Coronavirus (Covid-19) Response – Information Sources and Updates

Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you can and can't do

Stay Alert | Control The Virus | Save Lives

The Government has issued updated guidelines in England which came into effect on July 25th:  

You can now:

General:

  • You must wear a face-covering on public transport, all shops and supermarkets
  • You must social distance by staying one metre or more apart, rather than two metres previously.
  • Two households will be able to meet up in any setting with social distancing measures. Your support bubble counts as one household.
  • With the reopening of accommodation sites, such as campsites, you may stay overnight at an accommodation other than your home
  • It is against the law to gather in groups larger than 30 people, except for a limited set of circumstances to be set out in law

Recreation and Outdoors:

  • Exercise outdoors as often as you wish
  • Spend time outdoors, including private gardens and other outdoor spaces in groups of up to 30, with social distancing of 1-metre.
  • Use outdoor sports courts or facilities, such as a tennis court or golf course
  • Indoor sports facilities and venues, including such as indoor gyms, fitness and dance studios, indoor swimming pools and indoor water parks, can open

Education and Schools:

  • In line with the arrangements made by your school, send your child to school or nursery if they are in early years, Reception, Year 1 or Year 6
  • Year 10 and 12 pupils in secondary schools and further education colleges will begin to receive some face to face support

Family and Community:

  • If you live alone or are a single parent, you can form a 'support bubble' with one other household. This means you can visit each other's homes without social distancing. However, you must pick one household to be your 'support bubble' and stick with it—you cannot switch the household, or connect with multiple different households.
  • Attend your place of worship for individual prayer

Retail and commerce

  • You may visit any type of shop
  • You can also visit some outdoor attractions such as drive-in cinemas and zoos
  • Pubs, restaurants and hairdressers will be able to reopen, providing they adhere to COVID Secure guidelines.
  • Some leisure facilities and tourist attractions may also re-open if they can do so safely – this includes outdoor gyms and playgrounds, cinemas, museums, galleries, theme parks and arcades.
  • Libraries, social clubs, places of worship and community centres may also open provided it is safe

Performing arts

  • From 11th July performing arts can now take place outdoors with a socially distanced audience present
  • This means that outdoor theatres, opera, dance and music can resume from Saturday so long as they take place outside and with a limited and socially distanced audience. 
  • You can read more about the new guidance for performing arts here

 

Further Re-openings in July

From 11th July:

  • you can participate in team and other grassroots sports where the sports governing body has issued guidance on how to do so safely
  • outdoor swimming pools and outdoor water parks can open
  • outdoor performances in front of a live audience and indoor rehearsals can take place in COVID-19 secure venues. Indoor rehearsals and indoor performances for broadcast should only happen where no audience is present
  • smaller-scale indoor performances can be piloted in COVID-19 Secure venues once approved by the government

From 13th July:

  • close contact services, such as nail bars, salons, tanning booths, spas, massage parlours, tattoo parlours and body piercing studios, can open. Only services that do not involve work in the highest risk zone – directly in front of the face – should be made available to clients, in line with government guidance.

And from 25th July:

  • sports facilities and venues, including such as indoor gyms, fitness and dance studios, indoor swimming pools and indoor water parks, will open – subject to evidence closer to the time

 

Does this mean lockdown is over? 

You should continue to stay alert and limit your contact with others. Staying at home is the easiest way to do this.

Although you may meet up outdoors in groups, you still must practise social distancing with anyone outside of your household or support bubble. This means staying alert and keeping one metre apart.

Also, it is still against the law to gather in groups larger than 30 people, except for a limited set of circumstances to be set out in law.

 

 

Click here to sign-up to join our Local Volunteer Network helping those isolated in the community, more information is in this section of the website. 

If you are currently in self-isolation and need assistance, please click here.

 

Coronavirus (Covid-19) Response – Information Sources and Updates

This section of the website will be updated regularly with advice and information that Alan receives in relation to the outbreak of Coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) from central and local Government; the NHS including Public Health England (PHE); and other public bodies and relevant organisations.

The Government response to COVID-19 is guided by medical and scientific advice received from the independent Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Scientific Advisor, taking into account information from the NHS and other relevant public bodies. It is fast-moving and Government advice on Coronavirus is subject to change – for the latest information visit Gov.uk and the Gov.uk COVID-19 page.

The Government's COVID-19 Action Plan can be found by clicking here.

Alan is not able to provide medical, financial or legal advice on an individual basis, but can help Havant Constituency residents dealing with central Government Departments and agencies. In addition, he is collating information related to the COVID-19 response on this page, and has launched a local constituency-wide initiative to sign-up local residents who feel they can help more vulnerable neighbours and other residents – see below for more information and sign-up by clicking here.  

Information on this website is sub-divided into different areas, click on the links for more information:

How serious is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called Coronavirus. An NHS overview on COVID-19 can be found here.

The evidence shows us that the vast majority of people who get this virus have relatively mild symptoms and make a full recovery. But in a small percentage of cases, the virus can cause more severe symptoms. This is particularly true for people with a weakened immune system, for older people and for those with long term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. 

A lot of false information about this virus is being shared - it’s very important that you make sure that the information you use comes from a trusted source - all of the information on this page has been sourced from the NHS.

What are the symptoms?

If you are infected you may have very minor symptoms, minor symptoms or more severe symptoms, but the NHS cites three symptoms to look out for as:

  • A new continuous cough
  • A fever or high temperature
  • A loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste

What should I do if I have either of the above symptoms?

If you live alone - isolate yourself at home immediately for 7 days

If you live with others - you should all isolate yourselves at home for 14 days - this 14-day period starts from the day the first person in the home noticed the symptoms.

If at-risk people share your home - such as those who are older and those with underlying health conditions - the NHS advise for them to move out, perhaps to stay with friends or family for the whole isolation period. They need to minimise contact with others during this period whether or not they are able to move out.

For further information read this government advice on staying at home and isolating.

This page was last updated on 3rd August 2020.