There are now 35 cases of COVID-19 in Islington and cases of coronavirus continue to grow. To keep up to date with all the coronavirus news in the borough, Islington Now will be bringing you the latest updates here on everything you need to know.
First Coronvirus case confirmed in Islington
1. Public Health England (PHE) confirmed on Tuesday that a local resident has contracted COVID-19, bringing the number of cases in London to 91 in the same week the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a pandemic, in a report by James Ashworth.
Islington’s Exmouth market hit by coronavirus
2. Islington’s Exmouth market is struggling after the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak, with fewer customers and staff shortages causing problems for North London businesses, Elliot Mulligan reports.
Coronavirus leads to hand sanitiser shortage in Islington Pharmacies
3. Coronavirus is leading to a shortage in Islington pharmacies as panicked residents have raided stocks of hand sanitiser and pharmacists are considering introducing rationing amid coronavirus fears, Isaac Peltz reports.
Islington supermarkets imposed purchase limit on Household essentials
4. Supermarkets in Islington have imposed a purchase limit on household essentials including toilet paper, as Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose have reported shortages due to Coronavirus panic buying, according to reporter, Sam Merriman.
Islington doctor: ‘racism worsened’ by coronavirus and Brexit
5. Racist hate crime has increased due to UK’s coronavirus outbreak and Brexit, an Islington GP has said after allegedly being racially abused at a cafe in Hampstead, London, Henry Jones reports.
Islington’s Teleportation Booth not enough to escape Coronavirus
6. Coronavirus travel restrictions have affected an Islington virtual reality booth that offered trips to Scotland without leaving the North London area, James Ashworth reports.
Coronavirus closures: in-person teaching cancelled at universities and colleges in Islington
7. The rapid spread of COVID-19 has left universities in the borough with no choice but to cancel face-to-face teaching for the rest of the academic year and and City and Islington college also closed its doors this week, Molly Blackall reports.
Efforts to help the vulnerable amid coronavirus praised by Islington council leader
8. Mutual aid groups have been set up around Islington to help the elderly and at-risk residents who are isolating to avoid coronavirus. Counillor Richard Watts has praised the efforts in the community, Henry Jones and Molly Blackall report.
Islington churches take on coronavirus with soap and livestreaming
9. Churches around Islington have been switching to livestreaming to continue religious services during this period of social distancing, Elliot Mulligan reports.
Islington doctors turn to telephone appointments during coronavirus chaos
10. With healthcare professionals trying to protect themselves and the most at-risk patients, some practices in Islington have had no choice but to move to telephone appointments, Molly Blackall reports.
Homelessness taskforce set up in Islington to tackle dangers of coronavirus
11. Islington council are trying to find measures to deal with the risk that coronavirus poses for homeless people and Islington is the first London borough to introduce a task force for this issue, Elmira Tantarova reports.
Foreign students are fleeing the UK amid coronavirus crisis
12. Many international students are disappointed with the UK Government’s approach to coronavirus and are choosing to risk the journey home as their face-to-face teaching is cancelled for the rest of the year, Jean-Baptiste Andrieux reports.
“It’s a nightmare”: How Islington’s bookshops are coping with coronavirus
13. After the government announced that people should avoid pubs, restaurants and unnecessary social contact many businesses are wondering how they will survive, Sophie Dickinson spoke to local bookstore owners about their concerns.
Coronavirus stops play for Islington sports clubs
14. Following calls for people to practice social distancing a number of sports clubs in Islington have had to close until further notice, Rob Sloan reports.
Islington council mobilises ‘terror attack’ emergency response team to tackle coronavirus
15. An emergency response team last used during the Finsbury Park terror attack is being prepared by Islington Council to manage the “worst case scenario” of the coronavirus outbreak, Henry Jones reports.
Three Islington tube stations close as Sadiq Khan urges Londoners to avoid public transport
16. Three Islington tube stations, along with 37 other underground stations across London, have closed until further notice to slow the spread of coronavirus, Sam Merriman reports.
McGrigor Samsa: Isobel McGrigor lives the coronavirus nightmare
17. Our reporter Isobel McGrigor details her experience with coronavirus with a sprinkle of good humour for anyone that wants to know what the dreaded virus is like.
Recent updates
Schools across Islington will be closed until further notice from Friday as the government announce schools will close in the UK.
An Islington food bank is set to close due to shortages of supplies and volunteers.
Full stories to come as the pandemic develops in Islington. To get the news first and keep up to date on all things Coronavirus follow our Twitter and Instagram accounts for all our updates.
