Rainbows, teddy bears and all the Kirknewton info you will need.

It’s Monday – we hope you had a good weekend and lets get ready for the new week.

Great to see many of you putting teddy bears in windows and drawing/painting the latest weekly picture to put in your window. Join in the fun. Young families have been on teddy bear hunts and rainbow watch to keep them occupied on short walks around the village.

BIG THANK YOU AND JUST THE FACTS!

To all the volunteers who went out flyering towards the end of week with those all important numbers and directing people to this website and asking for people to volunteer their time.

Thanks to your efforts more volunteers have signed up and in one week our website went from 31 visitors and 199 views to 931 visitors and 2306 views.

That’s 931 unique visitors who have all the facts (not the half truth and rumour that can cause undue distress) and all the relevant numbers to help each other during this time. That’s what your help achieved. Well done! You are all stars. Thank you Team Kirknewton once again!

We are preparing for what may be required for the weeks ahead in an ever changing situation but updates for volunteers will be here and direct emails and What’s App messages from Maria, our Volunteer Co-ordinator.

SCHOOLS OUT AND TIME TO SELF STUDY

School’s out but with online ‘teams’ set up by the High School it doesn’t stop your kids from following the school day and maintain their studying. At the weekend we share the headteachers update here

There is also other information on supported study details during the Coronavirus here.

Here’s some more advice on how to keep kids occupied here

FREE SCHOOL MEALS LATEST PLUS FOODBANKS AND MONEY ADVICE

If you are entitled to a free school meal you can collect a pack lunch and breakfast bar/cereal from Kirknewton Primary between 12 noon and 2pm each day from today, 23rd March.

Food Bank details can be found here https://kirknewton.info/2020/03/19/schools-out-for-summer-exams-cancelled-medical-centre-and-food-bank-latest/

Please call 01506 283000 in first instance for financial assistance provided to people across West Lothian.

KIRKNEWTON COMMUNITY LOTTERY

The Kirknewton Community Lottery continues every Monday as we build up funds to help people in the community. You can set up a standing order with your bank if you are restricting movement – contact stephkirknewton@gmail.com and she will tell you how. The next draw will be tonight (Monday 23rd March).

KIRKNEWTON SHOPS & BUSINESS

Festival Stores remains open but please read the advice outside the shop. The Pharmacy remains open but is not offering Post Office services. However you can still take cash out. Potter Around is closed.

EAST CALDER MEDICAL CENTRE UPDATE

We have decided to move to full telephone triage. This means that anyone looking for an appointment will either be offered a routine (up to 48 hours in advance) telephone consultation if appropriate or an on the day telephone consultation and there will be a clinical decision about whether the patient needs brought in. We will be cancelling routine blood tests and some other nurse procedures and we ask that patients visit our website on a regular basis for the latest updates rather than phone us to rebook as we expect to be very busy over the next couple of months. There are however some urgent blood tests that will continue to be carried out e.g. for those patients who are immunosuppressed, requiring pre-chemo bloods or those on Warfarin. Website is https://eastcaldermedicalpractice.secure-gpsite.scot.nhs.uk/

Things are changing rapidly and the GPs and I are meeting on a daily basis so I will continue to update you on a regular basis.

KIRKNEWTON VILLAGE HALL AND LIBRARIES CLOSED

Here is the note from West Lothian Council.

The advice given by Government following scientific advice shows that we are now at the stage of a rapid escalation in the spread of Covid-19.

This requires more stringent steps to suppress as far as we can the spread of the virus. Social distancing is a key factor at this stage.

West Lothian Council have taken the decision that all Community Centre activities and Library services will cease from 23/03/2020. Until further notice.

We understand the impact this decision will have in our communities but the action taken will help in protecting our citizens.

Council officers will assist in ensuring all of your user groups are informed of this action.

We all have a part to play and as previously communicated, I would encourage you as an individual and your organisation continue to follow the guidelines and advice on www.nhsinform

BUS AND TRAIN TIME CHANGES DETAILS

As of Monday 23^rd March Lothian Country will be moving to a Saturday Service timetable for all services.

If you use First Bus new details for you here Scotland East – https://www.firstgroup.com/south-east-and-central-scotland/news-and-service-updates/current-issues/coronavirus-covid19-service

Train change details can be found here

AVOID SCAMMERS

Below is some info from Crimestoppers – just be aware. Also the Red Cross do not do coronavirus tests and they certainly don’t do them door to door with a miracle cure. We kid you not!