Coronavirus update
- Police, health and trading standards officials warned of a fake NHS text some people are receiving saying they are eligible for a Covid vaccine and inviting them to apply with their bank details. It’s an obvious scam but there’s concern some vulnerable people could fall for it. GP surgeries in Penn and Hazlemere alerted their patients to it yesterday.
- Buckinghamshire NHS Trust has reaffirmed that despite severe pressure on local hospitals, urgent operations, including cancer, are continuing as planned. Outpatient appointments and some non-urgent operations have been postponed. Wexham Park Hospital in Slough has taken similar action.
- Fourteen deaths of people who tested positive for Covid in the previous 28 days were recorded in the Wycombe/Amersham/Beaconsfield area yesterday. In Buckinghamshire there were 512 new cases in the 24 hours to yesterday afternoon – 186 in the Wycombe area, which includes Tylers Green and Hazlemere; 68 in the Chiltern area which includes Penn, and 92 in the South Bucks area which includes Beaconsfield.
- The police apologised yesterday after motorists were stopped on Maidenhead Bridge and asked where they were going – most were going from the Berkshire side to Tesco on the Buckinghamshire side. An inspector said: “This was an individual officer who was just a bit keen. It should not happen again.”
- Aylesbury Waterside Theatre has decided to extend its suspension of productions until the end of February. Wycombe Swan has suspended productions until the end of January. Windsor Theatre Royal has now abandoned its pantomime – the first time for 82 years it has been unable to complete a panto season, and the Norden Farm Arts Centre has suspended all its workshops and art sessions but is planning to continue some performances online.
- In the House of Commons yesterday Penn’s MP Dame Cheryl Gillan obtained a commitment from prime minister Boris Johnson that young people with autism and severe learning difficulties will be prioritised for the Covid vaccine. Statistics show they are six times more likely to die from the disease.
- The Potters Arms at Winchmore Hill began a takeaway and delivery food service yesterday which it intends to continue from Wednesday to Saturday 10.30am to 2pm and 5pm and 8pm every week. You can order via its app. The Red Lion in Penn is planning to resume its takeaway service on 28 January.
Happy birthday Herbert
Congratulations to the village’s oldest resident Herbert Druce who yesterday celebrated his 106th birthday.