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31 December 2020
The Government has announced tighter COVID-19 restrictions in Plymouth due to the rising number of cases locally and nationally and the threat posed by the new variant of the virus.
Plymouth, alongside Cornwall, Devon and Torbay, moves from a Tier 2 to a Tier 3 Very High Alert area from today. This means that:
- Pubs and restaurants have to close but can provide takeaway, drive through and delivery services.
- Mixing with other households indoors, or most outdoor places, apart from support bubbles, is not allowed. You can meet in groups of up to six in parks and public gardens.
- Museums, including The Box, and indoor entertainment venues are closed.
- Accommodation, including hotels and B&Bs, must close.
Shops can remain open, as can libraries, places of worship and gyms (though exercise classes cannot take place).
Plymouth’s Household Recycling Centres at Chelson Meadow and Weston Mill will remain open.
The Government says travelling outside tier three areas should be avoided, other than where necessary, such as for work or education.
Councillor Tudor Evans, leader of the Council and Chair of Plymouth’s Local Outbreak Engagement Board, said: “While we absolutely have to take action to stop the virus spreading and get the number of cases down, the announcement of further restrictions will be a bitter disappointment for many businesses.
“It is really important that we all get behind the measures and work together to get the number of cases down, so the restrictions are in place for as short a time as possible.”
 The tier change comes after the rate of COVID-19 cases in Plymouth more than doubled this month, even taking into account the recent Royal Navy cases that were included in the city's figures.
Today there are 208.7 cases per 100,000 people which compares to less than 50 cases per 100,000 people on 8 December.
Ruth Harrell, Director of Public Health for Plymouth, said: “Plymouth is still in a better position than many other parts of the country – and this is reflected in the higher restrictions elsewhere – but the speed of the increase in cases has been a real concern. We must make sure we benefit from the additional new restrictions by working together to reduce the number of cases.
"This will only happen if everyone gets behind it and treats this virus as seriously as they should, especially in the knowledge that the new variant spreads even more easily. While we don’t know for sure whether we have this new variant in Plymouth, it is spreading across the country and so we have to take every precaution.
“We know that the virus spreads in the couple of days before people develop symptoms, so it is safest to behave as if you might have it and be rigorous in following hands, face, space measures at all times.”
The Government has announced changes to the plans for the return of secondary school pupils.
During the first week of term on 4 January secondary schools and colleges will now only be open to vulnerable children and children of critical workers.
Children in exam years (Year 11 and 13) will return to face-to-face learning in school the following week (January 11), while other pupils will be back in school on Monday 18 January.
Parents of primary school pupils should return their children to school as usual.
The Government also announced that during the first week of term, secondary schools and colleges will prepare to test as many staff and students for COVID-19 as possible.
The fuller scale of testing will then begin the following week, prioritising pupils in exam years. Parents will be contacted by schools to give their consent for their secondary aged children’s Covid test.
Useful links
Book a test for COVID-19
NHS coronavirus (COVID-19) website
Plymouth City Council's COVID-19 website
Advice for businesses on Invest in Plymouth
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