What can we do?
WITH Nottingham and Nottinghamshire going into “high alert” level for Covid-19 restrictions, our day-to-day lives are set to change.
The rules come into force today and affect all residents in every part of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire as part of the new three-tier alert system, ranking areas as “medium”, “high” and “very high” risk – with rules set accordingly.
Nottinghamshire is in the second tier, while areas like Liverpool are in the “very high” risk tier three.
What does this mean for your dayto-day life? How will it affect childcare, sports, household renovations and travel? Here’s what you need yo know...
Can I meet family and friends?
You must not meet socially with friends and family indoors unless you live with them or have formed a support bubble with them. This includes private homes, and any other indoor venues such as pubs and restaurants. A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household. Households in that support bubble can still visit each other, stay overnight, and visit public places together. Informal childcare can also be provided via childcare bubbles. You may continue to see friends and family you do not live with (or have not formed a support bubble with) outside, in a garden or other outdoor space but you must not meet in a group of more than six, including children of any age. In a “high alert” level area you also cannot meet indoors with people from outside the area, unless exceptions apply.
Can I still visit shops, restaurants, pubs and places of worship?
These venues are allowed to host more people than inside or outside homes. However, they must stick to Covid-secure guidance. No-one is allowed to mix indoors in these venues with anyone they do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, unless exemptions apply. Outdoors, you can still meet in groups of up to six. At least one person in your group should give their contact details or check in with the official NHS Covid-19 app.
What are the rules for businesses?
All businesses must follow Covidsecure guidance to protect visitors, customers and staff. Certain businesses selling food or drink on the premises are required to close between 10pm and 5am. Businesses 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. Orders must be made on the phone, online or by post..
Can I still go to work?
Office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter. Where an employer, in consultation with their employee, judges an employee can carry out their normal duties from home they should do so. Public sector employees working in essential services, including education settings, should continue to go into work where necessary. Anyone else who cannot work from home should go to their place of work. Those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable can go to work as long as the workplace is Covid-secure, but should carry on working from home where possible. There is no limit to the group size at work, but workplaces should meet Covid-secure guidelines.
How does this affect school pupils and university students?
At present, no schools will close in any area, unless there are coronavirus cases, in which case pupils or classes may be told to isolate. University students can still travel to university, but there are stricter rules for high-alert areas. You must not move backward and forward between your permanent home and term-time address in term time – subject to exemptions set out in law. Students living at their university address in a “high alert” area should follow the same guidance on meeting other people and travel as others in that area. Commuter students – who live at a family home and travel to and from university each day – should be able to continue to travel as required. If you commute into a “high alert” area to go to university you must not meet people you do not live with in their home inside the area, unless they’re in your household, childcare or support bubble. You also cannot host people you do not live with, unless they’re in your childcare or support bubble. Students must not meet people they do not live with in student halls, whether inside or outside of the area, unless they’re in this childcare or support bubble.
How will the changes affect childcare?
There are exceptions for registered childcare, education or training, and supervised activities provided for children including wraparound care, youth groups and children’s playgroups. You can continue to use early years and childcare settings, including childminders, after-school clubs and nannies. Registered childcare providers – including nannies – as well as those in your support bubble or childcare bubble can provide support inside private homes. A childcare bubble is where someone in one household provides informal (unpaid and unregistered) childcare to a child aged 13 or under in another household. Any childcare bubble must always be between the same two households. Friends or
family who do not live with you and are not part of a support or childcare bubble must not visit to help with childcare.
What should I do if I’m clinically vulnerable?
You can go outside as much as you like, but you should still try to keep social interactions low. You can visit supermarkets, pubs or shops, while keeping two metres away from others wherever possible. Clinically vulnerable people are those aged 70 or over, or people under 70 with an underlying health condition which requires a flu jab every year – including: people with chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, COPD, emphysema or bronchitis; chronic heart disease; chronic kidney disease; chronic liver disease; chronic neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy; diabetics; those with a weakened immune system as the result of certain conditions or medicines; people with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 40; pregnant women.
What do the rules say about weddings and funerals?
Where the organiser has carried out a risk assessment and taken all reasonable measures to limit the risk – up to a maximum of 15 people. Wedding and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions must only take place in Covid-secure venues or in public outdoor spaces, unless in exceptional circumstances. Receptions should be sit-down meals and mustn’t take place in private dwellings. Funerals must only take place in Covid-secure venues or in public outdoor spaces with up to 30 guests. Wakes or linked ceremonial events, such as stone-settings, are limited to 15 guests and must not take place in private homes. Food or drink should be in the form of a sit-down meal. People living outside a highalert area can travel to attend but they must not meet with another household indoors.
How will indoor and outdoor sports be affected?
Outdoor exercise and dance classes, outdoor sport and licensed outdoor activities are exempt from the rules. Indoor organised team sports for disabled people and youth sport can also take place. Other activities, such as indoor exercise classes and other groups can only continue provided households or support bubbles do not mix.
Can I have tradespeople in my house?
Where a group includes someone covered by an exception – for example, someone who is working – they are not generally counted as part of the gatherings limit. So a tradesperson can go into a household without breaching the limit, if they are there for work.
Will this stop me being able to move house?
You can still move home if you’re in a “high alert” area. Estate and letting agents and removals firms can continue to work and people looking to move home can continue viewings.
Can I visit my relative in a care home?
You should not visit a care home except in exceptional circumstances, for example visiting a relative who is at the end of their life.
How will the rules affect travel on public transport and in a car?
You may continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, for work, voluntary, charitable or youth services, or to access education, within a “high alert” area. However, the rules state you should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible. The Government is encouraging people to walk or cycle wherever possible, or to plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport to allow social distancing to be met during travel. You should also avoid sharing a car with anyone not inside your household because it is difficult for social distancing to be met inside a car.
Can I still go on holiday outside my area?
You can still travel within “high alert” areas to hotels and other guest accommodation, but you should only do this with people in your household or support bubble. You can still go on holiday outside of “high alert” areas, but you must only do this with people in your household or support bubble. It is important that you respect the rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and do not travel to parts of the UK where activities would be prohibited. You should also avoid travelling to any part of the country subject to higher alert levels.