The UK's four Chief Medical Officers and NHS England Medical Director have recommended that the UK alert level should move from level 4 to level 5. They have stated that, without further action, there is a material risk of the NHS in several areas being overwhelmed over the next 21 days. The new variant of Covid-19 is between fifty and seventy times more transmissible. In England alone, the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals has increased by a third in the last week.
The Prime Minister has introduced a new period of national restrictions. The single most important action that we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. The UK has so far delivered more Covid-19 vaccines than in the rest of Europe combined. The pace of vaccination is now being accelerated.
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.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home. Please also read www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Financial Support
A comprehensive range of the financial support being offered to businesses and constituents can be found on the pages promoted on the left hand side of this webpage. Given the further national restrictions, the Government is providing additional support to the most affected businesses, worth £4.6 billion across the United Kingdom. This will include:
- A one-off grant for closed businesses in England of up to £9,000.
- £500 million discretionary funding provided to English local authorities to support local businesses.