So Lockdown#3 is upon us, not unexpected for those of us who had been watching the statistics closely. Never-the-less, it is still comes at a time when many thought we could begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel because of the two vaccines that have been licenced for use in the UK. But ..
life is not always that simple or straight forward is it?
Why are we in Lockdown?
There is a new Covid19 mutant strain that infects more easily and spreads more rapidly. The R-rate has gone up steeply across the county and in the district. Latest figures show that 1 in 50 people is infected with the virus.
Many hospitals are at capacity and our healthcare workers are at exhaustion point. We must now do all we can to avoid overwhelming them.
What we can and cannot do in lockdown 3
Stay Home
Everyone must STAY HOME unless you need 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
During this lockdown, if you do leave home for a permitted reason as above, 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. South Cambs District Council encourages residents to Shop Local and a local directory has been put together here.
Holidays in the UK and abroad are not allowed
Education
Colleges, primary and secondary schools will remain open during this lockdown only for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. All other children will learn remotely online until February half term. Early years will remain open.
Higher Education provision will remain online until mid February for all except future critical worker courses.
South Cambs District Council has provided grant funding through Cambridge Online to assist less disadvantaged children to get online so they can continue their learning during the pandemic.
Exercising and Meeting other people
During lockdown, it is against the law to meet socially with family or friends unless they are part of your household or support bubble.
You can only leave your home to exercise, and not for the purpose of recreation or leisure (e.g. a picnic or a social meeting). This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
You can exercise in a public outdoor place:
- by yourself
- with the people you live with
- with your support bubble (if you are legally permitted to form one)
- in a childcare bubble where providing childcare
- or, when on your own, with 1 person from another household
Public outdoor places include:
- parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, forests
- public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them)
- the grounds of a heritage site
- playgrounds
Outdoor sports venues, including tennis courts, golf courses and swimming pools, must close till further notice.
When will we come out of lockdown
This lockdown is in place until half term in mid February. The government will continue to review the figures regularly during this time. It is difficult to say if/when this lockdown will end.
In the meantime, please remember
- Face – Space – Hands
- Stay Home
- Shop Local
#StaySafe