Coronavirus: The essential daily briefing for Cambridgeshire - March 27

Cambridgeshire County Council has released its daily briefing for Friday, March 27.

The briefing takes into the government’s latest announcements.

Covid-19 scams

The National Trading Standards (NTS) scams team has produced some materials to promote awareness of scams around the coronavirus.

The tools will help spread the message that criminals are exploiting coronavirus fears to prey on the public particularly older and vulnerable people, who are isolated from family and friends. Visit friendsagainstscams.org.uk.

Parking enforcement in Cambridge

Parking enforcement in Cambridge will be suspended from Monday, March 30. A skeleton staff will continue to deal with dangerous parking during the coronavirus outbreak.

This is being done in partnership with Cambridge City Council, who will be providing free car parking in its car parks for key workers.

Cllr Steve Count, leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “We have taken these steps with the city council to try and help critical workers during this unprecedented time.

“We want to make sure critical services can continue to operate and we hope by suspending parking enforcement, keeping the roads flowing for emergency vehicles and essential deliveries to food shops and pharmacies this will make it easier.

“We want our streets not to be cluttered with badly parked cars and allow customers to park for essential visits e.g. near food shops, the hospital and pharmacies. We also need to consider the safety of the traffic officers based on the latest Government guidance.”

Cambridge City Council leader, Cllr Lewis Herbert, said: “We are in unprecedented times and by making our car parks free for key workers including NHS staff we are helping them to keep the most critical services running.

“All Cambridge residents need to strictly follow the government Stay at Home advice for their and their family’s safety. They should also ensure that they and their whole families adhere to essential guidance on social distancing at all times, plus hygiene and hand washing advice.

“People who may be volunteering to help support vulnerable people, along with those working in health services and other public services, need all the support available to do their essential work and we will help them wherever we can.”

County council enforcement officers will assess dangerous parking within the area and if they believe it to be obstructive or dangerous they will ticket where possible.

Libraries in Cambridge

The Library Presents spring programme has been postponed. This includes all performances and workshops planned until June 2020.

The county council will continue to engage with audiences and communities using its digital channels to share light-hearted, fun, friendly and exciting arts and ideas for activities that can be done at home.

Thank you to education staff

Councillors have expressed their appreciation for the hard work and collective effort shown by those working in education across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Cllr Simon Bywater, chairman of the children and young people committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “We are in unprecedented times and the ever changing nature of our current situation is testing us all professionally, and personally. The last couple of weeks have been enormously challenging for everyone involved in education.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone in schools, early years’ practitioners, childminders, partners and local authority officers for the dedication and superhuman effort they have shown so far. I have seen some fantastic examples of people coming together and going above and beyond to ensure those children in attendance are safe, and those who are at home have the resources they need to continue learning and developing.

“I also want to thank our parents for keeping your children at home. It helps ease some of the pressure, and is helping prevent the further spread of the virus.

“This period may run for some time yet, but I am fully confident the council’s education teams and the wider education community will continue pulling together.”

Read more:

Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus

Watch Cambridgeshire residents support NHS workers with Clap for our Carers campaign