On Thursday 5th November the Government announced a 4-week national lockdown in a bid to reduce the rising number of COVID-19 cases in England.
What is the guidance?
Much like the last lockdown, you will only be able to leave your home for specific reasons:
- Childcare or education, where this is not provided online
- For work purposes. If you cannot work from home or if your place of work remains open
- To exercise outdoors or visit an outdoor public place. This can be done with the people you live with, your support bubble, on your own, or with 1 person from another household
- For medical concerns, appointments, and emergencies or to escape or avoid risk of injury or harm – such as domestic abuse
- Shopping for food and medicine. These should be as infrequent as possible
- To visit members of your support bubble or provide care to vulnerable people
What is a support bubble?
A support bubble refers to a close support network between a household with someone from a single-adult household and one other household of any size.
Once you are in a support bubble you can think of yourself as being in a single household with people from the other household. You must continue to follow social distancing guidance with people outside of your household and support bubble.
A single-adult household refers to people who:
- Live by themselves
- Are a single parent living with children who were under 18 on 12th June 2020
If you are a single adult household but share your child with someone who you do not live with you can form a support bubble with another household other than the one that includes your child’s parent. If you are not a single adult household, you can form a support bubble with a single-adult household other than the one that includes your child’s other parent.
It goes without saying but if anyone in your support bubble develops symptoms or tests positive for coronavirus, follow the stay-at-home guidance.
Business
The following businesses and venues have been told to close:
- All non-essential retail
- Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities
- Entertainment venues
- Personal care facilities
- Non-essential businesses can remain open for delivery to customers and click-and-collect
Supermarkets, food shops, garden centres, and certain retailers providing essential services and goods can remain open.
Financial support
For businesses that cannot maintain their workforce because their operations have been affected by COVID then employers are able to furlough employees and apply for a grant to cover a portion of their monthly wages. The furlough scheme will be available to workers in any part of the UK. Workers will be paid at least 80% of their salary up to £2500 per month.
For assistance with this please head to the GOV UK website or speak directly with our HR team who can support you through the process.
