The second lockdown will be in place from Thursday 5 November up to Wednesday 2 December. After then the whole of Oxfordshire will be placed in Tier 2:
The government states that this Tier is for areas with a higher or rapidly rising level of infections, where some additional restrictions need to be in place.
In Tier 2, you cannot socialise with anyone who is not in your household or support bubble indoors, and the ‘rule of 6’ applies in outdoor settings. Pubs and bars must close unless they are operating as restaurants, and hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals. However, the 10pm curfew has been increased to 11pm, with last orders at 10pm.
The 11pm closure also applies to casinos, cinemas, theatres, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances that start before 10pm.
Newly, public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (such as performances and shows) can go ahead limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors. Public attendance at spectator sport and business events can resume inside and outside, subject to social contact rules and limited to the same capacity restrictions.
Places of worship remain open but you cannot socialise with people from outside of your household or support bubble while you are indoors there unless a legal exemption applies, and weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees.
In terms of sports, organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue. Organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes will only be permitted if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with). There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, which can take place with larger groups mixing.
Lockdown advice received from Cllr Ian Corkin:
The over 60s and the clinically vulnerable people have been recommended by the government to minimise their contacts with others during the lockdown period. Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable are encouraged to stay at home as much as possible, including working from home.
Some residents, identified as extremely clinically vulnerable, may receive a letter from the government about receiving additional support. In order to benefit from this support, they need to register themselves on the national system if they have not already done so. If they require additional support their district council will be informed and will make contact with them to identify their needs in more detail. If they need urgent support then they can contact their district council directly.
If residents do not have the means to register and have no one who is able to assist, they can call us on the number below.
* Call 01865 897820
* Email shield@oxfordshire.gov.uk.
* The service is open 8.30am – 5pm Monday – Thursday, and 8.30am – 4pm on Fridays. Closed Saturday – Sunday and Bank Holidays
This guidance will not affect any social care or support they are receiving.? People should continue to contact our social and health care team if they have any ongoing social care needs. Comprehensive information is on our website, including how to access community support, food and essential supplies and income and employment support. Wider information about the support available for residents during the pandemic is also on our website
A summary of the measures:
Different households should not mix indoors unless they are part of an “exclusive” support bubble, which allows a single-person household to meet and socialise with another household.
People are allowed to meet one other person outside for “recreation” as well as exercise, and parents are allowed to form a childcare bubble with another household for the purposes of informal childcare, where the child is 13 or under.
People can only leave home for the following reasons:
- Education.
- To go to work unless it can be done from home.
- Outdoor exercise either with household members or with one person from another household.
- For all medical reasons and appointments.
- To escape injury or harm.
- To care for the vulnerable or volunteer.
- To shop for food and essentials.
- To see people in your support bubble.
- Children will still be able to move between homes if their parents are separated.
People could face fixed penalty notices from police for leaving their home without one of the above excuses.
Most outbound international travel will be banned.
- There is no exemption for staying away from home on holiday. This means people cannot travel internationally or within the UK, unless for work, education or other legally permitted exemptions.
- Overnight stays away from primary residences will not be allowed, except for specific exceptions including for work.
Business, food/entertainment, childcare, pubic services, church worship/sports/activities
- Everything except essential shops and education settings, which include nurseries, schools and universities, will close.
- Entertainment venues will also have to close. Pubs and restaurants will have to close their doors once more. Takeaway and delivery services will still be allowed, while construction and manufacturing will stay open.
- Parents will still be able to access registered childcare and other childcare activities where reasonably necessary to enable parents to work.
- Public services, such as job centres, courts, and civil registration offices will remain open.
- There is no exemption for communal worship in places of worship (except funerals and individual prayer), for organised team sports, or for children’s activities.
- Elite sports will be allowed to continue behind closed doors as currently, including Premier League football matches.
