Tighter COVID-19 restrictions are now in force in Hartlepool

Published Friday, 2nd October 2020

Tighter restrictions came into force in Hartlepool from 00:01 am this morning (Saturday 3 October) in a bid to stem the rising number of Coronavirus cases.

The new Government rules – which apply to everyone within the borough and carry substantial fines if they are broken - mean that:

  • You must not meet anyone who is not in your household in your home or garden
  • You must not meet anyone who is not in your household in their home or garden. This means both in Hartlepool and outside the borough
  • You must not socialise with anyone who is not in your household anywhere indoors, including in pubs, restaurants and bars for example. This means both in Hartlepool and outside the borough

The term ‘household’ is used here to mean the people you live with and anyone you have formed a support bubble with.

A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household on an exclusive basis. Households within a bubble can still visit each other, stay overnight and visit public places together.

A childcare bubble is where someone in one household can provide informal (i.e. unpaid and unregistered) childcare to a child aged 13 or under in another household.  This must occur on an exclusive basis – always the same two households.

You are also advised not to meet up with anyone who is not in your household anywhere outdoors. If you have to meet up, you must meet in a group of six or less and you must follow the social distancing rules.

The new restrictions also include businesses:

  • Entertainment and hospitality venues must close between 10pm and 5am, except to deliver food or drinks or provide drive-through services.

Hospitality venues must take all reasonable steps to ensure that:

  • Customers only consume food and drink while seated in the premises
  • Orders are only taken from customers who are seated, if the business serves alcohol for consumption on the premises
  • Bookings are not accepted, or customers admitted onto the premises, if:

       * groups include more than one household, if they will be located indoors

 * groups include more than one household, or more than six people if the group includes multiple households, if they will be located outdoors

  • Customers do not join other groups inside the premises (including outdoor areas such as beer gardens)
  • Tables are appropriately spaced to enable social distancing

In terms of travel, people are advised only to travel for essential reasons, such as going to and from work, to attend school or other education, to get essential food or medical supplies, to get medical care and to support someone who is vulnerable if no-one else can do so.

People can still travel into and out of Hartlepool to go to work, but people who are able to work from home should do so.

People are strongly advised to visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus for more details of all the above restrictions, including exemptions and the rules on arrangements like childcare.

Craig Blundred, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Acting Director of Public Health, said: “I would urge everyone in Hartlepool to please follow the Government’s new rules, to stop the spread of the virus.

“Above all, you’ll be protecting yourself and the most vulnerable in the community, like grandma and grandad, but you also don’t want to face a hefty fine if you break the law.

“It’s also vital for people to please keep up their basic safety precautions – wash your hands frequently, wear a face covering and keep your distance – HANDS, FACE, SPACE.”