Coronavirus (Covid-19)
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.
Community Support hub
We have set up a dedicated Community Support Hub to bring together information and resources for our communities. Please click on the button below to be taken there.
Community Support Hub - Covid -19
Local updates
England is now under National Lockdown, which means you must stay at home except when necessary.
You may leave the home to:
- shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person
- go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home
- exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
- meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one
- seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
- attend education or childcare - for those eligible
Visit the government website to find out what you can and can't do during National Lockdown.
For further information about local updates, visit the Leicestershire County Council website or use the Government Postcode tracker below.
Coronavirus updates for parts of Leicestershire.
Health advice
In most cases, COVID-19 is mild but everyone should remain vigilant and carry on with good washing of hands and related personal hygiene measures.
If you have coronavirus symptoms, no matter how mild, you should book a test as soon as you can and stay at home for 10 days (from when the symptoms first started). This will help to protect others in your community while you are infectious.
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
You do not need to contact NHS 111 to tell them you're staying at home.
Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:
- You feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
- Your condition gets worse
- Your symptoms do not get better after 7 days
Use the online 111 coronavirus service.
Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.
- Giving your hands a good wash with soap and water is the most effective action you can take (but hand gels can be a good substitute)
- Maintaining personal hygiene when coughing or sneezing is also important - use a tissue rather than your hands and then throw it away. You could also sneeze or cough into your elbow area rather than your hands
- It is good general practice to use cleaning wipes to give your keyboard, desk, phone etc. the once over on a regular basis.
Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp
The Government has launched a Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp. The new free to use service aims to provide official, trustworthy and timely information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19), and will further reduce the burden on NHS services. When using the service an automated 'chatbot' will provide information on coronavirus prevention and symptoms, the latest number of cases in the UK, advice on staying at home, travel advice and myth busting. More information can be found on the Government website.
To use the free GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp, simply add 07860 064422 in your phone contacts and then message the word 'hi' in a WhatsApp message to get started.
Customer services and contacting us
Our council offices will reopen from Thursday 3 September for pre-arranged appointments only. To maintain customer safety, appointments will only be offered to those who cannot resolve their request by alternative means and we ask that you contact us online or via phone before visiting the offices.
Many of our services are available through My Account. This is the quickest and easiest way to access the majority of our services.
You can also contact us on 01664 502502 or by email at contactus@melton.gov.uk
We are very busy and receiving lots of calls - so please be patient and avoid contacting us if your query is not urgent.
Arrangements will be put in place for customers that arrive in our offices in crisis or affected by homelessness.
Thank you for your support.
If you need additional support please visit our Community Support Hub (Covid-19).
Bulky waste collections
Our Bulky waste collections will restart from the week commencing 4 May 2020. See here for details of how to book and how the system will work due to the current COVID-19 restrictions.
Car Parking
Car Parking fees were reintroduced on June 15.
Although the car parks are open, all residents should still adhere to the Government guidance on the local restrictions. Car parks should only be used to support essential travel, and when parking residents should be mindful to leave adequate space between each vehicle. You can also use the new PayByPhone app so as not to have contact with the ticketing machines.
The Council owned car parks are as follows: Scalford Road, Burton Street, Mill Street, Wilton Road, St Mary's Way, Chapel Street and Waterfield Leisure Centre.
Children's Centres
The Children's centres at The Cove and Fairmead are closed until further notice. The Edge will continue to deliver services via Leicestershire County Council.
Council Tax
If you are concerned about paying your bill, there are options available around paying your council tax. Some people may also be eligible for Council Tax Support. We will be as flexible as we can and we are aware that many people have concerns at the moment due to the coronavirus pandemic. To find out more about the options available, please visit our dedicated Council Tax advice and support (Covid-19) page.
Education
For education queries please phone the Department for Education on 0800 046 8687 or email them at coronavirus@education.gov.uk (opening hours: 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday).
