Update 17th May 2021 - Step 3 - Indoors & Rule of 6
Social contact
As part of Step 3, today, the 17 May, the government continues easing limits on seeing friends and family wherever possible, allowing people to decide on the appropriate level of risk for their circumstances.
This means that most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors are lifted - although gatherings of over 30 people will remain illegal. Indoors, the Rule of 6 or 2 households will apply.
Business and activities
Most businesses in all but the highest risk sectors will be able to reopen. In all sectors, COVID-Secure guidance will remain in place and businesses may not cater for groups bigger than the legal limits.
Indoor hospitality will reopen - and as in Step 2, venues will not have to serve a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks; nor will there be a curfew. Customers will, however, have to order, eat and drink while seated.
Other indoor locations open up including indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas and children’s play areas; the rest of the accommodation sector, including hotels, hostels and B&Bs; and indoor adult group sports and exercise classes.
The government will also allow some larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number), and in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number). In the largest outdoor seated venues, where crowds can be spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower).
Events
Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals. This limit will also apply to other types of significant life events including bar mitzvahs and christenings.
Review of social distancing
Finally, we can now HUG.
Update 12th April - Opening of non-essential businesses
Business and activities
Step 2, which will be no earlier than 12 April, will see the opening of non-essential retail; personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons; and public buildings, including libraries and community centres. Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will also reopen (but only for use by people on their own or in household groups); as will most outdoor attractions and settings including outdoor hospitality venues, zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas. Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, can also reopen.
Hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors at Step 2 and there will be no need for customers to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks and no curfew, although customers must order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’). Wider social contact rules will apply in all these settings to prevent indoor mixing between different households.
Events
While funerals can continue with up to 30 mourners, the number of people able to attend weddings, receptions and commemorative events such as wakes will rise to 15.
Update 29th March 2021 - Meeting Outdoors
Social contact
The evidence shows that it is safer for people to meet outdoors rather than indoors. And this is why from 29 March, when most schools start to break up for the Easter holidays, outdoor gatherings (including in private gardens) of either 6 people (the Rule of 6) or 2 households will also be allowed, making it easier for friends and families to meet outside.
Business and activities
Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and open-air swimming pools, will also be allowed to reopen, and people will be able to take part in formally organised outdoor sports.
Travel
The ‘stay at home’ rule will end on 29 March but many restrictions will remain in place. People should continue to work from home where they can and minimise the number of journeys they make where possible, avoiding travel at the busiest times and routes. Travel abroad will continue to be prohibited, other than for a small number of permitted reasons. Holidays abroad will not be allowed, given it will remain important to manage the risk of imported variants and protect the vaccination programme. The government has launched a new taskforce to review global travel which will report on 12 April.
Update 8 March 2021 - Education & Social Contact
Education
In Step 1, our priority is to ensure that all children and students return safely to face-to-face education in schools and colleges from 8 March. Childcare and children’s supervised activities can also resume where necessary to enable parents to work or engage in similar activities. We are introducing twice-weekly rapid testing for secondary and college pupils - in addition to regular testing for all teachers - to reduce the chance of the virus spreading in schools.
Higher Education students at English universities on practical courses can also return from 8 March.
Social contact
People will be allowed to leave home for recreation and exercise outdoors with their household or support bubble, if they are eligible for one, or with one person from outside their household. Care home residents will also be allowed one regular visitor.
Update 22 February 2021 - Roadmap out of lockdown
From 8 March, people in England will see restrictions start to lift and the government’s four-step roadmap offers a route back to a more normal life.
Only when the government is sure that it is safe to move from one step to the next will the final decision be made. The decision will be based on four tests:
- the vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
- evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
- infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
- our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern
Update 5 January - England is Now in Lockdown
Please 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.
To read more please visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home
Update 19 December: Changes to Guidance for the Christmas Period
Following the Prime Minister's announcement today updated guidance has been issued for Christmas. Further details is available here:
Update 30 November: Guidance for the Christmas Period
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-for-the-christmas-period
Update 29 November:
UK government secures additional 2 million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine:
- UK government has now secured 7 million doses of Moderna vaccine, which will be available in Europe as early as spring 2021
- trials show vaccine is almost 95% effective
- deal means the UK now has access to a total of 357 million doses of vaccines from 7 different developers
Full details:
Update 26 November:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/full-list-of-local-restriction-tiers-by-area
West and East Sussex are in Tier 2.
Decisions on which area goes into which tier are primarily based on 5 key epidemiological indicators:
- case detection rates in all age groups
- case detection rates in the over-60s
- the rate at which cases are rising or falling
- positivity rate (the number of positive cases detected as a percentage of tests taken)
- pressure on the NHS, including current and projected occupancy
The indicators are designed to provide a full picture of what is happening with the virus in any area so that suitable action can be taken.
Find out more information on tiers, including what you can and cannot do in each tier.
The Health Secretary's statement in full: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/returning-to-a-regional-tiered-approach
Update 25 November:
Many have already begun making their plans, and this agreement provides clarity to help people make the right choices for them, and enjoy time with those closest to them while staying within the rules to protect us all.
Even where it is within the rules, meeting with friends and family over Christmas will be a personal judgement for individuals to take, mindful of the risks to themselves and others, particularly those who are vulnerable.
The Health Secretary's statement in full: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/returning-to-a-regional-tiered-approach
Update 24 November: 2020 CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENTS
Further to yesterday’s announcement by the Prime Minister and the COVID-19 Winter Plan, the Government has reached agreement between the UK Government and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland on arrangements for the Christmas period.
