This Newsletter has been produced by the Petersfield COVID-19 Network. It is intended to help and inform Petersfield residents, especially those who are unable to leave their homes because of Government restrictions.
If you know someone who would like to receive the paper version of this newsletter, please ask them to contact Romsey Mill via phone or via post: Romsey Mill Centre, Hemingford Road, Cambridge CB1 3BZ (you do not need a stamp if you add “FREEPOST CB1067”) or call 07933 671101.
Romsey Mill can also offer assistance by putting you in contact with volunteers, who can help collecting shopping and medication.
If you have information which would be of benefit to other residents in Petersfield please contact Romsey Mill with details and we will consider using it in future newsletters.
Latest infection statistics in Cambridge
Infection rates show a further fall in Cambridge. Public Health England data indicate there were 89 new cases of Covid-19 in Cambridge, for the week Feb 11th to 17th. This is a 32% reduction from the previous week in Cambridge. Sadly, there have been 6 deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test in Cambridge in the same period. 3 people tested positive in Petersfield in the 7 days up to Feb 12th.
Vaccination Priorities
Now that 90% of people in the top 4 priority groups have been offered a vaccination against Covid-19, it is being rolled out to the next 2 groups
- Group 5 All those 65 years of age and over
- Group 6 Adults aged 16 – 65 years in an at-risk group.
At the current rate, all over-50s will have been offered a first dose of the vaccine by mid-April
Laptops for Children
Businesses and local residents are being asked to donate spare laptops to support young people in Cambridgeshire who do not have access to a computer or the internet at home.
During the coronavirus pandemic, many young people are able to keep up with online lessons and schoolwork at home. However, there are many far less fortunate. Despite government investment, a survey of schools in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has identified around 8,000 pupils who still lack suitable equipment or internet access at home, meaning they are unable to benefit from online resources, support from teachers, or even interact with classmates.
Laptops can be donated at Cambridgeshire libraries. The Central Library is open from 10am to 2 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and from Feb 22nd from 12 noon to 4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For further details email LaptopsForChildren@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
Beware of Investment Scams
The coronavirus pandemic has led many people to consider making an investment to boost their savings or income during the pandemic. Whilst this could prove a wise move, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is warning the public to exercise caution as reports of ‘clone firm’ investment scams have increased in the last year. £78million was reported lost to these scams in the UK between January and December 2020.
Clone firms are fake firms set up by scammers using the name, address and ‘Firm Reference Number’ (FRN) of real companies authorised by the FCA. The fraudsters will then send sales literature linking to websites of legitimate firms to dupe potential investors into thinking they are dealing with the genuine firm when they are not.
The FCA is advising anyone considering an investment opportunity to:
- first visit the FCA Register https://register.fca.org.uk to ensure the firm is authorised.
- check the warning list of firms to be avoided (which is updated daily).
- double-check the specific details of the firm very carefully, the differences between the FCA-authorised firm and a clone firm can be very subtle.
- always use the phone number or website address listed on the FCA Register to research and make contact with the firm, not the details provided in the firm’s literature – which could be a very sophisticated and convincing fake.
Checking against the company’s Firm Reference Number (FRN) alone isn’t enough. Scammers will often copy a FRN and encourage victims to check the FCA Register to instill a misplaced confidence in their legitimacy.For further information on clone firm investment scams, see the FCA’s website or call the FCA’s consumer helpline on 0800 111 6768.