Maldon Nub News is your local online newspaper, working to gather all the information for the town and district for you, our readers, as we approach this second national lockdown.

We will bring you live updates on the current situation as news emerges from key local organisations and businesses in the run-up to Thursday, 5 November, when lockdown begins.

If you haven't done so already, please like us on Facebook here and follow us on Twitter (@MaldonNubNews) as well as bookmarking the Maldon Nub News website here.

Monday, 2 November:

9am: Maldon District Council leader, Councillor Elaine Bamford, published a letter to all district residents yesterday (Sunday, 2 November).

You can read the letter on the Maldon District Council website here.

10am: The Cafe at St Peter's Hospital, Maldon, has put out an urgent request for donations for the Christmas hampers it has been getting ready for some of the town's elderly people.

Julie Taylor, who runs the popular cafe and works tirelessly to support Maldon's pensioners, will need to close the cafe on Thursday, though will still be taking meals out to the old folk who rely on the cafe's help. Non-perishable items of food and toiletries for the hampers would be most welcome and donations can be taken at the cafe until Thursday this week.

Julie said: "I'm really worried about getting these hampers filled for those who need them so any help with that will be greatly appreciated."

Maldon Nub News will be featuring an Up Close in Maldon article with Julie in the coming days.

1pm: Maldon District Community Volunteer Service (CVS) has put out a statement in response to the new lockdown announcement.

The statement reads:

"Central Government announced yesterday a return to lockdown from Thursday, 5 November 2020. Members of the public are being restricted to essential journeys only with no household mixing and some businesses are being required to close. The guidance does not go so far as to reinstate shielding – however, people who were previously shielded are being advised to limit their contact with others as far as possible.

"This may mean that we see people beginning to need support with prescription collection or with food provision. Partners in the Maldon Coronavirus response team have been putting out messaging to encourage people to contact the helpline since Essex moved into Tier 2 on the 17 October and to date we have not seen an increase in requests for help.

"At the current time the helpline remains 10am to 4pm on Mondays to Fridays. However this is under ongoing review and there is a shadow rota of volunteer call handlers on standby should we see an increase in people calling for help.

"Anyone who needs support during the second lockdown should call the helpline on 01621 851997."

4pm: A number of shops in Maldon town centre are offering discounts and extended opening hours in the run-up to lockdown.

Maldon Nub News has spoken to Townrow, in the High Street, where there is now a 20 per cent discount on all full price and reduced 'blue cross' items. The lockdown discount is on from today (Monday, 2 November) through to the end of Wednesday when the shop will be required to close for the duration of lockdown. The store has also extended its opening hours to 6pm each day.

Maldon's M&Co. will be open until 7pm on Tuesday evening and is planning to stay open till 9pm on Wednesday. There are special discounts for loyalty card customers and extra sale bargains.

If you would like to feature in an article Maldon Nub News is preparing for tomorrow - and to be regularly updated, detailing:

1. special offers and extended opening hours until lockdown
2. services during lockdown, including those shops and services able to remain open/operational and take-away services
3. local businesses offering online services during lockdown

then please email [email protected] with full details for inclusion. There is no charge for this service, aimed at supporting local businesses and the local community.

Tuesday, 3 November:

9.30am: Essex County Council is hoping to go back into the lowest level of pandemic restrictions when the nation comes out of the second lockdown.

County council leader, Councillor David Finch, said: "Because we had entered Tier 2 restrictions earlier in Essex in order to limit the increase in the infection rate, we are confident that when England exits the lockdown, the county will be well placed to recommend to government that we go into the lowest level of restrictions."

The council asked the Government to put the county area into the Tier 2 'High' level alert in mid-October and the tougher rules kicked in on Saturday, 17 October.

Cllr Finch added: "As we enter the second national lockdown, our focus will be on supporting Essex's businesses and communities through the next month, and on planning for Essex to come out of lockdown as strongly as possible.

"In order to come out of lockdown at the earliest opportunity, we need to remind residents that compliance with the new arrangements from this Thursday is absolutely key. We all need to play our part, and if we do, we believe that the extra restrictions we will be living under will do their job, and that the infection rate will have fallen sufficiently for us to exit lockdown.

"In the meantime we will continue to consult with the business community in terms of what financial help and support will work best for them, and we will be announcing further support for families and vulnerable people."

Guidance on the national lockdown restrictions, starting on Thursday, 5 November can be found on the Government website here.

11.45am: Maldon's businesses are putting in place their pre-lockdown and lockdown arrangements.

Maldon Nub News is running a further live article with these updates. You can access the list of offers, services and lockdown messages from local traders on the Maldon Nub News website here.

1pm:It has been decided that Town Mayor, Councillor Abdul Hafiz, will not now be laying a wreath on Sunday (8 November) as planned.

Instead everyone is encouraged to watch the online service from the safety of their homes - you can access the service on the Maldon Town Council website here.

In addition, the Information Centre in the Town Hall will also be closed from Thursday until the guidelines change.

Wednesday, 4 November:

1pm: The second national lockdown will be voted on in Parliament later this afternoon. It is expected the vote for the four-week 'circuit break' lockdown, starting at midnight tonight, will pass, with Labour MPs set to support the Government's proposal.

5.30pm: Parliament has voted to begin the four-week lockdown at midnight tonight.

For the latest guidance on restrictions visit the Government website here.