It has been brought to our attention that some fraudsters are sending out a scam emails targeting parents and families, regarding free school meals. These emails will ask for bank details in order to supply your child with free school meals during this time. Do not reply to these emails. If you have any concerns contact your local school or the council offices.
Employers and business
The Government have a dedicated page for employers and businesses in providing advice about COVID-19.
For more localised support for your business visit our Business Support Hub (Covid-19).
Food Handling Advice
If you are supporting those in your local community at this time by supplying or delivering food, depending upon the help you are offering you may need to register these activities, even if you are providing the food for free. Advice and details of how to register is available on our COVID19 food safety pages.
Further information for community groups providing food is also available from the Food Standards Agency at www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/providing-food-at-community-and-charity-events .
Green Waste Collection
The Green Waste Club is still in operation.
Gretton Court
Gretton Court is closed to all but essential visitors until further notice.
Household waste and recycling sites
Housing repairs for our tenants
Non-emergency repairs, maintenance and home improvements are being suspended. Essential cases will still be completed and we will now be carrying out external repairs from week commencing June 22.
For more information please see our updated guidance on housing repairs for tenants.
Tenants with emergency repair requests can contact us on 01664 502502
Kerbside collections
Household waste and recycling will continue to be collected kerbside. Visit our waste and recycling webpages for full details of what goes in your bin. If you would like to show your support to our bin crew during this time why not download and colour in this poster and leave it where they can see it.
Leisure Centres
Following government direction our leisure centres; Melton Sports Village & Waterfield Leisure Centre will be closed from Thursday 31 December. We will keep you advised of any further updates.
Melton Country Park
The cafe is open for takeaway service only. The toilets are still closed. The park and play facilities remain open at this time, you must follow the Government guidance on local restrcitions when using it at all times. Please continue to check this page for any updates.
Museums and libraries
Museums and Libraries are run by Leicestershire County Council, please see the Leicestershire County Council website for more information.
Play areas
Play areas will remain open. Social distancing guidelines must be adhered to when using play areas, please read and follow signage that is in place.~
Privacy Notices
We have developed some new Privacy Notices in relation to Coronavirus (COVID-19), regarding High Risk Groups, Community Volunteers and Employees.
To view our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Privacy Notices click here.
Public toilets
The toilets at Wilton Road and St Mary's Way have now reopened, the toilets at Melton Country Park remain closed. We apologise for any inconvenience and will look to resume the services as soon as possible.
Skate Park
The skate park located at Play Close is now open. Please remember to observe social distancing while using the park.
For more localised support for your business visit our Business Support Hub (Covid-19).
Useful links
- Common questions answered about COVID-19 (NHS)
- Coronavirus National Lockdown: Stay at Home - what you can and can't do (from 4 Jan 2021)
- Coronavirus National Lockdown: Stay at home posters
- Coronavirus Local Restriction Tiers - What you need to know (from 2 Dec)
- Coronavirus Privacy Notices (Melton Borough Council)
- COVID-19: track coronavirus cases (broken down into local authority areas)
- Education queries - phone the Department for Education on 0800 046 8687 or email them at coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk (opening hours: 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday)
- Face Coverings - Government guidance
- Face Coverings - exemption cards
- GoodSam App - sign up to become a NHS Volunteer Responder
- Government Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp
- Government Coronavirus Stay at Home leaflet
- Government Guidance on how to help people safely.
- Leicestershire County Council Coronavirus updates
- NHS 111 - specific COVID-19 page
- NHS Covid-19 App
- Number of COVID-19 cases and risk in the UK
- Overview of COVID-19
- Rutland and Melton MP Alicia Kearns list of support throughout Melton and Rutland.
- Stay at home advice
- Travel advice
- World Health Organisation - Myth Buster Covid-19
- Citizens Advice Leicestershire
Social media
The following Twitter accounts will be regularly posting out the latest factual advice and information related to COVID-19:
- Public Health England (@PHE_UK)
- Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk)
- NHS England (@NHSEngland) - the NHS advises to only trust NHS organisations on Twitter that are 'blue-tick verified'
Page last updated on 06.01.21