A single set of UK-wide measures to help people come together with their loved ones in a way that is as safe as possible:
● Between 23 and 27 December, up to three households will be able to join together to form an exclusive Christmas ‘bubble’.
● Everyone can be in one bubble only, and cannot change bubble during this time period (an exemption to this is children, aged under 18, of separated parents).
● People (e.g. nannies, cleaners, tradespeople) can continue to work in someone's home where necessary during this period. To reduce risk, they should observe social distancing wherever possible, and where it can be avoided should not go into homes that are hosting Christmas bubbles.
● A Christmas bubble will be able to spend time together in private homes, to attend places of worship, or meet in a public outdoor place.
● Travel restrictions across the UK will be lifted to allow people to travel to and from their bubble. But beyond this, people should follow local restrictions in the area in which they are staying.
● Students who move home from university for holidays will count as part of their family’s household, and in England an existing support bubble will count as one household.
Update 23 November, 6 pm:
- The Government is proposing to publish the New Regulations on Monday, 30th November
- Subject to parliamentary approval the Regulations will come into force 00:01 Wednesday December 2
- The new Regulations will revoke the current national lockdown
- It is expected that the tiers update will take place Thursday 26 November
Update 23rd November
Special Brief: Covid Winter Plan: the Prime Minister's Statement:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-covid-19-winter-plan-23-november-2020
Summary and Key Points:
- The breakthroughs in treatment, in testing and vaccines mean that the scientific cavalry is now in sight
- By the Spring, these advances should reduce the need for the restrictions we have endured in 2020
- In recent weeks, families and businesses in England have, once again, steadfastly observed nationwide restriction
- They have managed to slow the growth of new cases and ease the worst pressures on our NHS.
- I can therefore confirm that national restrictions in England will end on 2nd December, and they will not be renewed.
- From next Wednesday people will be able to leave their home for any purpose and meet others in outdoor public spaces, subject to the Rule of Six.
- Collective worship, weddings and outdoor sports can resume,
- Shops, personal care, gyms and the wider leisure sector can reopen.
- But without sensible precautions, we would risk the virus escalating into a Winter or New Year surge.
- So we are not going to replace national measures with a free for all, the status quo ante Covid.
- We are going to go back instead to a regional tiered approach, applying the toughest measures where Covid is most prevalent.
- In particular, in tier 1 people should work from home wherever possible (Mid Sussex, for now)
- From the 10pm closing time for hospitality we’re going to change that to so that it is last orders at 10 with closing at 11 (in Tier 1)
- In tiers 1 and 2, spectator sports and business events will be free to resume inside and outside - with capacity limits and social distancing
- We will also strengthen the enforcement ability of Local Authorities, including specially trained officers and new powers to close down premises that pose a risk to public health.
Later this week we will announce which areas will fall into which tier, I hope on Thursday, based on analysis of cases in all age groups, especially the over 60s, also looking at the rate by which cases are rising or falling, the percentage of those tested in a local population who have Covid, and the current and projected pressures on the NHS. I am sorry to say we expect that more regions will fall – at least temporarily – into higher levels than before...
- By maintaining the pressure on the virus, we can also enable people to see more of their family and friends over Christmas
- To allow families to come together, while minimising the risk, we are working with the Devolved Administrations on a special, time-limited Christmas dispensation
- We will be publishing guidance for those who are clinically extremely vulnerable on how to manage the risks in each tier, as well as over Christmas.
Tests:
- We are beginning to deploy these tests in our NHS and in care homes in England, so people will once again be able to hug and hold hands with loved ones, instead of waving at them through a window
- By the end of the year, this will allow every care home resident to have two visitors, who can be tested twice a week.
- Care workers looking after people in their own homes will be offered weekly tests from today.
- From next month, weekly tests will also be available to staff in prisons, food manufacturing, and those delivering and administering Covid vaccines.
- Together with NHS Test and Trace and our fantastic Armed Forces, we will now launch a major community testing programme, offering all local authorities in tier 3 areas in England a six week surge of testing.
- We will seek to end automatic isolation for close contacts of those found positive.
- Beginning in Liverpool later this week, contacts who are tested every day for a week will only need to isolate if they themselves test positive.
- If successful, this approach will be extended across the health system next month, and to the whole of England from January.
Vaccines:
- Vaccines are now edging ever closer to liberating us from the virus,
- The vaccine developed with astonishing speed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca is now one of three capable of delivering a period of immunity.
- We don’t yet know when any will be ready and licensed, but we have ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine, and over 350 million in total, more than enough for everyone in the UK, the Crown Dependencies and the Overseas Territories.
- The NHS is preparing a nationwide immunisation programme, ready next month, the like of which we have never witnessed.
Update 19th November
Implementation of restrictions and length: Questions and Answers
Q: Will these restrictions definitely end on 2 December? These measures will be time-limited. They will end on Wednesday 2 December, when we will seek to ease restrictions on a local and regional basis according to the latest data and trends. Any further national restrictions will need to be voted on after the end of this four week period. Advice shows that this four-week period will bring R below 1, and we will work with MPs on next steps after that.
Q: Will Parliament have a say on any future restrictions? These restrictions are time limited. After four weeks, on Wednesday 2 December, they will expire, and we intend to return to a tiered system on a local and regional basis, according to the latest data and trends. The House will have a vote to agree the way forward. We have updated the Devolved Administrations on the action we are taking in England, and we will continue to work with them on plans for Christmas and beyond.
