Coronavirus updates - Healthwatch Walsall

Local updates

Roadmap To End Lockdown 08/03/21

The government has set out a cautious “roadmap” to ease Covid-19 restrictions in England. The road map has four stages, each dependent on a number of tests the Government will use before moving on to the next stage. These tests include vaccination roll-out progress, data suggesting that the vaccine is having an impact on hospitalisations and deaths, infection rates are not at risk of surging putting the NHS at risk and assessments of variants of the virus and their risk. The Roadmap will start on 8 March, until then you should continue to follow the current national lockdown restrictions.

At Healthwatch we are calling for people to follow these rules and to use caution. Find out more here.

Stage one:

Stage one will happen in two parts.

From 8 March:

All schools and colleges will reopen

University students can return for practical courses. There will be a review by the end of the Easter holidays for all other students

Face coverings are recommended in class for secondary school students and also for parents and staff in primary schools

Wraparound childcare can also return for vulnerable pupils and where it is needed for parents or carers to go to work, support groups or to seek medical care

Two people from different households can meet outside for recreation

One nominated person can visit care homes, but will need PPE, a lateral flow test and to keep physical contact to a minimum

From 29 March:

People will be allowed to meet outside, either with one other household or within the rule of six, including in private gardens

The stay at home rule will end, but the government will urge people to stay local as much as possible

Outdoor sport facilities will reopen, including golf courses and tennis and basketball courts

Formally organised outdoor sports can also restart

Parents and children groups can return but are capped at 15 and must be outdoors. Indoor groups can take place for vulnerable children and where parents need the groups to go to work

Weddings attended by up to six people can take place in any circumstances

Stage 2:

From no earlier than 12 April, (depending on the tests set out above):

All shops allowed to open

Restaurants and pub gardens will be allowed to serve customers sitting outdoors, including alcohol

Gyms and spas can reopen for individuals and households

Hairdressers, beauty salons and other close contact services can reopen

UK domestic holidays away from home permitted, with self-contained accommodation able to reopen for use by members of the same household

Children allowed to attend indoor play activities, with up to 15 parents or guardians allowed to join them

Zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas can reopen

Libraries and community centres can reopen

Weddings attended by up to 15 people can take place

Stage 3:

From no earlier than 17 May (depending on the tests set out above):

People can meet in groups of up to 30 outdoors

Six people or two households can meet indoors

Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues can seat customers indoors

Up to 30 people can meet to celebrate weddings or other life events, like christenings

Remaining outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres and cinemas can open

Indoor entertainment such as museums, theatres, cinemas and children’s play areas can open

Performances and large events will be subject to limits though. For indoor events they can be at half capacity or 1,000 people, and outdoors they can be at half capacity or 4,000 people – whichever is lower. For large venues (at least 40,000 capacity) up to 10,000 will be allowed to attend

Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen

International leisure travel will resume no earlier than 17 May

Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes can start up again

Stage 4:

From no earlier than 21 June (depending on the tests set out above):

All legal limits on social contact will be removed

No legal limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, funerals and other life events. From April, the government will run pilots for events such as large weddings, festivals and work conferences. This will help to determine how measures such as enhanced testing might allow large groups to attend without social distancing

Nightclubs will be allowed to reopen

National Lockdown

On Monday 4 January 2021, the Government announced a new national lockdown as a result of a vast increase in Coronavirus cases across the country. On Wednesday 6 January, these restrictions became law.

You must stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

You should only leave your home for limited reasons. All primary and secondary schools, and colleges will be closed to all pupils, except those that are vulnerable and for children of key workers. Extremely vulnerable people have been advised to begin shielding again to protect themselves from the virus.

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

animal welfare needs such as veterinary appointments

If you do leave home for a permitted reason, you should always stay local – unless it is necessary to go further, for example to go to work. Stay local means stay in the village, town, or part of the city where you live.

These rules are to be followed immediately.

COVID19 Vaccination Q&As Information from Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust 27/01/21

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Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group COVID19 information page 27/01/21

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FOR INFORMATION: A guide to COVID-19 vaccination All women of childbearing age, those currently pregnant or breastfeeding (translated) 25/01/21

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New England LOCKDOWN effective 5th January 2021

Local updates

Roadmap To End Lockdown 08/03/21

Regional updates

National Update

Multi Language COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable 25/01/21

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