Family Early Help
Updated Government Guidance 24 February 2022
On 21st February 2022, the Government announced further cessation of COVID social restrictions. This included:
- Remove the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test. Adults and children who test positive will continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people
- No longer ask fully vaccinated close contacts and those under the age of 18 to test daily for 7 days, and remove the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate
- End self-isolation support payments and national funding for practical support
- From 1 April, the Government will no longer provide free universal symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public in England.
You can read the latest Government COVID guidance here Coronavirus: how to stay safe and help prevent the spread - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
NHS Guidance on Social Distancing
You can also read the latest health-related advice on COVID and social distancing on the NHS website here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
OLD GUIDANCE LEFT HERE FOR REFERENCE ONLY
Updated Government Guidance 14 December 2021
Following the discovery of the new COVID variant Omicron, the Government has updated its COVID guidance. The main points are:
- updated guidance on international travel and quarantine requirements
- Face coverings are a legal requirement in shops and on public transport
- people who come into contact with an individual who may have been infected with the Omicron variant will need to self-isolate, even if you are fully-vaccinated or aged 18 or under.
You can read the latest Government guidance here Coronavirus: how to stay safe and help prevent the spread - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Further Lockdown Lifting from 17 May 2021
On Monday 17 May, the fourth round of gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions begins
Key points:
- Up to 6 people or 2 households will be able to meet indoors and up to 30 people outdoors
- Indoor hospitality and entertainment resumes, including cinemas, museums, and children’s play areas
- The public can make informed, personal decisions on close contact, such as hugging, with their friends and family. Close contact continues to carry a risk of catching or spreading COVID-19, and people must consider the risk to themselves and to others.
- COVID-secure rules remain for the workplace and businesses, such as in shops and hospitality.
- International travel begins to reopen, allowing people to go on foreign holidays to ‘green’ list countries
- Face coverings will no longer be needed in classrooms or for students in communal areas in secondary schools and colleges. Twice weekly home testing will remain to control infection rates
- All remaining university students will be eligible to return to in-person teaching and learning, with twice-weekly testing
- 30 people will be able to attend a support group or parent and child group. The limit will not apply to children under 5
- Care homes residents will be able to have up to five named visitors, with two visitors able to attend at once provided they are tested and follow infection control measures
You can find more information here
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-easing-of-covid-restrictions-confirmed-for-17-may
Further Lockdown Lifting from 12 April 2021
On Monday 12 April, the third round of gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions begins.
Non-essential shops, hairdressers, gyms, swimming pools, nail salons, libraries, and outdoor attractions will re-open. Outdoor hospitality re-opens including pubs and restaurants, with a rule of six or two households.
From a family work perspective, these changes do not directly affect our work, although the reopening of community centres will definitely help with alternative venues for face-to-face visits with families.
Further Lockdown Lifting from 29 March 2021
On Monday 29 March, the second round of gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions begins.
The 'stay at home' requirement will be lifted. You can still only socialise indoors with your household or bubble, You can meet outdoors with 6 people or 2 households, including in private gardens. You must continue to work from home if you can. Outdoor sports facilities will reopen, which will mean a few more alternative venues to meet families.
You can find more information on this link
Lockdown Begins to Lift from 8 March 2021
On 22 February 2021, the Prime Minister announced a new 'roadmap' for the gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions. You can find more information here:
Here are four infographics summarising each roadmap step:
Third National Lockdown from 5 January 2021
On 4 January, the Government announced a third national lockdown. Although an end-date for this lockdown has not been confirmed, it is likely to last until at least 15 February 2021 (half term).
