Coronavirus advice from Government
As the advice regarding coronavirus changes in response to emerging evidence the Government has created a one-stop-shop for all advice which you can find here.
Stay Home -> Protect the NHS -> Save Lives
** National Lockdown: Stay at Home **
What you can and can't do -> National Lockdown Rules
Approximately 1 in 3 people who have coronavirus have no symptoms and could be spreading it without realising it.
Remember - ‘Hands. Face. Space.’
- hands – wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds
- face – wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet
- space – stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings)
In all circumstances, you should follow the guidance on meeting others safely.
Leaving home
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 you should only go out for medical appointments, exercise or if it is essential. You should not attend work
Meeting others
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.
Stay 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household.
The national lockdown in England
- Summary: what you can and cannot do during the national lockdown
- Detailed guidance on the national lockdown
- When you can leave home
- Exercising and meeting other people
- Support and childcare bubbles
- Where and when you can meet in larger groups
- If you break the rules
- Protecting people more at risk from coronavirus
- Travel
- Going to work
- Going to school, college and university
- Universities
- Childcare
- Care home visits
- Weddings, civil partnerships, religious services and funerals
- Places of worship
- Sports and physical activity
- Moving home
- Financial support
- Businesses and venues
- Businesses and venues which can remain open
Statistics
Protecting the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable
New guidance for the vulnerable
Guidance for Care Home visits
Care Homes will be supported to allow limited, safe visits
Guidance and advice on testing
A mass testing scheme is under way in Darlington at the Dolphin Centre, as part of the government’s drive to increase the availability of Covid-19 testing. Book an asymptomatic test here.
- NHS test and trace: how it works
- NHS test and trace: workplace guidance
- Guidance on testing for essential workers and care homes
- Apply for a test if you have coronavirus symptoms
- Apply for a test if you are an essential worker
- Book a test if you have a verification code
Your health and wellbeing
- Contact a GP and order repeat prescriptions online
- Guidance on pregnancy and coronavirus
- Mental health and wellbeing
- How to get food and other essential items
- Support for victims of domestic violence
All work and financial support
Working safely
- Reopen your business safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Find out how to make your workplace COVID-secure
- Check if you should go back into work