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26 November 2020
Plymouth will be a Tier 2, ‘High Alert' area when the national lockdown ends on Wednesday 2 December.
As the lockdown restrictions end, shops, indoor leisure, entertainment, places of worship and hotels can all open in a COVID-secure way.
Pubs and bars can only open if they are operating as restaurants and alcohol can only be served with a substantial meal. Venues must stop taking orders at 10pm and close by 11pm.
In High Alert areas mixing households indoors, apart from support bubbles, is not allowed and the rule of six applies when meeting outdoors.
Most City Council services have continued to operate during the lockdown but those that had to close, such as libraries and The Box, will re-open with COVID-secure measures in place to keep visitors safe.
 The number of COVID-19 cases in Plymouth has been falling over the last week, ending the rapid increase we have seen since the beginning of October.
This is a welcome trend and reflects the impact of the lockdown and the number of people following the measures to stay safe – staying at home, washing hands, wearing face coverings and social distancing.
The impact can be seen in the graph above which shows that during the week ending 20 November there were 362 new cases confirmed in Plymouth, a decrease on the previous week’s total of 613.
The downward trend is also reflected in the graph below which shows the rate of cases per 100,000 people. Today’s rate is 119 cases per 100,000, compared to well over 200 a week ago.
While Plymouth remains well below the national average, it will be important that we continue with the efforts to reduce the number of cases as we emerge from the lockdown.
We will be asking people not to let their guards down as shops and restaurants open up again, especially in the busy lead-up to Christmas.
The virus spreads very easily in confined indoor spaces and we will be urging people not to break the rules on mixing with other households.
The main messages remain the same:
- Wash your hands
- Wear a face covering
- Keep your distance from others
- Increase ventilation in enclosed spaces
- Isolate and get tested if you have symptoms
The latest COVID-19 figures for Plymouth are published on the City Council's Twitter and Facebook pages each day. The weekly rates are also published on the Council website each Wednesday.
Getting a test for COVID-19 is easier for Plymouth residents as local test centres are now open in the city centre and at Plymouth Marjon University.
The centres are in addition to the regional test centre at the former Seaton Barracks site off William Prance Road.
The city centre site is in the lower Guildhall and was selected as it is easier for many people to get to without using a car. Anyone going for a test is asked to walk or cycle to and from the site and not use public transport or taxis.
The centre at Plymouth Marjon University is in the lower car park outside the gymnasium and is separated from the rest of the campus.
Testing is available only for those with coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste.
Anyone with one or more of these symptoms should book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. The three Plymouth centres are provided as an option when booking a test, subject to availability.
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More information about COVID-19 in Plymouth, including answers to frequently asked questions, is available on the City Council website:
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