Q: Why did you not do this earlier? There is never a good time to disrupt people’s lives, and tougher national measures cannot be entered into lightly. We had hoped we could manage the situation with our regional system of alert levels. That’s because a national lockdown is not cost-free – not only in terms of jobs, businesses, and livelihoods, but also the impact on mental health and loneliness. This is why we have been so determined to try and avoid another national lockdown. But we have always been clear that we wouldn’t hesitate to take further measures, and the latest data demonstrates that time is now.
Q: What affect will this have on local areas already facing high and very high COVID restrictions? We understand the incredibly difficult situation faced by those currently in local restrictions. We cannot pretend that the way ahead and what we are asking of the public is easy or without painful choices for us all. But for the next four weeks we must again ask the people of this country to come together, to protect the NHS and to save lives. We are thankful to the local leaders who have understood the gravity of the position. We will continue as far as possible to adopt a pragmatic and local approach in the months ahead.
Q: When can businesses reopen? Restrictions remain in place until midnight on the 2nd of December. Those business currently closed, can reopen on the morning of 3rd December – subject to local restrictions.
Money wasted on PPE?
We have been dealing with an unprecedented global pandemic that has posed the biggest challenge to the UK in a generation. We we needed to procure contracts with extreme urgency to secure the vital supplies required to protect frontline NHS workers and the public and we make no apology for that .We have robust processes in place for spending public money to ensure we get critical equipment to where it needs to go as quickly as possible, whilst also ensuring value for money for the taxpayer. 99.5 per cent of the PPE procured by the Government during the pandemic met the required clinical safety standards, and processes were in place to ensure the Government paid competitive prices
Update on Swimming:
Q: Can I take my child swimming? We regret having to curtail leisure activities for 28 days but it is necessary to prevent the chains of human contact that may occur as a result. Swimming pools can be used by schools or for providers for post-16 education or training as part of full time education.
Update 11th November
Universities - Common Questions:
- Will students be allowed to return home for Christmas? Yes. From 3 December to 9 December, which will be known as the ‘student travel window’, students will be allowed to travel home on staggered departure dates set by universities, who will work with other institutions in the region to manage pressure on transport infrastructure. The student travel window will mean students can travel having just completed the four-week period of national restrictions, reducing the risk of transmission to family and friends at home. Universities should move learning online by 9 December so students can continue their education while also having the option to return home to study from there.
- Will you test students before they travel home? As announced by the Prime Minister this week, the Government will work closely with universities to establish mass testing capacity. Tests will be offered to as many students as possible before they travel home for Christmas, with universities in areas of high prevalence prioritised. This will provide further reassurance that where students test negative, they can return home safely and minimise the risk of passing coronavirus on to their loved ones.
- What happens if a student tests positive before their departure from university? If a student tests positive before their departure they will need to remain in self-isolation for the required period of ten days. Moving all learning online by 9 December gives enough time for students to complete the isolation period and return home for Christmas.
- What if I am at university in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland? English students at universities in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, should follow the guidance relevant to where they are living before returning home. When they return to England, they should follow their local guidance for their home area. Students returning to their home in England who have not completed the 4 weeks of national restrictions should undertake at least 14 days of restricted contact either before or after return home to minimise their risk of transmission.
Update 10th November
The Prime Minister's Statement on the coronavirus including the possibility of a vaccine:
Yesterday, the Prime Minister updated the public on the results from the Pfizer/BioNTec Vaccine trials – but we must not slacken our resolve and everyone must continue to stay at home, to protect the NHS and save lives.
- The Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine has been tested on over 40,000 volunteers and interim results suggest it is proving 90 per cent effective at protecting people against the virus.
- While we are optimistic of a breakthrough, we must remember that there are no guarantees. The vaccine needs to pass all the rigorous safety checks and needs to be proved effective. If and when this vaccine is approved, we will begin a UK-wide NHS led programme of vaccine distribution. This will start with those most at risk, as currently recommended by scientific experts, before being rolled out more widely.
- Earlier this year the UK Government ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine – enough for about a third of the population, since you need two doses each. That puts us towards the front of the international pack on a per capita basis. We have also ordered over 300 million doses from 5 other vaccine candidates as well.
- But the biggest mistake we could make now would be to slacken our resolve at such a critical moment. Irrespective of whether there is a vaccine on the way or not, we must continue to do everything possible right now to bring the R down – and everyone should continue to stay at home, to protect the NHS and save lives.
We have announced the rollout of 600,000 rapid-turnaround tests across England, so that we can detect this virus quicker than ever before – even in people who don’t have symptoms – and mass testing will be a vital tool in defeating coronavirus.
Update 6th November
Can I access childcare? Yes. There are several ways that parents and carers can continue to access childcare during the national restrictions:
- Early years settings and childminders remain open, and you can continue to use these settings as normal
- You can access other childcare activities (including wraparound care) where reasonably necessary to enable parents to work, seek work, attend education or training, or for the purposes of respite care for carers Nannies will be able to continue to provide services, including in the home
- Parents are able to form a childcare bubble with one other household for the purposes of informal childcare, where the child is 13 or under
- Some households will also be able to benefit from being in a support bubble, which allows single adult households to join another household Some youth services are able to continue, such as 1-1 youth work and support groups, but most youth clubs and groups will need to cease for this period
Further information for clinically extremely vulnerable - What support can I get?
