Stay at home, save lives

Announcing England's lockdown, Boris Johnson said hospitals were under “more pressure from Covid than at any time since the start of the pandemic”.

Under the new Government restrictions – which can be found in full at www.gov.uk/coronavirus - you must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary.

You may only 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.

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.

Craig Blundred, Hartlepool’s Director of Public Health, said: “Since the pandemic began last year, people across Hartlepool have been working to fight COVID-19 and we would like to recognise the significant sacrifices people have made over many months.

“But as the Prime Minister said last night, we now have a new variant of the virus and it is alarming to see the speed at which it is spreading.

“We also know that this new variant is between 50 and 70 per cent more transmissible – in short that means you are much, much more likely to catch the virus and to pass it on.

“I understand people are tired and frustrated – this is not the start to 2021 any of us had hoped for – but if everyone pulls together once more we will be able to make a difference."

Mr Blundred continued: “There is also good news in the form of the biggest vaccination programme in our history. But this will take time to roll out and we need to continue to be cautious.

“In particular, please remember hands, face and space, as even small steps save lives. It is vitally important that we all take these basic safety precautions but we need to do it as a collective measure – it is not a case of one or the other.”

The new rules are due to be reviewed on Monday 15 February.

Hands. Face. Space.

Approximately one in three people who have coronavirus have no symptoms and could be spreading it without realising it.

Please remember - ‘Hands. Face. Space.’

• Hands – wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds
• Face – wear a face covering in indoor settings where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet – such as a supermarket
• Space – stay two metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or one metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings)

Councillor Shane Moore, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, added: “At so many times during the Coronavirus pandemic, I have been reminded that the strength of Hartlepool is its people and I am still confident we will get through this.

“2020 was a hugely challenging year for us all and I understand everyone is tired and frustrated and new restrictions are not the start to the year any of us had hoped for.

“But the evidence around the new strand is clear and now – more than ever – is the time for us to stay at home and protect the people we love."

Councillor Moore continued: “I also understand what a horrible time this has been for local businesses and I cautiously welcome the news today that businesses in retail, hospitality and leisure will receive new grants.

“We’ll need some time to process the detail around these grants when we receive this and we will share further information in due course.

“Please stay safe everyone and hopefully – if everyone follows the rules – we’ll start to see our rates decreasing.”

The new restrictions can be viewed in full at www.gov.uk/coronavirus