In this newsletter:

• COVID-19 Roadmap
• What we must all do in the meantime
• Vaccinations
• Community Testing
• Business support grants
• Support available

Roadmap Out Of Lockdown

Yesterday the Government published the COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021, setting out the roadmap out of the current lockdown in England.

The roadmap, which has now been published on gov.uk, outlines four steps for easing restrictions. Before proceeding to the next step, the Government will examine the data to assess the impact of previous steps.

This assessment will be based on four tests:

1. The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully.
2. Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated.
3. Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
4. Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.

There will be a minimum of five weeks between each step: four weeks for the data to reflect changes in restrictions; followed by seven days’ notice of the restrictions to be eased.

Read more

Step 1 - From 8th March

• Children and students will return to face to face education in schools and college.
• Wraparound childcare and other supervised children’s activities can resume where they enable parents to work, seek work, attend education, seek medical care or attend a support group.
• Care home residents will be allowed one regular visitor provided they are tested and wear PPE.
• The Stay at Home requirement will remain, but people can leave home for recreation outdoors such as a coffee or picnic with their household or support bubble, or with one other person outside their household.
• Some university students on practical courses will be able to return to face to face learning.

From 29th March

• Outdoor gatherings of either 6 people or 2 households will be allowed, providing greater flexibility for families to see each other. This includes in private gardens.
• Outdoor sports facilities, such as tennis and basketball courts, will be allowed to reopen, and people can take part in formally organised outdoor sports.
• Stay at Home will end, although many lockdown restrictions will remain. For example, you should continue to work from home where possible, and overseas travel remains banned, aside for a small number of reasons.

Step 2 - No Earlier Than 12 April

• Non-essential retail, personal care premises, such as hairdressers and nail salons, and public buildings, such as libraries and community centres, will reopen.
• Most outdoor attractions and settings, including zoos, and theme parks, will also reopen although wider social contact rules will apply in these settings to prevent indoor mixing between different households. Drive-in cinemas and drive-in performances will also be permitted.
• Indoor leisure facilities, such as gyms and swimming pools, will also reopen - but only for use by people on their own or with their household.
• Hospitality venues can serve people outdoors only. There will be no need for customers to order a substantial meal with alcohol, and no curfew - although customers must order, eat and drink while seated.
• Self-contained accommodation, such as holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, can also reopen.
• Funerals can continue with up to 30 people, and the numbers able to attend weddings, receptions and commemorative events such as wakes will rise to 15.

Step 3 - No Earlier Than 17 May

• Outdoors, most social contact rules will be lifted - although gatherings of over 30 people will remain illegal.
• Outdoor performances such as outdoor cinemas, outdoor theatres can reopen. Indoors, the rule of 6 or 2 households will apply - although we will keep under review whether it is safe to increase this.
• Indoor hospitality, entertainment venues such as cinemas and soft play areas, the rest of the accommodation sector, and indoor adult group sports and exercise classes will also reopen.
• Larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is lower) will also be allowed, as will those in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4000 people or half-full (whichever is lower).
• In the largest outdoor seated venues where crowds can spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower).
• Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals. Other life events that will be permitted include bar mitzvahs and christenings.

Step 4 - No Earlier Than 21 June

• It is hoped all legal limits on social contact can be removed.
• We hope to reopen nightclubs, and lift restrictions on large events and performances that apply in Step 3.
• This will also guide decisions on whether all limits can be removed on weddings and other life events.

What We Must All Do In The Meantime

As this new roadmap gives us hope of a way out this pandemic, it's still important to follow the current Government guidance to allow us to move on to these next steps.

So for now please continue to:

• Stay at home as much as possible.
• Work from home if you can.
• Only leave home to shop for essentials or to exercise.
• Keep washing your hands.
• Wear your face covering, unless exempt.
• Keep 2 metres away from those not in your household.
• Please book your appointment for your vaccine as soon as you are invited.

We have now reached this point in the pandemic due to all your hard work of sticking to the guidance, so let's keep going so we can start to see this lockdown eased.

Vaccinations

In line with national guidance, we have now opened COVID-19 vaccination booking for people who are identified in JCVI cohort 6. 

This includes: 

• Anyone between the ages of 16 to 65 with underlying health conditions which put them at a higher risk of serious disease or mortality. This is also known as “clinically vulnerable.”  More details about who is eligible can be found on the NHS Cohort 6 Go Live FAQ document.
• Anyone who is in receipt of carer’s allowance. 

• Anyone who is the main carer of an elderly or disabled person, whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill.  

If you are eligible under one of the above categories, you can book your COVID-19 vaccination appointment by visiting this booking link: https://www.swiftqueue.co.uk/nottinghamc19v-clinv.php or call the local booking line on 0115 883 4640 between 8am – 8pm during weekdays and 9am – 5pm on weekends.  

