West Berkshire Council: COVID: National Lockdown again as cases continue to rise

This means residents and businesses in West Berkshire face another change in restrictions immediately that are similar to the first lockdown we had back in March 2020.

The national lockdown has been implemented due to continued rising levels of COVID infections over the Christmas and New Year period which will see our NHS become overwhelmed in the next 21 days.

With around 1 in 3 people having no symptoms, more people are spreading the virus without realising. Now, more than ever, we need to stay home and save lives.

This is what you can and cannot do under the national restrictions, which will become law on Wednesday 6 January 2021:

• You must stay at home. The single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.
• You must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary. You may leave the home to:
  • Shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person.
  • Go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home.
  • Exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
  • Meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one.
  • Seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse).
  • Attend education or childcare - for those eligible.

• Colleges, primary and secondary schools will remain open only for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. All other children will learn remotely until February half term. Early Years settings remain open.
• Higher Education provision will remain online until mid-February for all except future critical worker courses.
• If you do leave home for a permitted reason, you should always stay local in the village, town, or part of the city where you live. You may leave your local area for a legally permitted reason, such as for work.
• If you are clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) you are being asked to shield again and should only go out for medical appointments, exercise or if it is essential. You should not attend work.
• You cannot leave your home to meet socially with anyone you do not live with or are not in a support bubble with (if you are legally permitted to form one).
• You may exercise on your own, with one other person, or with your household or support bubble.
• You should not meet other people you do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, unless for a permitted reason.

The full guidance is available on the government website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home and you can also stay up-to-date on restrictions where you live by using the postcode finder.

As well as the specific restrictions outlined above, residents should continue to follow the “hands, face, space” advice to help reduce the transmission of COVID.