Information about coronavirus (COVID-19)

How long will the restrictions be in place?

The restrictions are expected to remain in place for at least 6 weeks. The Government has said they will next review the rules in mid-February.

Leaving the house

You should stay at home as much as possible. You should only leave the house for essential reasons, including:

• to shop for supplies or access an essential service (e.g. to go to the bank or post office). You can also do these things on behalf of a vulnerable person or someone self-isolating
• to exercise outdoors on your own, with people you live with (or in your support bubble) or with one person from another household
• to go to work (but only if you can’t reasonably work from home)
• to volunteer or provide charitable services
• for medical reasons (such as regular appointments, urgent help or to get a COVID test or vaccine). You can also accompany someone else
• to provide care or support to a vulnerable or disabled person
• to attend a support group (or up to 15 people) or access care services (eg respite care)
• for formally provided education and childcare (this includes childcare bubbles)
• to avoid harm, illness or injury
• to visit people for compassionate reasons (eg to visit someone due to give birth or who is dying)
• to fulfil any legal obligations, including activities relating to buying, selling or renting a property
• to visit places of worship or to attend a wedding or funeral (however restrictions do apply).

If you are extremely clinically vulnerable or have been previously advised to shield

The Government has advised anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable to resume shielding.

This means you should not attend work, school or childcare, and limit the time you spend outside of your home. You should only go out for medical appointments, outdoor exercise or if it is essential.

You can find more guidance and information on how access to support here.

Meeting with others

You can only spend time indoors with those in your household or support bubble.

You can meet one to one with someone from another household outdoors, but this must be in a public place such as a park or beach. It can't be in a private garden. (Children under 5 and disabled dependent people who require round the clock care are not counted towards limit of 2 people meeting).

You can also continue providing care for a vulnerable person or for someone under 14 years old as part of a childcare bubble.

Rules apply on who can form a support or childcare bubble. Check whether you are eligible.

You can also visit people for compassionate reasons, such as visiting someone in hospital, in a care home or if they are dying.

Staying away from home

You should not stay away from home unless you have a reasonable excuse, including:

• to visit your support bubble
• to attend a funeral or commemorative event
• to work or volunteer
• to move house or if you cannot return home.

You cannot go on holiday either in the UK or abroad, this includes staying in a second home or caravan. If you are away from home you should return to your main residence as soon as reasonably possible.  

Travel and transport

You should only travel for essential reasons, including:

- to get to work (if you can't work from home)

- to shop for supplies or access essential services

- for education or caring responsibilities 

- to visit people in your support or childcare bubble

- to get to medical appointments

- to exercise.

You should stay local wherever possible and avoid traveling out of your area (eg your town or part of the city where you live).

You should also try to reduce the number of journeys, walk or cycle where possible and plan ahead to avoid busy times on public transport.

School and education

Schools and colleges will remain closed until at least February half term. Only vulnerable children or children of key workers will attend in person, other children will learn online.

Universities will only open for in person teaching for key course such as medicine and health care.

Going to work

You should work from home wherever possible.

You can go to work if you cannot reasonably do your job from home – eg if you work in childcare, construction or manufacturing.

You can also provide services in people’s homes where necessary – eg cleaners, nannies or tradespeople.

Shops

Only essential shops will remain open, such as supermarkets or pharmacies. You should wear a face covering in shops unless you're exempt from doing so.

Non-essential shops can continue to provide a ‘click and collect’ and delivery services.

Other essential businesses

Some of the other essential businesses which can remain open: Garden centres, hardware stores, petrol stations, car repair and MOT services, bike shops, banks, post offices, launderettes and dry cleaners.

NHS and care services

All NHS services remain open including GPs and dentists. If you need urgent help or advice call 111 or 999 in an emergency.

You can access social care services including home care, respite care and support groups (of up to 15 people).

Public services

The majority of public services will remain open, including job centres, waste or recycling centres, passport and visa services, registration offices, courts and services for victims.

Public libraries will remain open to provide access to IT and digital services for people who can’t access them from home. They can also provide ‘click and collect’ services.

Community centres and halls will close for most purposes but can continue to provide charitable services (e.g. foodbanks) or other permitted activities (e.g. childcare).

Hospitality

Restaurants, pubs, cafés and other hospitality venues will be closed. Though delivery (at all times) and takeaway (until 11pm) will still be available.  

Personal care facilities such as hairdressers and nail salons will be closed.

Indoor and outdoor entertainment venues such as theatres, cinemas, theme parks and zoos will be closed. 

Hotels and similar accommodation can only open for specific guests such as people traveling for work.  

Exercise and leisure activity

You can exercise outdoors on your own, with people you live with (or in your support or childcare bubble) or with one person from another household.

The guidance asks people to limit outdoor exercise to one session per day and to remain with their local area. People should not take part in other leisure activities in public places (e.g. picnics).

Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities will be closed, such as gyms, swimming pools, dance studios and golf courses. 

Outside public spaces including beaches, parks, public gardens, and playgrounds will remain open.

Organised sport for disabled people is also allowed to continue.

Places of worship

You can attend places of worship for services or individual prayer. However you can’t mix with anyone outside of your household or support bubble.

Weddings and civil partnerships

Weddings and civil partnerships can only take place in exceptional circumstances, for example, if one partner is seriously ill. These are limited to 6 people.

Funerals

Up to 30 people can attend someone’s funeral and those in attendance must maintain social distancing measures with those not in their household or support bubble.

Linked ceremonies or events can take place with up to 6 people (excluding anyone working at a venue).

Care home visits

Each care home is responsible for setting the visiting policy in that home, but government guidance says that all care homes should allow:

• Outdoor visiting
• Visiting at a window
• Visiting in a specially designated secure visiting room or pod.

If the care home is experiencing an outbreak of coronavirus, then the government has told care homes they must stop all visiting immediately.

In all cases (including during an outbreak), visits between loved ones in exceptional circumstances, such as when someone is coming towards the end of their life, should be allowed.