“This is not a time to panic, but a time to prepare” MP calls for volunteers to help vulnerable through coronavirus crisis

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

A call for volunteers to help vulnerable people impacted by Covid-19 across Croydon has been made by an MP.

Sarah Jones, the MP for Croydon Central, is putting together a database of residents willing to lend a hand if the coronavirus pandemic takes hold Croydon.

Ms Jones, pictured above, said: “I know there is deep concern across our community about the spread of coronavirus, but that there are also many people asking how they can help.

“This is not a time to panic, but a time to prepare.”

Yesterday the Prime Minister gave a statement calling for a “wholehearted national effort” of volunteering across the country over the coming weeks.

He said that anyone with a new continuous cough or high temperature must stay at home for seven days as the government moved from the contain to the delay phase.

Ms Jones added: “I am gathering a database of people who may want to be in a position to help with voluntary work that may become necessary, such helping ensure elderly people have the supplies they need at home.”

Anyone interested in helping out can sign up here: https://forms.gle/1bPwiBTa86YEZ2ZTA

As of 9am on Monday 29,764 people had been tested in the UK, of which 29,174 were confirmed negative and 590 positive.

As of Friday there was just one confirmed case in Croydon. Eight patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have died in the UK.