You can find information about the lockdown here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know
There is a list of all local tier restrictions here
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/full-list-of-local-restriction-tiers-by-area
And you can also check what the local lockdown arrangements are in your local area here:
NHS Guidance on Social Distancing
You can also read the latest health-related advice on COVID and social distancing on the NHS website here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
London Moved to Tier 4 Restrictions from 20 December 2020
On 19 December, the Government announced a new Tier 4 to the local Tier restrictions system. London and parts of the South East and East of England went into this Tier on 20 December:
London Moving to Tier 3 from 16 December 2020
On 14 December 2020, the Government announced London will move to Tier 3 (very High Alert) from 16 December:
Local Three-Tier Restrictions System from 2 December 2020
On 23 November 2020, the Government announced that the national lockdown will end on 2 December, and a revised 3-Tier system will be back in place (revised to 4-Tier on 19 December). The restriction rules for each Tier will be different to the previous Tiers put in place in October.
Second National Lockdown from 5 November to 2 December 2020
On 31 October 2020, the Government announced that a second national lockdown would be taking place from 5 November until 2 December. This replaces the Tier system for the duration of the lockdown. The restrictions in summary are:
- Requiring people to stay at home, except for specific purposes.
- Preventing gathering with people you do not live with, except for specific purposes.
- Closing certain businesses and venues.
- Public sector employees working in essential services, including education settings, should continue to go into work
You can read the Government guidance about the second lockdown restrictions here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november#content
New Three-Tier Lockdown System from 12 October 2020
On 12 October, the Prime Minister announced a new three-tier system of lockdown. This means different local areas will have different social distancing arrangements, depending on the level of COVID cases. The three tiers are:
- Tier 1 – Medium risk – Where most of the UK sits at the moment
- Tier 2 – High risk – Where any areas in local lockdown now sit
- Tier 3 – Very High risk – the highest tier that certain areas will be escalated to if infection rates do not come down
At midnight on 16 October 2020, London moves to Tier 2 restrictions.
You can find more information about what each tier involves here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-levels-what-you-need-to-know
You can also check what the local lockdown arrangements are in your local area here:
Social Distancing and Meeting People from 22 September 2020
On 22 September, the Government issued new guidance and legislation for the public to follow on social distancing, and the maximum number of people who can meet. This is now in force. This is the guidance being followed for local areas in Tier 1 of the new 3-tier local lockdown system. You can find the guidance here
This is a summary of the position at 22 September:
- Office workers who can work from home are being asked to do so.
- All pubs, bars and restaurants must operate table-service only, except for takeaways
- All hospitality venues must close at 10pm.
- More people must wear face coverings - staff working in retail; all users of taxis and private hire vehicles; and staff and customers in indoor hospitality venues - except when seated at tables to eat or drink.
- In retail, leisure, tourism and other sectors, government’s Covid-secure guidelines will become legal obligations.
- From Monday 28 September, a maximum of 15 people will be able to attend wedding ceremonies and receptions.
- The rule of six is being extended to all adult indoor team sports.
- Business conferences, exhibitions and large sporting events will not be able to reopen from 1 October.
- Stronger penalties for failing to adhere to government restrictions: a fine of up to £10,000 for businesses that break the rules and the penalty for failing to wear a mask or breaking the rule of six will now double to £200 for a first offence.
Social Distancing and Meeting People from 4 July 2020
On 24 June the Government issued new guidance from the public to follow, starting 4 July 2020. Here is an FAQs document about what you can do UNTIL 4 July
and here is information about what you can do AFTER 4 July:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-people-from-outside-your-household-from-4-july
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing
Information from Camden about this is here:
Social Distancing and Meeting People from 5 June 2020
On 5 June the Government published new guidance for the public to follow. This has been updated various times since then, and the most up to date links are below.
The Government have issued principles you should follow to ensure that time spent with others outside your home is as safe as possible. If you are clinically vulnerable or extremely vulnerable, you should follow the guidance on social distancing for vulnerable people and you can also get support.
Government's latest rules on staying safe outside your home (updated 5 June 2020)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-safe-outside-your-home
Governments latest rules on social distancing (updated 12 June 2020)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing
Government FAQs about what you can and can't do (updaed 12 June 2020):
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do
Government Guidance for Households with Possible COVID Infection (updated 11 June 2020)
Government information for young people on shielding (updated 5 June 2020)