Coronavirus

Coronavirus guidance for England as at January 5

Following the Prime Minister's January 4 announcement England has entered a national lockdown but unlike last March there is cause for hope:

  • Two vaccines have commenced roll out, and well over 2.4 million people had already received a vaccine as at January 12
  • By the spring most of those in the top four priority groups will have been vaccinated
  • Targeted testing of those without symptoms has commenced and Barnsley have applied for this programme

You can track all coronavirus reporting data here.

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.

    The national lockdown in England

    Financial support

    The latest announcement from the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, with high level detail of financial support available.

    Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

    Follow the guidance

    In our region we had seen significant reductions in cases but the new variant can spread much more easily meaning we must be even more careful -and the best way to keep the transmission rate going down is to follow the basic guidance - take note that up to one in three people do not have symptoms when they have the virus. 

    Whilst 'hands-face-space' will be familiar to you it is still the best way to protect yourself, your friends and family from this highly infectious virus. 

    • hands – wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds
    • face – wear a in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet
    • space – stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings or increasing ventilation indoors)

    Volunteering and offering help

    Other information

    Up-to-date Government advice regarding coronavirus can be found here

    News