Changes to restrictions from Monday 12 April
Non-essential retail has opened back up, as well as libraries and gyms, and hospitality venues are now allowed to serve people outdoors.
Keep doing your bit
It's great we can start to see our loved ones again, but remember to keep doing your bit so we can all keep each other safe by:
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Wash your hands regularly
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Keep your face covered when required
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Keep your distance
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Only meet outside
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Keep rooms well ventilated
Thank you for your help to keep Manchester safe.
New guidance for visiting care homes
New government guidance applies for visiting care from Monday 12 April 2021. It applies to care homes for working age and for older adults. The guidance aims to support safe visiting so people can support their loved ones.
Rapid Covid-19 tests
The government has announced that everyone in England can access free, regular, rapid coronavirus testing, even if they don’t have symptoms.
Everyone is being encouraged to take free rapid tests for COVID-19 twice a week, 3 or 4 days apart. 1 in 3 people with coronavirus show no symptoms and are potentially spreading it without knowing. So, regular testing, along with the Covid vaccine is helping to ease restrictions and get life back to normal.
Rapid testing using lateral flow devices, involve swabs to the back of the nose and throat and provides a result within 30 mins. Free rapid home testing kits are available from participating pharmacies, libraries and our PCR Covid testing sites in Manchester. Find out more
Ramadan Mubarak
We wish everyone Ramadan Mubarak “Blessed Ramadan”, who is observing Ramadan in our local communities.
Ustadh Nasar Ishfaq, Imam at Manchester's British Muslim Heritage Centre, encourages people who will be observing Ramadan not to delay having their Covid vaccination and explains that having a Covid test will not invalidate the fast - https://youtu.be/HvwHCdONj4o
The British Islamic Medical Association has produced a factsheet with advice on physical health during Ramadan.
The Community Response Hub offers support to Manchester's most vulnerable people to help them cope with the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak. The Hub is open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and can help with:
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Access to food
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Delivery of medication
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Combating loneliness
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Managing fuel top-up payments
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Getting access to services online
Support for people Self isolating with COVID-19
Where people have been told to self-isolate by the NHS Test and Trace and their income has been affected, they could be eligible for a one-off support payment. Find out more.
Help with Debt, Bills and Borrowing
If you are not working or furloughed at the moment due to COVID-19 and need help with debt, bills or borrowing, visit www.manchester.gov.uk/helpinghands for advice and support.
Restart Grant Scheme open to applications
The Government's new Restart Grant Scheme, set up to help businesses prepare for re-opening following the recent national lockdown, is now open for applications from eligible businesses in the non-essential retail, hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym sectors.
Eligible businesses may be entitled to grants of between £2,667 and £18,000.
Manchester’s libraries reopen their doors
From Monday 12 April, libraries across the city are reopening their doors for browsing once again. So why not visit your local library and find a new favourite book! More information can be found at www.manchester.gov.uk/libraries
While we need to be cautious, we are really looking forward to restrictions gradually being lifted and our city starting to open up again.
We’ve created a brand-new email newsletter called Welcome Back Manchester- again, to give you the latest info on what you can get up to in the city as it re-opens.
The regular updates will feature the latest news on businesses reopening, events and what’s on, as well as reminders of what you need to do to keep safe while out and about.
Subscribe for free to receive updates on Manchester’s journey out of lockdown:
Remember the golden rules
👋 Hands 😷 Face ↔ Space
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