Younger adults in long-stay in-patient, nursing and residential care settings are also eligible for vaccination under cohort 6 but will be vaccinated by our ‘roving team’ of vaccinators. The roving team will be in touch with care homes directly to book in dates for vaccinations. 

If you are not eligible for vaccination, please do not try to book in for your COVID-19 vaccination appointment. It is important these appointments are protected for those who are now eligible under this cohort to help protect them against COVID-19. 

Letters and texts to those eligible under the criteria, have also been sent to invite them to book for their COVID-19 vaccination. If you are eligible, you do not need to wait for your letter to book in.  

Find out more

Community Testing

Testing will be available for those who are asymptomatic. You don't need to book an appointment, just turn up for your free test.

Community Testing opens at Stapleford Library at 1pm on Thursday 25th February and then:

• Sundays - Closed
• Mondays - Closed
• Tuesdays - 8am - 6pm
• Wednesday - 7am - 5pm
• Thursdays - 8am - 6pm
• Fridays - 8am - 6pm
• Saturday - 8.30am - 1pm

1 in 3 people with COVID-19 have no symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it. We are broadening testing to identify those showing no symptoms but who have COVID-19, so we can find positive cases more quickly and break chains of transmission.

Getting tested is a really easy way to help keep loved ones, work mates and our community safe.

The testing is open to anyone, working age, not showing symptoms of COVID-19 or who hasn’t tested positive in the last 90 days.

The rapid turnaround tests supplied by NHS Test and Trace can generate a result in under an hour, sent to the resident’s phone via text.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you should book a COVID-19 test via the NHS Test and Trace service - book a test online or call NHS Test and Trace on 119.

Businesses are encouraged to promote the new facility in Stapleford to their staff members, particularly those who are unable to work from home, which will help identify cases and keep their workforce safe.

You might want to talk to us about pre-booking a regular slot for your business at our community testing site. To explore this option please contact press@broxtowe.gov.uk and your request will be passed to the project team. 

For more information and FAQs, visit www.broxtowe.gov.uk/communitytesting

Business Support Grants

The Council has now received confirmation that it is able to make a further Local Restrictions Support Grant to eligible local businesses for the period 16^th February to 31^st March 2021.

If you are a local business and you are eligible, you will receive an email this week.

The allocation amounts are:

• Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or under on the date of the commencement of the widespread national restrictions will receive a payment of £2,096 per 44-day qualifying restriction period.
• Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 on the date of the commencement of the widespread national restrictions will receive a payment of £3,143 per 44-day qualifying restriction period.
• Businesses occupying hereditaments appearing on the local rating list with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or above on the commencement date of the widespread national restrictions, will receive £4,714 per 44-day qualifying restriction period.

The Council is looking to make payments directly to business nominated bank accounts by 5^th March 2021, which is subject to funding allocations being received by Government. 

Find out more

Support Available

Self-isolating

If you develop symptoms of Covid-19, stay at home and self-isolate immediately. If you have a positive test result but do not have symptoms, stay at home and self-isolate as soon as you receive the results. Your household needs to isolate too.

A new illustration by Public Health England explaining the self-isolation guidance is available to view and download: Stay at home illustration [PDF]

Learn more

If you are vulnerable and need help to get food, medicine or community support, please get in touch with the Nottinghamshire Community Support Hub www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/coronaviruscommunityhub or call 0300 500 80 80

Financial support

In some circumstances, if you are required by law to self-isolate, you may be supported by a payment of £500, payable from Broxtowe Borough Council. Find out more about this scheme and other financial support at www.broxtowe.gov.uk/testandtracepayment or call 0115 917 7777

Mental health

The impact of the pandemic on you and your loved ones and not being able to enjoy all of the activities you would normally be involved in can all have an impact on your health. It is important to remember to look after yourself. Useful resources to support you, your family and friends can be found at www.broxtowe.gov.uk/wellbeing or call the Nottinghamshire Mental Health Helpline between 9.00am and 1.00pm, seven days a week on 0300 555 0730.

Accessing NHS services

If you have symptoms or a health concern you are worried about, please contact your GP practice. GP practices are still open and here for you. When you call your practice, you may be offered a consultation online or over the phone. If they feel they need to see you in person, they will invite you in for a face to face appointment. Read more for guidance at https://nottsccg.nhs.uk/covid-19/gp-appointment-guidance/

Staying up to date

The easiest way to stay up to date is by checking our dedicated Coronavirus webpages. 

They contain useful information on:

• Affected Council Services
• Support for Businesses
• Support for Individuals
• Support within the Community

We also share daily updates on our social media accounts and will be sending you this email bulletin every Friday.

Share this

Please share the information in this email bulletin with friends, family, neighbours and colleagues to help us pass on these important messages, particularly if they're not online.

Please also encourage anyone who isn't already subscribed to this Email Me Service to sign up at www.broxtowe.gov.uk/emailme so they can receive these updates.

Find the latest guidance from the Government website.