Coronavirus: Latest Local Updates

All play areas owned by Harborough Council are to close – it affects just under 30 across the District – the Council says it has taken the decision in line with Government advice on social distancing to help prevent the spread of coronavirus and thanks residents for their understanding at this time.

Harborough Council says it is also working hard to be able to support businesses during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Some of the measures announced last week by the government will be administered by the authority.

Leader Phil King spoke to Hfm:

 

Headteachers say early indications are that parents have listened to advice about school closures.

Only children of key workers are supposed to be in classrooms today and at Robert Smyth Acedemy in Market Harborough less than 20 students are at school.

Principal Dan Cleary, who is to record a weekly video message on social media, spoke to Hfm about that and plans during the closure:

 

Individuals and community groups doing things to help others are being urged to register with the Council, so they can be called upon directly – just go to the Council’s website and complete a simple form – click HERE

Over 100 people – some in self isolation – joined the new weekly on-line Church service in Market Harborough yesterday.

The Anglican churches have joined forces to conduct it over the internet.

 

Pizza Express in Market Harborough – which is now closed because of the pandemic  – provided dozens of pizzas for the emergency services over the weekend.

The Police, Fire Service and Ambulance crews were all given deliveries.

A local firm also donated a number of bottles of hand sanitisers to Harborough Police yesterday for officers to use.

From today opening hours at Sainsbury’s in Market Harborough are 8pm til 8pm Monday to Saturday, although NHS and social care workers will be able to shop from 7.30am.

The first hour of trading on Monday, Wednesday and Friday is now dedicated to elderly and disabled customers and their carers.

Other supermarkets have introduced similar measures.

Harborough Town Football Club is the latest organisation to pledge support to people in the community – with the offer to deliver shopping to people self-isolating who have no-one else to do so – more details on this & other support available HERE

Volunteers from the Harborough 2012 Lions Club are to start delivering prescriptions for patients of the South Leicestershire Medical Practice who are self-isolating – that’s in Market Harborough in addition to those registered with the town’s Medical Centre.

Harborough Library and the Museum at the Symington Building have been closed until further notice, along with country parks across Leicestershire.

The General Market Hall is closed until further notice in Market Harborough, but the Food Hall will re-open tomorrow (Tuesday) with social distancing procedures in place to protect customers and traders.

Harborough Council has announced the decision to cancel all Council-led events on The Square in Market Harborough as a precautionary measure due to the coronavirus

The cancellation will apply to all events scheduled up to 31 May 2020, including the Churches Together Good Friday Service, the Spring Arts and Craft Fayre and the VE75 celebration scheduled for 8 May 2020.