Dear Resident,
The Government has today announced the following new restrictions to help control the spread of coronavirus in our community:
- People should work from home wherever possible
- From this Thursday (24 September) pubs, bars and restaurants must close at 10pm – they will also be restricted to table service only
- Face masks will be compulsory for bar staff and non-seated customers, shop workers, waiters and in taxis
- The limit on guests at weddings will be reduced from 30 to 15 from Monday (28 September)
- Plans to allow fans to return to sporting events have been paused
- The "Rule of six" now applies to indoor team sports – this also takes effect from Monday
- Fines for not wearing masks or following rules have increased to £200 for a first offence.
The evidence is clear that infection rates are rising rapidly in London, including in Islington. I know today’s announcement will be disappointing, but the restrictions are necessary to save lives and avoid a second full lockdown. We all need to act now to bring the virus back under control and prevent the devastating illness and deaths we saw earlier in the year.
The council is working hard to keep residents safe, but the only way we can do that is if every single person plays their part.
|
Keep yourself, your family and friends safe
We all want life to return to normal but that will only happen if we all follow the rules. We can all do our bit to keep this virus under control and protect ourselves, our friends and our family if we:
Stick with six – do not meet with more than six people at any time, indoors or outdoors and try to limit the number of people you see socially over a short period
Wash your hands regularly – and make the most of hand sanitiser stations at buildings and public spaces across the capital
Wear a face covering in public places, including shops and public transport
Create space – stay 2m apart from people outside your household, particularly in public places
Check your symptoms – if you start to develop any coronavirus symptoms make sure you self-isolate and book a test by calling 119.
We are here to help
If you are struggling due to coronavirus and need practical help or support, our We are Islington helpline is open 7 days a week. Call us on 020 7527 8222 or email weareislington@islington.gov.uk.
From Monday (28 September), you could be fined if you do not stay at home and self-isolate following a positive test result for Covid-19, or if you are contacted by NHS Test and Trace and instructed to self-isolate. If you are on a low income and cannot work from home you may be entitled to a one-off payment of £500 through the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme. Details of how to claim will be available on our website shortly.
Sadly, the longer the pandemic continues, the more people are losing their jobs. If you are unemployed or facing unemployment and need help getting back into work or retraining please contact our iWork team on 020 7527 2706 or email iWork@islington.gov.uk
|
Stay updated
I will keep you updated over the coming days but you can also find up to date information about the work we’re doing to keep Islington safe, important changes to our services and advice for people who need support with unemployment or money worries on our website, on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, and Nextdoor.
It is more important than ever that we all pull together to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe and I know that the wonderful people of this borough will do just that.
Thank you, Islington.
Cllr Richard Watts, Leader of Islington Council
|
