
Statement regarding Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)
Tuesday 17th March 2020
Amir Eden
Executive Chairman
The Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID- 19) continues to spread in the UK and with greater speed in
London. The Government has announced several measures based on its scientific and medical advice.
Given that London is now a few weeks ahead of the rest of the UK it is important that everyone in our
neighbourhood does their bit to help prevent the spread of this virus by following the relevant advice
and taking necessary action to avoid non-essential social interaction - where possible,
whether that be for work or for recreational purposes.
Once again, our neighbourhood and our city face an immense challenge. We have faced immense
challenges before and we have overcome them, by supporting one another and remaining united.
This crisis requires the same.
In response to this pandemic we have put on hold all contact-based services. However, we remain
committed to supporting our neighbourhood and our residents. We endeavour to where possible
provide additional support to those most vulnerable and the elderly in our neighbourhood and we
call on all those able, to support us in ensuring those that are vulnerable, and elderly have
the food, medicine and essentials to continue to survive.
The Government, in line with its scientific and medical advice are asking those vulnerable and older
than 70 to avoid all unnecessary social contact and to ‘shield’ themselves from any social contact
whatsoever in the near future, for the next 12 weeks. We endeavour to work with our partners to
ensure that those who are to follow this advice will have some means of socialising digitally or by
phone. As a result of this many of our residents, and local businesses have had their livelihoods
severely affected and it is likely to get much worse given the advice on avoiding non- essential social
contact. We therefore urge the Government to introduce further measures to support those
financially affected.
On behalf of Living Bankside, I extend our condolences to those who have lost their lives to this
virus and thanks to our emergency services and to those working to both prevent us from
contracting the virus and to giving care to those who have now been infected by the virus.
I pray that God may help us in this immensely challenging time. May respite and relief come to those
who have been and may be affected by this pandemic. May our community grow in its love for
one another and may we be strong in our support to one another.
Together we can overcome this crisis.