Please read on for official coronavirus UK guidance and resources. And please note that for more detailed guidance you can visit the official government guidance pages.
As of 9th November, the firebreak lockdown in Wales ends.
There will be a new set of national measures, which will replace the previous restrictions.
Businesses which were required to close during the firebreak will be able to reopen, and the Welsh government will remove the requirement to stay home and very tough restrictions on meeting people.
However, we will all need to work hard to keep Wales safe by following some simple guidance to protect each other, manage pressure on the NHS and reduce the risk that further firebreaks are needed.
For more information, including guidance on visiting Wales from England, click here.
On Saturday (31/10/2020) the Prime Minister gave a speech and tweeted that everyone must stay at home, and may leave only for a limited set of reasons. These include:
- For education;
- For work, if you cannot work from home;
- For exercise and recreation outdoors, with your household, support bubble or on your own with one person from another household;
- For all 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.
Non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues will be closed. Click and collect services can continue and essential shops, including supermarkets, will remain open. Pubs, bars, restaurants must close, except for takeaway and delivery services.
Three-Tiered Local Restrictions
As of Wednesday 14th October, 2020, the Government plans to standardise and simplify local lockdown measures, by introducing a three tiered system of local COVID Alert Levels in England - set at medium, high, and very high. You can refer to the latest Government guidelines and FAQ as well as use the new postcode checker to see what restrictions apply to your postcode.
Local COVID alert level: medium
This is for areas where national restrictions continue to be in place.
This means:
- you must not socialise in groups larger than 6, indoors or outdoors (other than where a legal exemption applies)
- businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-secure manner, other than those that remain closed in law
- certain businesses are required to ensure customers only consume food and drink while seated, and must close between 10pm and 5am
- businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
- schools and universities remain open
- places of worship remain open, subject to the rule of 6
- weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees
- exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors, or indoors if the rule of 6 is followed
You must:
You should continue to:
- follow social distancing rules
- work from home where you can effectively do so
- when travelling, plan ahead or avoid busy times and routes. Walk or cycle if you can
Find out more about the measures that apply in medium alert level areas to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Local COVID alert level: high (Includes Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester)
This is for areas with a higher level of infections where some additional restrictions are in place.
This means on top of restrictions in alert level medium:
- you must not socialise with anybody outside of your household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place
- you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 outside, including in a garden or other spaces like beaches or parks (other than where specific exemptions apply in law)
- businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-secure manner, other than those that remain closed in law
- certain businesses are required to ensure customers only consume food and drink while seated, and must close between 10pm and 5am
- businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
- schools, universities and places of worship remain open
- weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees
- exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors. These will only be permitted indoors if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with or share a support bubble with, or for youth or disability sport
- you can continue to travel to venues or amenities that are open, for work or to access education, but should look to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible
You must:
You should continue to:
- follow social distancing rules
- work from home where you can effectively do so
- walk or cycle where possible, or plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport
Find out more about the measures that apply in high alert level areas to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Local COVID alert level: very high (includes Warrington)
This is for areas with a very high level of infections and where tighter restrictions are in place. The restrictions placed on areas with a very high level of infections can vary, and are based on discussions between central and local government. You should therefore check the specific rules in your area.
At a minimum, this means:
- you must not socialise with anybody you do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, in any indoor setting or in any private garden or at most outdoor hospitality venues and ticketed events
- you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in an outdoor public space such as a park or beach, the countryside, a public garden or a sports venue
- pubs and bars must close. They can only remain open where they operate as if they were a restaurant, which means serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal. They may only serve alcohol as part of such a meal
- schools and universities remain open
- places of worship remain open, but household mixing is not permitted
- weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees. However, wedding receptions are not allowed
- exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors. These will only be permitted indoors if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with), or for youth or disability sport
- you should try to avoid travelling outside the very-high alert level area you are in or entering a very-high alert level area, other than for things like work, education or youth services, to meet caring responsibilities or if you are travelling through as part of a longer journey
- you should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK if you are resident in a very-high alert level area, or avoid staying overnight in a very-high alert level area if you are resident elsewhere
You must:
You should continue to:
- follow social distancing rules
- work from home where you can effectively do so
- travel to venues or amenities that are open, for work or to access education, but aim to reduce the number of journeys you make
As of 24th September, 2020, these Government guidelines remain in place. Below is a summary of the existing guidance:
Rules on Wearing Face Masks
- Customers in private hire vehicles and taxis must wear face coverings (from 23 September).
- Customers in hospitality venues must wear face coverings, except when seated at a table to eat or drink. Staff in hospitality and retail will now also be required to wear face coverings (from 24 September).
- People who are already exempt from the existing face covering obligations, such as because of an underlying health condition, will continue to be exempt from these new obligations.
- Guidance stating that face coverings and visors should be worn in close contact services will now become law (from 24 September).
- Staff working on public transport and taxi drivers will continue to be advised to wear face coverings.
- For further information, please click here.
New Rules and Restrictions on Businesses
- Businesses selling food or drink (including cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants), social clubs, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement arcades (and other indoor leisure centres or facilities), funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls, must be closed between 10pm and 5am. This will include takeaways but delivery services can continue after 10pm (from 24 September).
- Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open after 10pm, only if the performance started before 10pm. They should not serve food or drink after this time.
- In licensed premises, food and drink must be ordered from, and served at, a table.
- Customers must eat and drink at a table in any premises selling food and drink to consume indoors, on site (from 24 September).
