MEASURES are being put in place to help protect the elderly and most vulnerable in the coming weeks and months.

People aged over 70 and those with serious or chronic health conditions have been advised to avoid social contact for as long as four months.

The move has seen kind-hearted community groups flourish as they come up with ways to help ensure the elderly are still able to get food and essential items.

Colchester First Responders have said they will pick up and drop of prescriptions in the area.

Harwich councillor Ivan Henderson and Essex Fire Service community builder Les Nicoll have visited supermarkets in Harwich and Dovercourt to ask if they can open for an hour in the morning exclusively for older and vulnerable residents.

Iceland, in High Street, Dovercourt, is now running a two-hour period every Wednesday morning between 9am and 11am designated for the vulnerable.

The Colchester Anti Loo Roll brigade has been set up in the town by DJ Peter Dutch.

The Facebook group set up by Mr Dutch has seen more than 2,000 people sign up to help deliver food and supplies to those in need.

To help or get support, visit Facebook and search Colchester Anti Loo Roll brigade.

The Essex Coronavirus Action, a collaboration between Essex County Council, the Essex Public Health Team, and group administrators, has been set up to provide advice and support.

It will help people who are self isolating to be put in contact with carers and organisations which can offer assistance.

It will also have content to inform people about hoaxes and fake news about the virus.

People or businesses who would like to volunteer to help the vulnerable can sign up at bit.ly/ecaformvolunteers or bit.ly/ecaformbusinesses.

Age UK Essex is also putting measures in place so it can continue to support people in the coming weeks and months.

Diane Nicola, chief executive said: “First and foremost, we have a duty of care to our staff, volunteers, and clients. We also need to manage our services as efficiently as possible in a situation where much is out of our control, therefore, we are controlling the things we can.

“As an organisation we have already put in place a number of measures to help reduce the risk of infection including anti-bacterial hand washes as well as signposting people to government websites.”

Harwich Connexions, a community transport service, is now free for anyone holding a valid bus pass, not just people registered with the service.

A request has been made to Essex County Council to relax the rules on bus passes so people could use them before 9am.

A county council spokesman said: “We are currently urgently discussing this but we would need the co-operation of the operators.”