- The government will also be providing over £32 million to upper tier councils in England to support the clinically extremely vulnerable over the next month.
- It will be used to provide support, such as access to food deliveries and signposting to local support of befriending services, to the most at risk and enable them to stay at home as much as possible over this short period.
- Individuals in this group will be able to use an online service which will help people to request priority access to supermarket delivery slots and to inform their council they need help.
- NHS Volunteer Responders can also help with a regular, friendly phone call, and transport to and from medical appointments
If you fall in this category, visit the below website for information how to register for support:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-shielding-support
Update 5th November
- From today (Thursday 5 November) until the start of December, new national restrictions will be enshrined in law and expire after four weeks. Any further national restrictions will need to be voted on after the end of this four week period. Advice shows that this four-week period will bring R below 1, and we will work with MPs on next steps after that.
- At the end of four weeks, on Wednesday 2nd December, we will seek to ease restrictions, going back into the tiered system on a local and regional basis according to the latest data and trends.
- Our priority remains keeping people in education – so childcare, early years settings, schools, colleges and universities will all remain open. We need to take action now to protect the NHS and to reduce transmission and save lives.
New national restrictions to control the virus:
- The public must stay at home, and may only leave home for limited reasons, including: education; work or volunteering, if it is impossible for do this from home; exercise and recreation outdoors (with your household or on your own with one person from another household); medical reasons, appointments and to escape injury or harm; provision of care for a child – including informal childcare – or vulnerable person. 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.
- Non-essential shops, pubs, bars, restaurants, leisure and entertainment venues will all be closed – but will be able to provide takeaway. Essential shops will stay open: there is no need for people to stock up.
- Workplaces should stay open where people cannot work from home – for example in the construction or manufacturing sectors.
- Adults living alone will still be able to form support bubbles, and children will still be able to move between homes if their parents are separated.
- Those who are clinically vulnerable, or over the age of 60, will be advised to be especially careful to follow the rules. The Government will not ask people to shield in the same way again.
For the clinically extremely vulnerable, the Government has issued new guidance on keeping safe
- Letters will be going out later this week to all those identified as clinically extremely vulnerable, providing them with further detail on the updated guidance and on how to access the support available.
The updated guidance includes
- Socialising: stay at home as much as possible, except to go outdoors to exercise or attend health appointments.
- People can exercise with those they live with or in their support bubble
- Work: if people cannot work from home, they should not attend work. They may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme during this period of national measures. People in the same household who are not clinically extremely vulnerable can still attend work, in line with the new national restrictions
- School: as evidence has shown there is a very low risk of children becoming very unwell from coronavirus, most children originally on the shielded patient list no longer need to be and therefore can still attend school. If they are unsure, parents should contact their child’s usual GP or hospital clinician to check whether they should still be considered clinically extremely vulnerable. If a GP or clinician has advised that a child should remain on the shielded patient list, they are advised not to attend school. Children who live with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, but aren’t themselves, should still attend school
- Going outside: avoid all non-essential travel – they should continue to travel to hospital and GP appointments unless told otherwise by their doctor. They are strongly advised not to go to any shops or to pharmacies.
Update 4th November
Our new national measures:
- As the Prime Minister has set out, we are at a critical stage to fight this second wave of coronavirus. The risk is that for the first time in our lives, the NHS will not be there for us and for our families.
- That is why – subject to the vote today – from Thursday 5 November until the start of December, you must stay at home. You may only leave home for specific reasons, including: for education; for work if you cannot work from home; for exercise; for medical reasons, appointments and to escape injury or harm; to shop for food and essentials; and to provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer.
- Our priority, remains keeping people in education – so childcare, early years settings, schools, colleges and universities will all remain open. Our senior clinicians still advise that school is the best place for children to be.
- This aggressive action allows us the prospect of a better December. The alternative would be even more stringent, and longer-lasting, interventions through December and thereafter.
- What happens next depends on each and every one of us. It is therefore necessary to stay at home; protect the NHS; and save lives.
New national restrictions to control the virus:
- The public must stay at home, and may only leave home for limited reasons, including: education; work or volunteering, if it is impossible for do this from home; exercise and recreation outdoors (with your household or on your own with one person from another household); medical reasons, appointments and to escape injury or harm; provision of care for a child – including informal childcare – or vulnerable person. 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.
- Non-essential shops, pubs, bars, restaurants, leisure and entertainment venues will all be closed – but will be able to provide takeaway. Essential shops will stay open: there is no need for people to stock up.
- Workplaces should stay open where people cannot work from home – for example in the construction or manufacturing sectors.
- Adults living alone will still be able to form support bubbles, and children will still be able to move between homes if their parents are separated.
- Those who are clinically vulnerable, or over the age of 60, will be advised to be especially careful to follow the rules. The Government will not ask people to shield in the same way again.
- Children under school age who are with their parents will not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside. This will mean that a parent can see a friend or family member with their baby or young children. Children and adults who are dependent on around-the-clock care, such as those with severe disabilities, will also be included.
- Elite sport will be allowed to continue behind closed doors. But there will be no exemption for other organised team sports, and indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as leisure centres, gyms, swimming pools and golf courses will have to close.
Update 3rd November
New national restrictions to control the virus:
- The public must stay at home, and may only leave home for limited reasons, including: education; work or volunteering, if it is impossible for do this from home; exercise and recreation outdoors (with your household or on your own with one person from another household); medical reasons, appointments and to escape injury or harm; provision of care for a child –including informal childcare –or vulnerable person. 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.
