Woodley Town Council

12/5/2020

Summary of the new Covid 19 guidelines

The UK Government has released a Covid 19 Recovery Strategy that initially involves three phases to reduce the current restrictions in place.

The following slides have been issued by the UK Government to outline these steps, however, a more detailed report can be accessed HERE.

A series of FAQs can be accessed HERE, which include the following questions.

What can I do from Wednesday 13 May that I couldn’t do before?

There will be a limited number of things you can do on Wednesday that you cannot do now:

• spend time outdoors – for example sitting and enjoying the fresh air, picnicking, or sunbathing
• meet one other person from a different household outdoors – following social distancing guidelines
• exercise outdoors as often as you wish – following social distancing guidelines
• use outdoor sports courts or facilities, such as a tennis or basketball court, or golf course – with members of your household, or one other person while staying 2 metres apart
• go to a garden centre

At all times, you should continue to observe social distancing guidelines when you are outside your home, including ensuring you are 2 metres away from anyone outside your household. As with before, you cannot:

• visit friends and family in their homes
• exercise in an indoor sports court, gym or leisure centre, or go swimming in a public pool
• use an outdoor gym or playground
• visit a private or ticketed attraction
• gather in a group of more than two (excluding members of your own household), except for a few specific exceptions set out in law (for work, funerals, house moves, supporting the vulnerable, in emergencies and to fulfil legal obligations)

If you are showing coronavirus symptoms, or if you or any of your household are self-isolating, you should stay at home – this is critical to staying safe and saving lives.

I don’t have to stay at home anymore?

You should stay at home as much as possible. The reasons you may leave home include:

• for work, where you cannot work from home
• going to shops that are permitted to be open – to get things like food and medicine
• to exercise or spend time outdoors
• any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid injury or illness, escape risk of harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person

These reasons are exceptions and a fuller list is set out in the regulations. Even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent away from the home and ensuring that you are two metres apart from anyone outside of your household.

Are you reopening tennis courts / golf courses / basketball courts etc

Yes. Sports courts* can re-open, but you should only partake in such activities alone, with members of your household, or with one other person from outside your household, while practising social distancing. You should take particular care if you need to use any indoor facilities next to these outdoor courts, such as toilets.

*Please note that Woodley Town Council will not be opening its tennis courts because these are provided on a ticketed system and would require the leisure centre to be open, which is currently not permitted.

You should not use these facilities if you are showing coronavirus symptoms, or if you or any of your household are self-isolating.

Can I meet my friends and family in the park?

You can meet one other person from outside your household if you are outdoors. Public gatherings of more than 2 people from different households are prohibited in law. There are no limits on gatherings in the park with members of your household.

On what date can I expand my household group?

The government has asked the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) to advise on the concept of “bubbles”, which would mean allowing people to expand their household group to include one other household. For the time being, you cannot visit friends or family, except to spend time outdoors with up to one person from a different household.

Further information about childcare settings can be found HERE and schools HERE.

Woodley Town Council will continue to respond according to the UK Government guidelines and will keep its residents updated.