FRIDAY UPDATE

Well, what a difference a week makes! It certainly feels as though spring has well and truly sprung and I do hope the warmer temperatures and brighter skies, combined with Monday’s announcement offering greater clarity on government directive going forwards, has given you a renewed boost of optimism and positivity.

With latest statistics indicating an ongoing decline in both infection and death rates and combined with the mass vaccination programme that continues with great momentum, having administered over 19 million first doses (and most notably one of those to our very own Mr Barnes; incredibly he really is that old despite those youthful looks!) we yet again have good reason to feel optimistic as these statistics will be the key that unlocks the gateway to our freedom. With this in mind we must all continue to act responsibility and do what we can to reduce spread of the infection and continue to listen to the message from the government’s latest campaign to “Let’s keep going” as everything we are doing is working and bringing us closer to the life we once knew.

I am certain that those of you who have been embroiled in the challenges of home-schooling (whilst endeavouring to maintain internet connectivity in order to do a day’s work, get your 10,000 steps in and embark on the latest baking craze) are counting down the days until the 8th March as our children return to the day-to-day routine of attending school. As you breathe a sigh of relief as they reacclimatise themselves into some form of normal existence so does the rest of the nation as this poignantly signals the first vital step of Boris’s monumental four-stage ‘Roadmap to Recovery’. And, if like me, you watched Boris deliver his speech to the nation with baited breathe and tempered excitement I hope you will agree that his plan seems reasonable, achievable and endeavours to manage expectation whilst offering realistic hope on the horizon. Although unbelievably I do still have to wait another 6 weeks for my haircut!

The four stages of recovery which span the next 16 weeks are outlined below to offer you great clarity of what to expect within each step. I would of course encourage you to note the small caveat “no earlier than” ahead of each intended milestone as I believe viewing these dates with a degree of caution will help protect your wellbeing in case the supporting statistics cause these to deviate.

Over the coming weeks as we head towards the next step we will monitor the situation closely and begin to review our COVID-19 related processes and procedures and update you each week with any changes which may affect you or your role. Gradually, we will encourage a return to the office in a phased sustainable manner so that everyone continues to feel safe and confident in their workplace, and with a welcome boost to morale that being amongst your colleagues naturally brings so that we can all feel a little more like ‘business as usual’ has returned.

Continuing the positivity that surrounds this week’s update and remaining with a COVID-19 focus, it was most pleasing to learn of more selfless acts of kindness being carried out by those within Team Jenner. Having experienced the virus first-hand at the end of last year Ben Harlow has this week voluntarily donated plasma, which is essential to help ongoing research and development into curing the virus. Donating Plasma is considered a “gift of life” and is an entirely unique process more complex than donating blood. In such a process, blood is taken from your body, plasma is extracted from it and the blood is then returned to your body. Because Ben fought the infection his plasma now contains vital COVID-19 antibodies which are one way for the immune system to fight the virus and as such can potentially be used to help others fight the disease. Well done Ben for volunteering in this way and I understand others within the team are due to do the same which is great to hear.

This leads me, on a similar note to inform you of a local campaign to increase blood donations over the Easter bank holiday via the Folkestone & District Sports Centre, as per the attached poster and which will be conducted with total regard for your safety. Blood reserves are always in high demand and limited supply, now more so than ever so if we can play our part to assist then please do get involved.

Continuing with community-focused news, Jenner have kindly donated bags of ballast as well as rope and other items, via Derek Kedwell’s close links with the Folkestone Rotary Club (and who we usually support with the Folkestone Triathlon) to facilitate the setup of a vaccination drive-through centre that will work in conjunction with the main site based in the former Debenhams building in Folkestone to assist with the towns impressive efforts in the roll-out of the vaccination. You can read more about this here: Folkestone Rotarians join forces to support vaccine rollout | InYourArea Community

I’m delighted to finish this week’s update with some wonderful news of a personal nature. Congratulations to Will Heatlie and his partner Chelsea who have welcomed their second child into the world, a baby daughter Raine Iris who was born in the early hours of Wednesday morning and is pictured below with her proud big brother Isaac. Mum and Baby are reported to be doing very well and our very best wishes are extended to you all.

All that leaves me to do is to wish you all well for the weekend ahead which promises to be glorious weather for the time of year, and of course please do remain alert and keep doing all you can to remain safe and well.