- Non-essential shops, pubs, bars, restaurants, leisure and entertainment venues will all be closed –but will be able to provide takeaway. Essential shops will stay open: there is no need for people to stock up.
- Workplaces should stay open where people cannot work from home–for example in the construction or manufacturing sectors.
- Adults living alone will still be able to form support bubbles, and children will still be able to move between homes if their parents are separated.
- Those who are clinically vulnerable, or over the age of 60, will be advised to be especially careful to follow the rules. The Government will not ask people to shield in the same way again.
- Children under school age who are with their parents will not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside. This will mean that a parent can see a friend or family member with their baby or young children. Children and adults who are dependent on around-the-clock care, such as those with severe disabilities, will also be included.
- Elite sport will be allowed to continue behind closed doors. But there will be no exemption for other organised team sports, and indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as leisure centres, gyms, swimming pools and golf courses will have to close.
But there are some differences compared with March...
- These are time-limited measures. On the 2 December, we will seek to ease restrictions, on a local and regional basis, according to the latest data.
- Our priority remains keeping young people in education -so formal and informal childcare, early years settings, schools, colleges and universities willall remain open. Our senior clinicians still advise that school is the best place for children to be.
- We will also keep provision for non-coronavirus healthcare needs going. We will continue to say clearly to the public that unless their clinicians tell them otherwise they should continue to use the NHS, get their scans, turn up for their appointments and pick up their treatments
Update 31st October
This evening the PM has announced a new national lockdown for England which will come into force THIS THURSDAY until 2nd December. We had been working very hard to take the tiers system forward but powerful evidence showed the balance between protecting the NHS & elective patients without this action would be impossible whiteout broader action.
Ministers and my fellow MPs met with the Health Secretary early this evening asking for further insight as to why these new measures will need approval by Parliament this week. As the CMO summed it up. No right time to do this, anytime has it’s downsides.
‼️There are some key differences to the previous national lockdown‼️
This is the current insight I have and the NEW DETAILS do include⬇️
- Schools, colleges and universities will stay open
- Non-essential shops will be closed, but supermarkets will stay open
- The hospitality sector will close but moving to takeaways will be allowed to continue
- You will only be allowed to meet with 1 other person beyond your household to form a bubble
- You must stay at home except to leave your house for exercise, for medical reasons, appointments, to escape injury or harm, to shop for food and essentials and to provide care for vulnerable people
- Workplaces should stay open where people cannot work from home – for example in the construction or manufacturing sectors.
NOTE:
- Children will be able to move between homes if their parents are separated
- Adults living alone will still be able to form support bubbles
- If you are deemed clinically vulnerable, or if you are over 60, minimise contact with others - do not go to work if you are unable to work from home
I must stress that this outcome was not made lightly by the PM and the Government.
However, I recognise the PM’s message in saying that it is crucial to act now – the reason being is that there has been a steady but massive expansion in infections across the nation and it is therefore imperative that we all step up a level to come together again in order to quell and ultimately defeat this virus so that people can perhaps gather together again for Christmas and once again protect the NHS and our communities.
So I fully recognise even though this is asking everyone to make more big sacrifices, I urge everyone to be optimistic at this time. I for one know through chatting to so many of you that our wonderful communities across Mid Sussex have up to now risen to the challenge at this time and have demonstrated their selflessness and thoughtfulness through reaching out to those around them; particularly to the vulnerable amongst us.
Following the PM’s announcement on further restrictions across the country, the Chancellor meanwhile has decided to extended the furlough scheme for a further month covering 80% of employees’ wages.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/furlough-scheme-extended-and-further-economic-support-announced
So to recap: National restrictions will apply in England from 5 November until 2 December.
You must stay at home, with a limited set of exemptions.
After 4 weeks we will look to return to a local and regional approach, based on the latest data.
Get the latest help, health advice and support about coronavirus from the above too
⬇️Key messages haven’t changed ‼️
HANDS - Wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds.
FACE - Wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult.
SPACE - Stay 2 metres apart from people you don't live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions (like wearing face coverings).
Update 24th September
The Rule of Six. I have had many Mid Sussex constituents contact me about the new rule and I would like to share my opinions and pass on the government’s reasoning for taking this step.
Under previous restrictions, we have seen growing confusion and frustration amongst people, as to what they can and cannot do. As the Mid Sussex MP, I have received several confused emails from constituents unsure as to whether they could meet other households, how they could protect those shielding and how unsafe those who were shielding felt. The government’s sole focus was to prioritise a clear message that was easy to follow and easy to regulate.
The Government has been clear throughout, should the number of cases escalate, they would not hesitate to take whatever measures are necessary to stop the spread, protect the NHS, protect the return to work and school, restrict social interactions when it appears they are increasing infections and save lives. While relaxations of restrictions over recent months have been welcome, sadly infection rates are rising. The Prime Minister has therefore announced new social distancing restrictions in England to try to stem the latest rise in Covid-19 cases.
From Monday 14th September 2020, the new ‘Rule of Six’ means it will be illegal for people to meet others outside their household in groups larger than six, both indoors and outside. The rationale for the changes is partly to simplify the rules making it easier for people to understand as well as the police to enforce.
