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Read the MK COVID-19 Champions code of conduct here.
MK is in Tier 4
The number of daily recorded infections in the UK has reached an all-time high of 35,928, and COVID-19 cases have risen dramatically in Milton Keynes, the surrounding counties and London.
In addition, the virus has developed a new strain (a variant) which could be 70% more contagious, although there is no current evidence that vaccines will be less effective against it.
Tier 4 rules have been introduced in light of these critical circumstances.
Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary has said that the restrictions could last for some months. The first re-assessment will be on 30 December.
Tier 4 areas are listed here.
The Tier 4 Rules
Visit www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-4-stay-at-home for full details.
We must not meet other people indoors unless we live with them, or they are part of our existing support bubble.
Outdoors, we can only meet one person from another household.
These rules will not be relaxed for Christmas.
We can continue to be in a childcare or support bubble with people from other tiers.
You should not leave a Tier 4 area unless for permitted reasons, such as work, education, caring responsibilities, to visit a support bubble or for medical reasons. Someone from a Tier 1, 2 or 3 area should not enter a Tier 4 zone except for the same reasons.
If you meet people you do not live with indoors, such as someone working in your home, you should make sure you let as much fresh air in as you can (for example by opening windows).
We must not leave or be outside of our home except for where we have a specific purpose, or a ‘reasonable excuse’. Click here to read the reasonable excuses.
There is new guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to shield, which can be found here.
Tier 4 Christmas Rules
You cannot form a Christmas bubble in Tier 4. We can only spend Christmas with the people we normally live with, and/or a person who is part of our existing support bubble. If this person is in Tier 1, 2 or 3 you may still see them.
One in three people who have COVID-19 have no symptoms and will be spreading it without realising it. Please consider this before making plans.
If you’re in a childcare bubble
You can continue to use a childcare bubble on 25 December in a Tier 4 area, but only if reasonably necessary for the purposes of childcare and where there are no reasonable alternatives. We cannot meet socially with the other household in your childcare bubble.
Separated parents of children under 18
Children (under-18) whose parents do not live together may be part of both parents’ bubbles. These are the only people who are allowed to be in two bubbles.
Neither household is permitted to join a Christmas bubble with others.
Other circumstances
People may continue to work in other people’s homes where necessary, such as for nannies, cleaners or tradespeople. To reduce risk, they should observe social distancing wherever possible, and where it can be avoided should not go into homes that are hosting Christmas bubbles.
Face mask / covering
To keep yourself and others safe you need to wear your mask correctly and cover both your nose and your mouth.
COVID-19 spreads between people through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person talks, coughs, sneezes or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around them which can infect other people who touch these, then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.
Please remember - Even when you are wearing your mask you still need to stay at least 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people in public places.
Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or using hand sanitiser, regularly throughout the day will reduce the risk of catching the virus.
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Useful links
See the latest Government guidance here gov.uk/coronavirus.
Find COVID-19 Information from the NHS: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
To print and share this, please click "view it as a web page" at the top of this bulletin. This will take you to a web page with the option to print this off at the top.
To share this newsletter on social media sites such as Facebook, please visit our COVID-19 Community Champions website www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/covid-champions where you will find links to this update and previous ones at the bottom of the page. Just copy and paste the link.
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