- Businesses will need to display the official NHS QR code posters so that customers can ‘check-in’ at different premises using this option as an alternative to providing their contact details once the app is rolled out nationally (from 24 September).
- Businesses and organisations will face stricter rules to make their premises COVID Secure (from 28 September):
- A wider range of leisure and entertainment venues, services provided in community centres, and close contact services will be subject to the COVID-19 Secure requirements in law and fines of up to £10,000 for repeated breaches.
- Businesses must remind people to wear face coverings where mandated.
Restrictions on Groups
- Support groups must be limited to a maximum of 15 people (from 24 September). Support groups are formally organised groups to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support. This includes support to victims of crime, recovering addicts, new parents, people with long-term illnesses, those facing issues relating to their sexuality or gender, and those who have suffered bereavement.
- Indoor organised sport for over 18s will no longer be exempt from the rule of six. There is an exemption for indoor organised team sports for disabled people (from 24 September).
- There will be a new exemption in those areas of local intervention where household mixing is not allowed to permit friends and family to provide informal childcare for children under 14 (from 24 September).
- Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions will be restricted to a maximum of 15 people (down from 30). Other significant standalone life events will be subject to the ‘rule of six’ limits, except funerals (from 28 September).
Last updated: 13th October 2020
Travel safely during the coronavirus outbreak
You can help control coronavirus and travel safely by:
- working from home where possible
- shopping locally and less often
- considering all other forms of transport before using public transport
- avoiding the busiest times and routes
- keeping your distance when your travel (2 metres apart where possible)
- washing or sanitising your hands regularly
Staying inside the area with a local lockdown
- If you live inside the area, you should only socialise indoors with members of your own household or support bubble.
- You can only stay in a private home - which includes self-catered accommodation such as holiday cottages, apartments or boats - with members of your own household or support bubble.
- You can stay in a hotel or similar accommodation (for example, a hostel or bed and breakfast) with another household, but should avoid sharing rooms with people you do not live with or otherwise socialising indoors, for example in each other's rooms, in reception areas, or in restaurants and bars.
- Sharing a caravan with another household is being advised against. You should not share private vehicles to travel to your holiday destination.
- You can travel into an area with local restrictions on holiday. Whilst inside the area, you should follow the guidance set out above.
Travelling outside the area with a local lockdown
- If you live inside an area with local restrictions, you can go on holiday outside that area but you should only socialise indoors with members of your own household or support bubble.
- You can only stay in a private home - which includes self-catered accommodation such as holiday cottages, apartments or boats - with members of your own household or support bubble.
- You can stay in a hotel or similar accommodation (for example, a hostel or bed and breakfast) with another household but should avoid sharing rooms with people you do not live with or otherwise socialising indoors, for example in each other's rooms, in reception areas, or in restaurants and bars.
- Sharing a caravan or boat with another household is being advised against. You should not share private vehicles to travel to your holiday destination.
You should not travel at all if you:
Visit Britain's 'We're Good to Go' kitemark demonstrates a business's compliance with COVID-secure standards. Here are all Cheshire establishments which have successfully been certified as 'Good to Go'.
As of 24 July 2020, facemasks are mandatory (for the majority of the population*) inside stores. From 8 August, members of the public will be required by law to wear face masks in further indoor settings. Click here for full information.
From 15 June 2020, it is the law that you must wear a face covering when travelling in England on a(n):
- bus or coach
- train or tram
- ferry or hovercraft or other vessel
- aircraft
- cable car
Using green spaces in England, you can:
- drive to outdoor open spaces, including beaches and beauty spots either alone, with your bubble, one other household, or a group of no more than 6 people from 3+ households.
- visit gardens, nature reserves and parkland - access may be limited to members or those with tickets so you should check ahead
- swim in lakes or the sea where it’s safe to do so - you can now use public indoor and outdoor swimming pools
- take part in water sports on open waterways, including sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, rowing, kayaking, surfing and paddleboarding
- use privately-owned motorised craft (in line with the guidance issued by the relevant navigation authority)
- use towpaths for walking, running and cycling, being mindful of other users and people living in boats
- visit outdoor animal attractions
You must follow social distancing guidelines when spending time outdoors.
You can travel any distance to get to the countryside and can now stay overnight.
More information here.
There are specific procedures in place for anyone experiencing symptoms, with further information on the official UK government website.
You can find further advice on the NHS website.
How to avoid getting sick
Social Distancing
Social distancing aims to reduce the amount of close contact people have with one another. The coronavirus can be spread through airborne droplets released when infected people cough or sneeze, so keeping your distance reduces your chances of becoming infected by this route. Avoid contact with anyone with symptoms of coronavirus: a high temperature and/or a new continuous cough.
If you are leaving the house, stay two metres apart from others (or at least one metre with other precautions in place).
To avoid the spread of the virus, make sure you:
- Stay at home when possible.
- If you must go out make sure you practice social distancing.
- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds using soap and warm water. Use hand sanitiser if you do not have access to water.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue (not your hands) when sneezing or coughing.
- Clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces to reduce the risk of spreading germs.
Find more information and tips on how to avoid the spreading of the virus.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of virus, first identified in Wuhan City, China. The coronavirus symptoms include a cough, fever and breathing difficulties.
You can find more information on the coronavirus on the National Health Service (NHS) website.
More useful resources
Visit the official UK government website for the latest information on the coronavirus outbreak and advice or find more coronavirus guidance on the NHS website.
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