Updates on Government changes: Saturday 4th July onwards
There have been lots of changes announced recently about lockdown restrictions being eased in the next month, so here is a summary. However, we still have to remain cautious and these changes could be reversed if infections rise again.
You should remain aware of situations that might lead to the virus spreading and continue to frequently wash your hands for 20 seconds and avoid touching your face.
If you are not shielding, then from 4th July:
You should try to keep to the 2-metre social distance but if this isn’t possible, this can be 1m with safety precautions in place such as additional cleaning, a screen, sitting side by side rather than face to face, or face coverings, like on public transport.
If you are 1m distance from someone then it takes 1 minute for the virus to transfer, if you are 2m distance then it requires you to be next to the person for 15 minutes to catch the virus. So in terms of contract tracing, if you become ill and test positive for Covid-19, anyone who has been within 1m of you for 1 minute or more will be asked to isolate.
Restaurants, pubs and cafes, hairdressers, children’s outdoor playgrounds, cinemas, holiday accommodation and museums will be allowed to reopen in England, providing they follow safety guidelines. All indoor bars/restaurants will be table service only, and contact between staff and customers will be limited.
One household can now meet with one other household, any number of people, both inside or outdoors, and you can stay over for one night. This does not have to always be the same set of households e.g. you could meet one set of grandparents one weekend, and other grandparents the following weekend. You still need to maintain social distancing from each other.
You can still meet outdoors with up to 6 other people with social distancing, but now, two households can also meet up, regardless of size.
If you are shielding, then from 6th July:
You are able to meet outside in groups of no more than 6 and this can include other households, while maintaining strict social distancing.
You no longer need to observe social distancing with other members of your household.
A single adult living alone (or single adult with children under 18) can form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household. All those in a support bubble will be able to spend time together inside each other’s homes, including overnight, without needing to socially distance.
There will be further changes for people shielding from 1 August.
From that date, shielding will be paused. Instead, the Government advises those people to adopt strict social distancing. They will still be vulnerable if they catch the virus so should stay at home if possible, but the changes from 1 August mean that those who have been shielding:
will no longer receive free Government-provided food boxes and medicine deliveries - but support from Sheffield City Council will continue to be available.
can go to work, if they cannot work from home and their workplace has been made ‘Covid safe’ (see below)
will no longer receive Statutory Sick Pay - unless they develop coronavirus symptoms, or someone they know develops symptoms, and they are told to self-isolate and cannot work from home.
will continue to qualify for priority slots for online shopping, help with medicine deliveries and getting to medical appointments.
can go outside to buy food, to places of worship and to exercise, but should maintain strict social distancing.
children who are clinically extremely vulnerable can return to their education settings with their peers, but should frequently wash their hands and socially distance if possible.
The guidance for the clinically extremely vulnerable group remains advisory. More detailed advice will be updated in this guidance as the changes in advice come into effect on 6 July and 1 August.
You can find more details on the links below:
Information about changes from 4th July (non-shielding)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52530518
Easy read information about Covid-19 and related advice from Mencap
https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/coronavirus-covid-19
Information about changes about shielding that are coming from 1 August:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53071430
Information about how to work safely during coronavirus (for employees and employers):
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19
Summary of new rules announced by the Government on 22nd September from the BBC: