lead on shielding the most vulnerable in society and ensuring that every corner of the country is on an emergency footing to confront the coronavirus epidemic and can move forward together.”
