We’re back into a full lockdown again but this time it’s colder. Our thoughts go out to all those people already struggling with illness, bereavement, unemployment and the devastating impact of the pandemic and the measures needed to control it until the vaccination programme starts to change things. You can find the full notes from the cabinet office here.

Summary: what you can and cannot do during the national lockdown

You must stay at home. The single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. You should follow this guidance immediately. The law will be updated to reflect these new rules.

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.

Help to keep yourself, your loved ones and the medical teams you may rely upon safe by following the new directives, however devastating it may be.

Government T4 page is here.

Details below taken from Westminster Newsletter:

Westminster – along with the rest of London – will enter Tier 4 lockdown restrictions from midnight tonight. This means that you cannot meet other people indoors, including over the Christmas period, unless you live with them, or they are part of your existing support bubble. Outdoors, you can only meet one person from another household. These rules will not be relaxed for Christmas.

Other rules that need to be followed in Tier 4 are as follows:  

• You must stay home
• All non-essential retail must close
• Personal care such as hairdressers must close
• Indoor gyms and leisure centres must close
• Work from home if you can
• You should not enter or leave the Tier 4 area
• You can meet one other person outside your household in an outdoor public space
• Communal worship is allowed if COVID-secure 

A formal review of the restrictions will take place on December 30.

Christmas: 

• You can no longer continue with Christmas as planned
• You must not mix with anyone outside your household over Christmas. 
• Support bubbles can mix with one other household. 

Please visit the Government’s website for the latest information and further details.