Coronavirus: Local Updates

Harborough Churches handed out ‘Can We Help’ leaflets at services yesterday in a bid to help those who have been forced into self-isolation because of Coronavirus.

People willing to pick up shopping, prescriptions or just provide a friendly phone-call can fill in their in details and post them through the doors of neighbours or others they know who are vulnerable.

Churches will also be emailing the leaflets to members of the congregation and making them available to others too.

Rev Barry Hill is the Team Leader for Harborough’s Church Of England churches:

The leaflet

Meanwhile, Robert Smyth Academy is preparing food packages for students who get free school meals, as a contingency if the school is forced to close.

Extra food supplies have been brought in for the preparation of them.

Preparations at Robert Smyth Academy

NHS bosses have restricted visiting to Leicester’s hospitals and Kettering General Hospital because of coronavirus.

Officials say the restrictions – which include no children under 16 going in and visiting between 6pm and 8pm only, are in force immediately.

It was confirmed on Saturday a man in is 80s who had the virus died at the Infirmary – he had underlying health conditions.

The trusts that operate the hospitals say the situation is changing rapidly and that it has limited visiting to help protect patients, visitors and staff.

Harborough Theatre has been closed until further notice because of the outbreak.

The Chairman says he apologises for the inconvenience it will cause, but the safety of everyone concerned must be of paramount consideration.

Two Octagon performances on Tuesday 17^th and Friday 20^th March will be allowed to go ahead, but Saturday’s Murder Mystery Evening on Saturday 21^st is cancelled.

For those people with Murder Mystery tickets, it is hoped to run this next season and the tickets will be valid on the new date – or refunded if the new date is not convenient.

Skylight and A Bunch of Amateurs are cancelled and a final decision regarding Twelfth Night will be made at the end of April. The Drama Committee may choose to re-schedule these plays as part of next season. That will be their decision in consultation with the Directors.