Stage 4 of Easing Restrictions to be Delayed

Last Night the Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that we would remain at Stage 3 for another four weeks, with a review in two weeks and the possibility of it being lifted before hand if infection rates drop and enough people are vaccinated. 
 
This is due to rising cases of the Delta variant. However whilst case numbers are on the rise it is good to see that hospital numbers are staying relatively low although they are on an upward trajectory.  By keeping the country at stage 3 for another four weeks and continuing to vaccinate as many people as possible it is hoped that this will bring numbers down.
 
Boris Johnson has brought forward his plans for the vaccination programme and would like to see all vulnerable adults and over 40’s have two jabs by 19^th July and all adults 18 and over receive their first dose by 19^th July.
  
What this means for you:
 
Nothing has changed for the time being and the current restrictions remain in place.
 

• Outdoors, most social contact rules have been lifted, but gatherings of more than 30 are illegal
• Indoors, the rule of six or a larger group of up to two households is allowed
• Indoor hospitality reopened – pubs, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, bowling alleys, museums, galleries, concert halls, children play areas, hotels, B&Bs – and indoor exercise classes allowed
• People can make a personal choice on whether to social distance when seeing friends and family – but should remain cautious
• Outdoor large performances and sporting events must have a maximum capacity of 4,000 people or must only be half full, whichever is lower*
• Bigger sports stadiums are allowed 10,000 people or can only be a quarter full, whichever is lower (testing will be used to support these openings)
• Weddings/christenings are allowed with 30 people
• Funerals are allowed with as many people as a COVID-secure venue can accommodate with social distancing
• Care home residents can have up to five named visitors – two at a time – if visitors have tested negative
• Remaining university students to return to campus, with new home testing kits to be provided to increase testing uptake and help limit virus transmission
• Support groups and parent and child group gathering limits increased to 30 people (not including under-5s)

Please remind people coming into your business that they need to wear their face covering.  We know that it is hot and that some people are not wearing their mask because of the weather, but we all need to work together to be able to get fully open again.
 
Please make sure that your risk assessment is up to date and that you stick to the rules and that you and your team continue to test regularly (at least once a week).  Book at a local test centre, or you can order free lateral tests online.  If you test positive, you and everyone in your household must self-isolate for ten days from when symptoms started.  Some people are reporting new symptoms of runny nose, headache and sore throat which may be caused by the new variant.  If you experience any of these (or temperature, cough, loss of smell/taste) you must isolate and order a free PCR test.  We also encourage you to book your vaccination as soon as you are able to help stop the spread of the virus.

I am sure that we all know someone who has suffered the effects of Covid and I know of cases where people have had their first vaccine and still caught the new strain, we therefore need to work together to help us get over this.