BDBC COVID 19 – Changes to lockdown measures

Changes to lockdown measures 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has today announced further changes to lockdown measures in England from Saturday 4 July.

Guidance, giving further details, is awaited but the key points are:

  •  from Saturday 4 July:
    • if it is possible to keep the two-metre distance then we should do so;
    •  in places where it is not possible then the guidance is for ‘one metre plus’, which means other mitigation is required – this will include plastic screens and masks but also measures such as giving details to restaurants so that if there are links to an outbreak of Covid-19 then people can be contacted;
    • despite reduction in the distance, “the fewer social contacts you have the safer you will be”;
    • two households of any size can meet in any setting inside or outdoors but multiple households can’t meet indoors – social distancing must still be in place;
    • restaurants and bars can open but must run a table service system and ensure minimal staff and customer contact;
    • places of worship can open for prayer and services, provided social distancing is maintained; weddings of no more than 30 people can go ahead;
    • hairdressers with appropriate precautions can open but nailbars and other close contact personal services cannot yet open;
    • people will be free to stay overnight in self-contained accommodation, including hotels and bed and breakfasts, as well as campsites as long as shared facilities are kept clean;
    • most leisure facilities and tourist attractions can reopen if they can do so safely, including outdoor gyms and playgrounds, cinemas, museums, galleries, theme parks and arcades as well as libraries, social clubs and community centres;
  •  ‘close proximity’ venues such as nightclubs, soft-play areas, indoor gyms, swimming pools and spas will need to remain closed for now, as will bowling alleys and water parks;
  •  the government will work with the arts industry on specific guidance to enable choirs, orchestras and theatres to resume live performances as soon as possible;
  • courts, probation services, police stations and other public services will increasingly resume face-to-face proceedings;
  • wrap-around care for school age children and formal childcare will restart over the summer;
  • primary and secondary education will recommence in September with full attendance and those children who can already go to school should do so.

 

Plans to ease guidance for those shielding

People shielding from COVID-19 will be advised they can spend more time outside their homes from Monday 6 July, the Health and Social Care Secretary has announced –

Plans to ease guidance for over 2 million shielding