The message from the Government has been clear, as the Prime Minister said, it is about ‘Hands, Face, Space.’ Wash your hands for twenty seconds, cover your face if you are in a public place and ensure you are giving other people space by observing social distancing. The Health and Safety Executive have provided further clear guidance about the new measures and I have copied in the link here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/
Our Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne has also encouraged local people to abide by the new rules and has reinforced the national message, Sussex Police will be enforcing these new measures and have the power to do so, but calling them to deal with these issues does take valuable officers away from dealing with other, potentially more serious, criminal activity, including burglary and abuse.
COVID secure venues, like places of worship, gyms, restaurants and hospitality venues can still host more than 6 people in total. Within those venues however, there must not be individual groups larger than 6, and groups must not mix socially or form larger groups.
Education and work settings are unaffected, COVID secure weddings and funerals can go ahead, up to a limit of 30 people, and organised sport will still be able to proceed. More information on exemptions can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing
Finally, may I say my feelings at this time resonate with The Archbishop of Canterbury, who recently said in these difficult times of self-sacrifice, we need to focus on the vulnerable and the impact on them.
Update 7th April
Guidance for employees with caring responsibilities has been updated so all employees who are unable to work due to caring responsibilities resulting from coronavirus can now be furloughed. For example employees who need to look after children can be furloughed.
The Government has taken further action to ensure the 'Stay at Home' message reaches as many people as possible. A new partnership with the video games industry will ensure the essential health messaging reaches more UK homes than before. Games which are taking part include Candy Crush Saga.
The police have the powers to enforce the following restrictions during the lockdown:
- Dispersing gatherings of more than two people, unless they live in the same household.
- Issuing fines to anyone who does not comply with these rules.
- Closing shops which are not essential, as well as playgrounds and places of worship.
The Prime Minister has also written to all 30 million households in the UK to outline the guidance everyone should follow and the measures the Government has put in place to protect the NHS, save lives, support businesses and fight the spread of the coronavirus.
Update 30th March
The country is now on emergency footing, an unprecedented step in peace time.
Ventilators and support for the most vulnerable
The Government has been delighted with the UK companies who have responded to all companies who have contacted us with offers of help for the NHS and to boost our ventilator supply. We are working with several firms to scale up production of existing UK ventilator manufacturers, as well as designing and manufacturing new products from scratch and procuring thousands more machines from overseas, whilst there are already 8,000 machines arriving in the coming weeks. Any new orders are all dependent on machines passing regulatory tests.
I am delighted to see a breathing aid, which can help keep Coronavirus patients out of intensive care, has been created in less than a week by University College London engineers working with clinicians at UCLH and Mercedes Formula One. These Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices deliver oxygen to the lungs without needing a ventilator and are already used in hospitals. Forty of these new devices have already been delivered to ULCH and to three other London hospitals for trials. If these go well, up to 1,000 of these CPAP machines can be produced per day by Mercedes-AMG, beginning in a week's time. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has already given its approval for their use.
Supporting our NHS across the Country
- The government is establishing strategic coordination centres across the whole country. Each are led by gold commanders – Senior members of emergency service, along with local authorities and NHS members to lead them through it. Embedded within this will also be members of armed forces.
- The government is establishing strategic coordination centres across the whole country. Each are led by gold commanders – Senior members of emergency service, along with local authorities and NHS members to lead them through it. Embedded within this will also be members of armed forces.
- The government has established a national supply distribution team for PPE. Millions of masks, gloves and cleaning equipment delivered to all 58,000 health trusts. This includes every single GP, dental and community pharmacy. Care homes will also receive delivery this week.
- Three quarters of a million people have signed up to NHS volunteer scheme.
- If we follow restrictive measures we can turn the tide, but if measures insufficient or people not following will have to consider further options.
Update from the Deputy Chief Medical Officer
- If we practice social distancing, we can hopefully move the virus peak across.
- We have 12 weeks get on top of the virus. The proof will come in two or three weeks.
- If social distancing is successful, we will have squashed top of the curve, but it is dangerous to revert to normal way of living. We could see second peak.
- We will review the policy at Easter. If social distancing methods are successful, they could be reduced in two to three months. If not, it could be six months until life returns to normal. Plausible restrictions could last longer.
Helping the most vulnerable
- 1 million letters have gone out to the most vulnerable. These people now also have their own web and phone portal to get assistance.
- The first food and supply packages have been delivered to doorsteps of these vulnerable people. 50,000 will have been sent out by end of this week. Our own local Council is part of this fantastic effort. I caught up with MSDC Leader Cllr Jonathan Ash-Edwards and WSCC Leader Cllr Paul Marshall and fellow West Sussex MPs on Friday on the issues that are in my inbox and what we need to pass to crucially across to central Government from Mid Sussex.
Announcement 23rd March
This Government has now (23 March 2020) introducing three new measures which will help ensure as many people as possible stay at home. This is the single most important action we can all take in fighting the Coronavirus, in order to protect the NHS and save lives. Reducing our day-to-day contact with other people as much as we can will reduce the spread of the infection.
These three measures are:
- People must stay at home, except for very limited purposes
- Closing all non-essential shops and community spaces
- Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public
These measures are effective immediately and every citizen must comply with them. Relevant authorities, including the police, have been given the powers to enforce them – including through fines and dispersing gatherings. This Government will continue to monitor and review the effectiveness of these measures in three weeks.
- Staying at home
You should only leave the house for one of four reasons:
- Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.
- One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household.
- Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
- Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.
Even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of your household. These measures must be followed by everyone.
