March 26: Coronavirus (COVID-19) update from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

We are working within a well-established set of structures governing how agencies work together to respond to keep people safe and well-informed during a major incident.

We are continuing to scale back a number of non-essential services to ensure we can focus our resources on those services that protect the most vulnerable.

Births

In line with national guidance all birth registration appointments will be deferred until after the pandemic period. For the same period parents are allowed to make a claim for Child Benefit or Universal Credit prior to the birth being registered.

Help for businesses

We are gathering the details of the 2,621 businesses in the Borough that together, are eligible for £31.2million of business grant support, to ensure that grant payments reach them as soon as possible. We are gathering this information via telephone calls and have also made an online form available on our website that businesses can complete and return to us by email. The form can be found on our dedicated business support webpage Help for businesses.

How you can help our waste collection teams

We are getting queries from people asking if green waste can be left alongside household waste bins for collection. Unfortunately, we cannot collect green waste left out with household waste so we are asking people not to leave it out.

If you don't have a suitable container, store garden waste in a neat heap in the corner of your garden, and keep turning it weekly to keep it aerated.

We're also asking people to help protect our waste collection crews and to help prevent the spread of infection. If you're self-isolating due to suspected or confirmed COVID-19 we're asking you to double-bag your used tissues and cleaning cloths and keep them separate to your other household waste for 72 hours before putting them out for collection. The same applies if you have communal bins - please don't put this waste out until at least 72 hours have passed.

Help for the vulnerable and elderly

Catalyst's 'COVID Community Support Team' is operating seven days a week and is all about making sure help reaches those in our communities who need it most. Help ranges from food shopping and picking up prescriptions to making sure people who are self-isolating and may be worried or lonely get the right support they need. You can call 01642 524 500 for assistance and find out all about it on the Catalyst website.

Stay calm

It is important that people remain calm, follow the latest national advice on the steps needed to reduce the spread of infection, and use only official sources of information when getting this advice.

Keep informed

For updates on all Coronavirus (COVID-19) related developments in Stockton-on-Tees - including health advice and disruptions to services - visit the Council's dedicated webpage Our People.