Latest Government updates

The Government has provided an update on its plan to ease lockdown restrictions in England. It has published a 'COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021' roadmap(Opens in a new window) , which sets out how the Government will begin to lift restrictions in England from 8 March, starting with schools and colleges.

It outlines four steps for easing restrictions.

• Step 1 - the priority is to ensure that all children and students return safely to face-to-face education in schools and colleges from 8 March.
• Step 2 - which will be no earlier than 12 April, will see the opening of non-essential retail; personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons; and public buildings, including libraries and community centres.
• Step 3 - which will be no earlier than 17 May, the Government will look to continue easing limits on seeing friends and family wherever possible, allowing people to decide on the appropriate level of risk for their circumstances.
• Step 4 - which will take place no earlier than 21 June, the Government hopes to be in a position to remove all legal limits on social contact. Before Step 4 begins, the Government will complete a review of social distancing and other long-term measures that have been put in place to cut transmission.

Cold weather alert - 5 February 2021

The Met Office has issued a Level 3 Cold Weather Alert between Saturday 6 February and Wednesday 10 February.

There is a 90% probability of severe cold weather between 9am on Saturday 6 February and 9am on Wednesday 24 February across South East England. This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable people and disrupt the delivery of services.

Go to Met Office