There were 662 lab confirmed cases of coronavirus in Portsmouth in the last 7 days.
We don't know what will happen on 2 December, but we do know that we're seeing similar rates of infection that places like Liverpool and Blackpool saw in the weeks before they moved to Very High restrictions locally. We're seeing more cases in the most vulnerable groups, and hospital admissions are increasing too.
We don't have a crystal ball, and we can't predict the future. But if cases keep increasing at this rate, we're going to experience tighter restrictions for longer. That could potentially mean no pubs, restaurants or cafes, no nail salons, no meeting friends and families indoors.
As we reach the halfway point of these tighter restrictions, it's important that we keep going. To make sure we have the very best chance of seeing a return to the things we love we have to keep following the rules and looking out for one another.
You can make a difference by:
- Find out when to self-isolate - it's not only people with symptoms
- Understand what you can and can't do
- Find help with everything from getting your shopping to financial support
Self-isolating is much stricter than the instruction to stay at home set out in the current lockdown rules. If you're self-isolating, you should not leave the house for any reason - other than to get a coronavirus test if you have symptoms.
Self-isolating is hard but it is really important to stop others from getting ill. If you don't self-isolate when you should, you will be breaking the law and could be fined.
We know that changing coronavirus restrictions can make it difficult to know what businesses can and can't do.
You can find out about the latest rules for different types of businesses through our website and see how some businesses, like cafes and takeaways, need to trade differently under current restrictions.
Businesses in Portsmouth are working hard to take the right steps to keep staff and customers safe and we're working closely with them to offer help and support. Our covid business compliance officers also visit around 40 businesses in the city each day to look at the safety measures and flag any issues.
If you're worried a business is open when is shouldn't be or is not following the regulations you can tell us on our website. We will investigate and work with that business to make changes.
If you need medical help, the NHS is still here for you - but the way you access support may be different.
Contact your GP online, by an app or by phone to be assessed. If you need urgent medical help, use the NHS 111 online service. If you cannot get help online, call 111. If it’s a serious or life-threatening emergency, call 999.
If you have symptoms of coronavirus and need medical treatment, let your GP practice, NHS 111 call handler or the emergency services know. They will still be able to care for you, but it will be delivered in a different way to keep everyone safe.
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