If you work in a critical sector outlined in this guidance, or your child has been identified as vulnerable, you can continue to take your children to school. Where parents do not live in the same household, children under 18 can be moved between their parents’ homes.
- Closing non-essential shops and public spaces
Last week, the Government ordered certain businesses - including pubs, cinemas and theatres - to close. The Government is now extending this requirement to a further set of businesses and other venues, including:
- all non-essential retail stores - this will include clothing and electronics stores; hair, beauty and nail salons; and outdoor and indoor markets, excluding food markets.
- communal places within parks, such as playgrounds, sports courts and outdoor gyms.
- hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks, and boarding houses for commercial/leisure use (excluding permanent residents and key workers).
- indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, arcades and soft play facilities.
- libraries, community centres, and youth centres.
- places of worship, except for funerals attended by immediate families.
Further information on all businesses and premises which must close can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close
- Stopping public gatherings
To make sure people are staying at home and apart from each other, the Government is also stopping all public gatherings of more than two people.
There are only two exceptions to this rule:
- where the gathering is of a group of people who live together - this means that a parent can, for example, take their children to the shops if there is no option to leave them at home.
- where the gathering is essential for work purposes - but workers should be trying to minimise all meetings and other gatherings in the workplace.
In addition, the Government is stopping social events, including weddings, baptisms and other religious ceremonies. This will exclude funerals, which can be attended by immediate family.
- Enforcing these measures
Every citizen is instructed to comply with these new measures.
This Government will therefore be ensuring the police and other relevant authorities have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings where people do not comply.
They will initially last for the three weeks from 23 March, at which point the Government will look at them again and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible.
Update as of 22nd March:
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced an unprecedented package of measures to ensure food and aid reaches the most vulnerable. 1.5 million people have been asked to remain at home, including those with underlying health conditions.
The NHS will be contacting all of those will be affected directly and they will have food delivered to their homes, so they do not have to leave the house.
The Government is now advising against ALL travel unless it is essential. As a part of this the Government is offering refunds for all advance tickets and season tickets.
Social distancing must be maintained to protect all at risk people and the NHS.
Earlier social measures
Following a COBRA meeting on March 12th, The Prime Minister announced we moved into the ‘DELAY’ phase of the action plan, where we will take more extensive measures to continue to contain the disease, prevent the spread of it to protect our vulnerable citizens and support our NHS, as well as to slow down the disease and stretch out the ‘peak’ of the virus. This has been followed by further announcements on measures of the ‘DELAY’ plan which have been put in place, including:
- Anyone with even mild symptoms of the COVID-19/Coronavirus (high temperature/fever, new cough, shortness of breath) should self-isolate and stay at home for 7 days
- If anyone in your household has one of the two key symptoms (a high temperature or a cough), then you should also stay at home for 14 days
- Everyone needs to stop non-essential social contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel
- People should remain at least 2 metres apart
- People need to work from home where they possibly can
- Only travel if essential
- Anyone who is: over the age of 70, pregnant, or has serious underlying health conditions, should avoid all unnecessary social contact
- The following public spaces: cafes, pubs, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, cinemas, leisure centres and gyms must be closed from the morning of the 21st March.
- Takeaways will be excluded from the new measures coming in from tonight.
- The measures on closures will be reviewed on a monthly basis.
- We are emphatically moving away from any mass gatherings, so will not support mass gatherings with emergency workers in the way that we normally do. We have to ensure we have these critical workers, who might otherwise be deployed at those gatherings, available to help deal with this emergency
- People must ensure they are at least 2 meters away from anyone with the COVID-19 symptoms (temperate, cough, fever, shortness of breath), however mild their symptoms are
- Nurseries, Schools and Colleges are closed from Friday 20th March, apart from to vulnerable children and children of key workers (including NHS, police, delivery drivers)
The latest unprecedented measures have been taken because we are now asking people to do something which is both difficult and disruptive to their lives. We have always aimed to introduce these measures at the most effective time, when we think it can make the biggest difference to slowing the spread of the disease, reducing the number of victims and fatalities.
This Government has put these measures in place following the best possible scientific advice, which will continue to shape future measures over the coming weeks, as will the international situation, the advice of organisations such as the WHO, data modelling based on the best available evidence and the recommendations of our expert bodies across the UK.
The Government’s Emergency Bill
On Thursday 19th March, this Government introduced the Emergency Coronavirus Bill to Parliament. The Bill, jointly agreed with the devolved administrations of the UK, gives us the power to fight this virus with everything we’ve got. The powers will only be used when necessary. We need these powers in our armoury to give us the best possible chance of overcoming this unprecedented national challenge.
The Emergency Coronavirus Bill enables key action across five main areas:
a. Increasing the available health and social care workforce;
b. Easing the burden on frontline staff;
c. Containing and slowing the virus;
d. Managing the deceased with respect and dignity; and
e. Supporting people through the crisis
Details of the policies contained in the Bill is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-bill-what-it-will-do/what-the-coronavirus-bill-will-do.
All the measures are to be strictly temporary, focussed and proportionate to the threats and challenges we face and will only be activated - and deactivated – based on the best possible scientific advice and evidence. While these powers will only be used in extreme circumstances, throughout this pandemic our approach is to plan for the worst and work for the best.
Schools closing announcement – 18th March
This Government has continued to follow the best scientific advice regarding schools and as the spike of the virus has increased, the public health benefits of keeping schools open has decreased. These actions are being taken now to limit the spread of the virus.
