Manchester City Council have launched an online website section and freephone telephone number for residents who have no other sources of support including those really struggling with practical issues arising because of the Corona Virus. You can call Manchester City Council's Corona Virus Helpline on 0800 234 6123 and visit their Corona Virus support by clicking here (Opens New Window).
1. CDIRF supports being responsible but we stand firmly against and do not in any way condone the draconian powers introduced under the Coronavirus Act 2020. We welcome posts across our website that both stand for and stand against the “lockdown”.
2. We encourage residents to stand together in protecting their Civil Liberties whilst observing social distancing and essential hygiene measures. We have added Big Brother Watch’s pages to our important information pages and we stand with them and Amnesty International in solidarity.
3. Don’t be terrified but be methodical - please read all of the information on this website and regularly check for updates.
4. The whole of Croydon Drive Independent Residents Forum is produced and facilitated entirely independent of Avro Hollows' TMO, Northwards' Housing and Manchester City Council but we are communicating messages from them within the corona virus content of this website. You can find out more about the extent of our cooperation with Avro Hollows' TMO by visiting the "Avro Hollows Cooperation" option in the menu above.
5. There are no obvious differences between colds/flu/other causes of high temperatures and the Corona Virus (Officially referred to as "Covid 19"). Those of you who are in good health could only experience mild flu-like symptoms but there is no guarantee.
6. Of the most importance, above all, everybody need to protect elderly and vulnerable people (those with poor immune systems (including those with alcohol and drug addictions, those that have had transplants. those undergoing cancer treatment or those who have not been eating properly amonst others)) and this is why self-isolation (staying in your flat for fourteen days if you have symptoms is still VERY IMPORTANT and this is why you will need to do it.
7. There are separate rules for those who live with others and where any one of the household shows symptoms. If any one of the household shows symptoms, they should call 119 to arrange a test and the whole household should self-isolate until the last person in their group has stopped showing symptoms and has themselves self-isolated for fourteen days).
8. It is also arguably a criminal offence to recklessly infect somebody and that doing this is tantamount (amounts to) assault. There are a whole new set of laws (the Coronavirus Act 2020) that have been introduced since the United Kingdom government demanded a lock-down. Although that stage has since passed, there are still lots of rules in place that you must follow or risk a hefty fine.
9. Those who are vulnerable will not immediately be obvious and you might not immediately come into contact with them but they are still put at severe risk if you do not self-isolate (stay in your flat if you have symptoms) because, as far as we all know so far, the virus spreads in much the same way as the flu (through coughs and sneezes and surface contact (lift buttons, door handles, stair rails and more)).
10. For people who are not showing any symptoms, it is absolutely essential that you protect your fellow residents by following the guidance provided on the Corona Virus pages of this website in relation to avoiding catching the corona-virus, for you, your family and friends, other residents and their guests. Don't be afraid to rely on main-stream media too.
11. Cafe sit down areas (and some Cafes overall), Cinemas, Nightclubs, Pubs and Theatres were all forced to shut but some pubs and cinemas are now back open where they can show that they can ensure social distancing. Takeaways remained open, but only to take away food with you. Some had chosen to shut and some remain shut. Most takeaways are still not letting people sit down or use the loos.
12. Supermarkets have mostly relaxed the restrictions on the amount of the same items that you could buy and many have reduced opening hours (including Asda Eastlands) to deal with re-stocking the shelves and, in the case of Iceland and Waitrose (and increasingly others), the first hour of the day is only for older and vulnerable customers (or their carers) which is pretty decent.
13. Most, if not all supermarkets (and chemists) are no longer opening 24 hours a day. You can find their updated opening times on their websites or by telephoning the supermarket. Stocks of items that were difficult to find are now starting to get back to normal levels.
14. Most supermarkets that offered delivery services before the Corona Virus crisis are still delivering food but they are very busy and you are advised to order well in advance of when you need items. Some are taking weeks. If you are struggling, visit our Emergency Community Shopping Scheme pages in the menu above for further instructions. If you are viewing this website on a mobile device, swipe from left to right or tap the button with three lines in it.
15. Information on how each supermarket (and other stores that have remained open including chemists) are dealing with the Corona Virus pandemic is available from their websites and you will find this information either on the front page of the store's website or within their help sections. Most non essential shops have now reopened with social distancing measures in place
16. Most buses and coaches are now back to normal but, by law, you now have to wear a mask or a face covering unless you are medically exempt when travelling on any public transport and shops will also require you to wear a mask.
17. National Rail services are more or less back to normal. TfGM say the reduction in services during the lockdown was to allow for the vigorous and regular cleaning of vehicles and rolling stock (trams). The advice continues to be to avoid public transport wherever possible.
18. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information that has been provided is as accurate as possible but we (nor any volunteers) can take any legal responsibility, both for the non-profit emergency community shopping scheme or for this advice or in relation to CDIRF more widely. This website is not written by Doctors either. We are simply trying to help you, for free (but not at cost to us in terms of the non-profit emergency community shopping scheme) – as always.
19. The Croydon Drive Independent Resident's Forum (CDIRF) is available to provide emotional and practical support (we will refer residents wherever possible for practical support to avoid the tieing up of limited resources and continue to be here for extended hours to offer emotional support over the phone, We can call you back. If you struggle, however, and are in an emergency situation in relation to supplies, do follow the instructions but don't be afraid to contact us as a last resort. we will do our utmost to avoid seeing you stranded).
20. The best way to get assistance is to telephone the number above. Please listen carefully to the options and select the correct one so that we can take priority calls first. Please be patient as there may be delays. We are open, wheverer possible, outside of standard "office" hours as well as during them.
21. If we are unavailable on the phone, a voicemail facility is available, if you need a call back, once you are in the call queue, you can press 1 at any time to leave us a voicemail.
22. Please now read the items on the menu above very carefully. As more advice becomes available, we will publish it or change out of date information. This is why you might see different advice from what you might have heard previously on the news, read in a newspaper or on the web. The government are trying to quickly learn about this new virus (whilst totally cocking it up) and so they (and we) are on the backfoot.