A reminder of the planned steps
1. Step one: We need to continue to stay at home and follow the existing COVID-19 rules until 29 March. From 8 March, schools and colleges will be open for all students and from 29 March, the rule of six or meeting with one other household outdoors will be introduced.
2. Step two: From 12 April, we will see a more significant change, with all retail, libraries, community centres and outdoor attractions reopening. Hospitality venues will be able to open for outdoor service, with no requirement for a substantial meal to be served alongside alcoholic drinks, and no curfew. Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will also reopen for individuals or households. Overnight stays away from home in this country will be permitted (but people should minimise domestic travel where they can) and self-contained accommodation can also reopen, though must only be used by members of the same household.
3. Step three: From 17 May, the rule of six and meeting with another household will extend to indoors; indoor hospitality, entertainment and attractions will reopen; some large events will take place; plus there will be a shift in domestic overnight stays with international travel a possibility.
4. Step four: From 21 June, there will be no legal limits on social contact and life events plus large events will be possible.
Before taking each step, the government will review the latest data on the impact of the previous step against four tests:
1. The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully.
2. Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated.
3. Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
4. The assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants of concern.
Below is a summary of what you can and cannot do during the national lockdown:
You must stay at home. The single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.
You should follow this guidance immediately. The law will be updated to reflect these new rules.
Leaving home
You must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary. You may leave the home to:
* shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person
* go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home
* exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
* meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one
* seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
* attend education or childcare – for those eligible
Colleges, primary and secondary schools will remain open only for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. All other children will learn remotely until February half term. Early Years settings remain open.
Higher Education provision will remain online until mid February for all except future critical worker courses.
If you do leave home for a permitted reason, you should always stay local in the village, town, or part of the city where you live. You may leave your local area for a legally permitted reason, such as for work.
If you are clinically extremely vulnerable you should only go out for medical appointments, exercise or if it is essential. You should not attend work
Meeting others
You cannot leave your home to meet socially with anyone you do not live with or are not in a support bubble with (if you are legally permitted to form one).
You may exercise on your own, with one other person, or with your household or support bubble.
You should not meet other people you do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, unless for a permitted reason.
Stay 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household.
National lockdown: Stay at Home – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
County Council advice:
New rules, set in law, are now in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The latest data shows that the new variant of the virus is spreading very quickly and aggressively, and while there is no evidence that it causes a more severe illness nor that the vaccine won’t work against it, it does transmit more easily.
The increase in cases means an increase in pressure on our NHS, and by introducing a lockdown the government hopes to reduce the spread and therefore the number of people needing hospital treatment.
While this will be very challenging for many of us, the single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.
Information on the availability of our services and how they have been affected can be found on our website. You can also check the latest case numbers in the county and your district on our COVID-19 dashboard.
