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COVID-19 pandemic : A Faith Sector message of Reassurance and Hope

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Amid the fear and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, faith groups bring a message of reassurance and hope.

Faith groups offer a warm and welcoming presence providing care, protection and support to all those within their community. This is an honoured, long term tradition with a focus for the sick, disabled, vulnerable and lonely. Our belief and practice of working together with other faiths, will help us move through the challenges today in the wider community to promote health, wellbeing and peace for all.

If anyone needs faith or spiritual support, they should contact their faith leader (Minister, Rabbi, Priest, Imam, etc.). If someone is not a member of a faith group but would like to be put in touch with a faith organisation they can contact BMFF at info@barnetmultifaithforum.org

In this spirit of working together for all people, we would invite faith and community groups in Barnet to let us know what they are doing to support the community at this time so that we learn from each other, publicise and promote our work via a Pandemic Support webpage on the BMFF website. www.barnetmultifaithforum.org

This will also have links to Government, Barnet Council, NHS, Voluntary and Faith Organisations websites

Barnet Multi Faith Forum Co-chairs
Esmond Rosen & Trevor Alexander.

COVID-19 advice from the Inter Faith Network for faith communities

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COVID-19 – move to ‘Delay’ phase

The Government moved today to the ‘Delay’ phase of its programme to tackle COVID-19.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51857856

Government guidance on COVID-19

IFN has received some queries from inter faith organisations debating whether to go ahead with planned meetings.  It is vital to take into account the Government’s guidance. It remains at this time, within the parameters of that guidance, a matter of judgement for organisations whether gatherings are appropriate to hold.  Considerations include such factors as size of gathering and potential vulnerability level of participants (based on what is currently known about that).

Faith community organisations and COVID-19

The NHS’s guidance remains the foundational guidance for everyone. They are updating this continually.

IFN has put up information on its website about how IFN’s member national faith community bodies are responding to Coronavirus.  As will be seen from this, there is precautionary guidance being issued by a number of them. All such guidance remains subject to change and continual updating.

The page also includes links to some articles about how faith communities are responding. You can find this at https://www.interfaith.org.uk/news/faith-communities-and-coronavirus.

IMPORTANT! Update on coronavirus outbreak

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Wuhan novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) briefing no. 2 for public and staff, 31.1.2020

Public Health Team, Barnet Council

 

Update on coronavirus outbreak

Two people from the same family have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK by this morning. They are being treated at a NHS facility. The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, and UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk to the UK public from low to moderate. This permits the government to plan for all eventualities.

 

At Barnet Council, we would like to reassure our residents and staff that we are working closely with Public Health England (PHE) to monitor the outbreak of Wuhan novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) globally and locally and will keep updating you accordingly.

 

We strongly advise to seek information only from reliable sources. The situation is changing fast and further guidance is being prepared. You can access updated information from following sources:

 

Advice for all residents

Since there is currently no vaccine to prevent infection, the best way to do so is to avoid exposure to this virus.

At Barnet Public Health, we would recommend following usual winter season preventative measures, as they reduce the spread of other respiratory viruses as well:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands;
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
  • Stay at home when you are sick;
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then bin the tissue. If tissue is not available, cough and sneeze in your elbow.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects such as keyboard.

For any queries and further information, contact: PublicHealth@barnet.gov.uk

England poster advice A3-20202901

Congratulations to BMFF

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We are happy to share our success at The London Faith & Belief Community Awards in being awarded for Services to and for faith and belief communities in Greater London.