The COVID-19 vaccine is being rolled out this week across Richmond Borough.

Patients aged 80 and above who are already attending hospital as an outpatient, and those who are being discharged home after a hospital stay, are among the first to receive the life-saving jab.

Hospitals are also beginning to invite over 80s in Richmond upon Thames in for a jab and work with care home providers to book their staff in to vaccination clinics.

Any appointments not used for these groups will be used for healthcare workers who are at highest risk of serious illness from COVID-19.

All those vaccinated will need to return for a second dose 21 days later.

GPs and primary care staff are also ready to administer the jab.

Tier Three Rules come into force tomorrow

Richmond Council Leader Gareth Roberts has given a special video update as London prepares to go into Tier Three tomorrow.

You can watch the full video above.

Councillor Roberts confirms he is in support of the move to Tier Three however has called on the government to give more financial support to the hospitality sector.

He also added that there are no plans to shut the borough's schools early.

Councillor Roberts also confirmed that non-essential retail is set to remain open however did say 'this may change in the coming days'.

Check out the full Tier Three restrictions HERE

Rapid Testing update

Teddington residents do not yet have access to the new rapid testing scheme.

However residents living in Heathfield, Hampton North and West Twickenham wards are being invited to apply for an asymptomatic COVID-19 test, for people not experiencing symptoms, as part of the Council's strategy to identify more positive cases, reduce the spread of infection and protect lives and livelihoods.

Up to one in four people who have coronavirus never show any symptoms but that does not mean they are not infectious. Lateral flow devices (LFDs) are one of the tools being used to help to detect and fight COVID-19.

These tests can be used to detect individuals with no symptoms of the virus that we would not otherwise be able to find.