On March 18th this Government made the decision to close all schools, including independent and boarding schools, nurseries and colleges, from Friday 20th March. However, children of key workers (including NHS staff, Police and Delivery Drivers who need to work – the full list of key workers will be provided from tomorrow) and vulnerable children (those who have a social worker and those with educational health and care plans) will continue to go to school, including over the previously scheduled Easter holidays. This is in order to protect both those most vulnerable children and support those workers in the most crucial roles during this public health challenge.
Schools will be given flexibility regarding staffing, whilst children due to sit crucial exams will get the qualifications they need, based on assessments they’ve already completed. Furthermore, regarding school-related duties:
-
- Ofsted has ceased all operations for the time being.
- Schools will not be going ahead with assessments and exams.
- We will work to ensure children get the qualifications they need.
This Government will continue to work closely with all institutions in the educational system to ensure these measures are implemented successfully.
This Government has been in close communications with Universities concerning this issue and Universities are already taking steps to protect staff and students and we support them in doing so. I would also like to strongly emphasise the point from the PM that children should not be left with older grandparents or older relatives who may be particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus. All steps to address the challenge must be made and we understand this will be difficult juggles for some families.
The wellbeing of children, parents and teachers is of paramount importance. We thank all the Headteachers, staff and support staff for there support and help and know that are continuing to do an immense job in supporting communities tackle this hugely challenging public health battle
Supporting our business and economy
I am pleased to see the Chancellor’s press conference on March 17th which announced the unprecedented measures being taking by this Government to protect small, medium and large businesses across business sectors. This includes £330 billion package of loans and guarantees for businesses needing ‘access to cash’ during this period and we are prepared to go further and provide as much capacity as required. The Chancellor, along with the PM, also announced:
- We will support liquidity amongst large companies, with a major new scheme being launched by the Bank of England.
- We will support lending to small and medium-sized businesses by extending the Business Interruption Loan Scheme announced in the Budget. This means that, rather than providing loans of £1.2 million, it will provide loans of up to £5 million, with no interest for the first six months.
- Both of these schemes will be up and running by the start of next week – and the Chancellor is also taking a new legal power in the Covid Bill to offer whatever further financial support is necessary.
- We will help all businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors – meaning that none of these companies will have to pay business rates. All businesses in these sectors, irrespective of their rateable value, are exempt from business rates for 12 months.
- In addition, we will provide small businesses in these sectors with an additional grant scheme of up to £25,000.
- We will increase grants for the smallest businesses from £3,000 to £5,000.
- We are also increasing grants for our 700,000 smallest businesses from £3,000 to £10,000.
Announcement 20th March
- Government will pay 80% of wages for employees not working, up to £2,500 a month.
- The Chancellor also announced he would defer the next quarter of VAT payments for firms, until the end of June. It represents in a £30bn injection into the economy.
Budget measures
Budget 2020, which was announced on March 11th, also includes several measures which will help to combat the spread of COVID-19 and the knock-on effects it has on society, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-delivers-budget-2020
Travel Advice
As of 23rd March, The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises British people travelling abroad to return to the UK now, if commercial flights are still available. This advice was published on 23 March and takes effect immediately.
International travel is becoming very limited as air routes close, land borders close and new restrictions are put in place that prevent flights from leaving.
If you’re travelling abroad, you should:
- Contact your airline or travel company now
- Keep up-to-date with our travel advice pages. We are updating information on returning from the country you’re in as quickly as we can
- Continue to follow the NHS coronavirus guidance
We are working with airlines to keep routes open, and calling for international action to to keep routes open to enable British people can return home on commercial flights. We are also working around the clock to support those British travellers who are already finding difficulties to come back to the UK.
If you are a permanent resident overseas, you should stay and follow the advice of the local authorities in the country you live in.
For British citizens abroad, the FCO is also advising against all but essential travel worldwide due to unprecedented international border closures and other restrictions. You must follow the advice of local authorities. Your safety and security are the responsibility of the local authority where you are.
For further information and the latest updates on travel advice and the Coronavirus (COVID-19), please read the Government website’s page on this issue: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus
Strengthened Public Health support
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care recently announced strengthened legal powers to bolster public health protections against coronavirus. Regulations have been put in place to reduce the risk of further human-to-human transmission in this country by keeping individuals in isolation, in situations where public health professionals believe there is a reasonable risk an individual may have the virus.
This Government has testing sites at all A&E facilities across England and have introduced home testing, in order for people to not have to go to the pod in front of A and E, which was put in place to ensure people didn’t actually enter A and E with the virus. This Government continues to emphasise people with mild symptoms of the virus to NOT enter hospital but should stay at home – so our NHS can prioritise those who been worst affected by the virus.
Here is the link to the NHS website on the Coronavirus: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
I have attended COBRA meetings over the past month on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions as Employment Minister, regarding operational DWP matters and working to put appropriate cross-government measures in place. I will continue to be updated through these meetings as and when they are convened.
Global help
UK Aid to the World Health Organisation (WHO) will help prevent the spread of the virus in developing countries, by supporting them to rapidly identify and care for patients with symptoms. Additional experts funded by UK aid will be deployed to the WHO to help coordinate the international response.
Government website
I would advise everyone to continue following the latest Government updates regarding the Coronavirus on the gov.uk website, as well as announcements on the news and in The Prime Minister’s daily press conferences, the link is as follows: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response