This isn't the Christmas we planned, and 2020 hasn't been the year that many of us hoped for.

We need to ask you all - once again - to keep abiding by the rules in place for #Portsmouth. There were 721 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Portsmouth in the last seven days - the virus continues to spread rapidly across the city.

Help keep your family, friends and city safe this Christmas by staying home.

If you must leave home, stay local where possible, and remember hands face space.

Thank you for everything you're doing to protect Portsmouth. By sticking to the rules now, we can help make 2021 a brighter year for everyone.

Read the government's rules 

Get local information

Guidance for the festive season

Meeting with others

Under Tier 4 restrictions, you can only meet indoors with people you live with, or people you're in an existing support bubble or where a childcare bubble is essential.

You should only meet indoors with others where it is essential. This new strain spreads even more quickly, and we know coronavirus spreads most quickly indoors. Around 1 in 3 people who have coronavirus have no symptoms and could be spreading it without realising it.

General advice

• Under Tier 4, you can meet indoors with people you live with, people in your support bubble and those you are in a childcare bubble with. There are some exceptions.
• You should only use your childcare bubble for childcare, not for any other purposes - ie to socialise or for an occasion, at any time, including Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.
• If you live in a Tier 4 area and are part of a support bubble or a childcare bubble with someone who lives in a Tier 1, 2 or 3 area, you can continue to meet indoors.
• If you live in a Tier 1, 2 or 3 area and are part of a support bubble or a childcare bubble with someone who lives in a Tier 4 area, you can continue to meet indoors.
• You can maintain contact arrangements for parents and children that live apart. This includes when parents and children live in different tiers. This does not require a bubble to be created.
• If you meet people you do not live with indoors, such as someone working in your home, then you should follow the guidance on meeting others safely including making sure you let as much fresh air in as you can (for example by opening windows). Follow the guidance on meeting others safely.

Meeting people at Christmas 

The bullet points above also apply on Christmas Day, but you should also remember: 

• People in Tier 4 areas cannot form a Christmas bubble with other households under any circumstances.
• You can maintain contact arrangements for parents and children that live apart, including Christmas Day. This includes when parents and children live in different tiers. This does not require a bubble to be created.

As before, there will be no relaxation on 31 December - these rules apply at New Year.

Read the full guidance here

Travel safely

The overriding advice is to stay home as much as possible.

If you need to travel stay local and avoid unnecessary journeys.

Please follow all parking restrictions as it is important that emergency services and key workers can access all parts of the city.

You must not leave the Tier 4 area unless for permitted reasons, which include: 

• work, where you cannot work from home
• accessing education and for caring responsibilities
• visiting those in your support bubble - or your childcare bubble for childcare
• visiting hospital, GP and other medical appointments or visits where you have had an accident or are concerned about your health
• buying goods or services from premises that are open in Tier 4 areas, including essential retail, but these should be within your local area wherever possible
• outdoor recreation or exercise. This should be done locally wherever possible, but you can travel a short distance within your Tier 4 area to do so if necessary (for example, to access an open space)
• attending the care and exercise of an animal, or veterinary services.

Tier 4 travel info

Testing centres are staying open

COVID-19 testing centres remain open throughout Christmas and New Year - so if you have any symptoms of the virus, book a test.

With cases on the rise, it's so important to get tested if you are experiencing symptoms.

If you, or anyone in your household, are experiencing the following symptoms, book a test straight away.

• A high temperature
• A new, continuous cough
• A loss of, or change to, your sense of taste or smell

You can book online or call 119.

Find out more

Advice for clinically extremely vulnerable people

If you have been told by your GP or the NHS that you are clinically extremely vulnerable you should receive a letter with the new advice for you in Tier 4.

If you are a clinically extremely vulnerable person living or working in a Tier 4 area like Portsmouth the Government is advising:

• you should work from home. If you cannot work from home, you are advised not to go to work and may be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit
• you should stay at home as much as possible, except to go outdoors for exercise or to attend health appointments
• you may wish to meet up with one other person from outside your household or support bubble, for example, to exercise in an outdoor public place, but you are advised to try to do so as safely as possible
• you should follow the advice set out in the shielding section of the government guidance for clinically extremely vulnerable people.

This guidance will apply for clinically extremely vulnerable people in Tier 4 until 18 January 2021, even if Portsmouth is placed in a different tier before then. The guidance will be reviewed again in January.

If you need help to take extra precautions you can register for support on gov.uk

If you are in need of additional support please visit the HIVE Portsmouth directory of services. If you can't register online or are in urgent need of help, you can call the HIVE Portsmouth community helpline on 023 9261 6709  - but it will be closed:

• between 4pm on 23 December and 9am on 28 December, and
• between 4pm on 31 December and 9am on 4 January.

When the helpline is closed HIVE Portsmouth will continue to check social media messages and may refer you to other organisations that can offer you support. You can Find HIVE Portsmouth via @HIVEPortsmouth on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and send them a direct message.

How to get help if you need it

Opening hours for many of our services over the festive period – including the Civic Offices – are:

• 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 December – closed
• 29, 30, 31 December – open
• 1, 2, 3 January – closed.

Opening hours

This can be a difficult time of year for many, even more so this year. Though some of our services will be closed, if you or your family are struggling over the festive period, help is at hand - you're not alone. We've pulled together information on mental wellbeing, access to food, information for rough sleepers, victims of domestic abuse and money advice.

Find out more

Changes to rubbish and recycling collections

Your rubbish and recycling collection dates have been revised over the festive period and your new dates can be found below.

Normal scheduled collections will resume on Monday 11 January 2021. 

Please put your rubbish and recycling out by 7am. If you miss your collection, you can take it to the Port Solent Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) by booking a slot. Please note, the HWRC will be closed 25, 26 December & 1 January. 

Find your collection day

Have your say

Coronavirus has clearly had a massive impact on us all this year.

The latest announcement of Tier 4 and Christmas restrictions are a huge disappointment for many people.

As the challenges of the pandemic continue, we think it's important to understand the real impact on households in Portsmouth. This will help to shape our priorities and budget plans as we head into 2021. If you can, please take part in our online survey by 28 December.

Take part

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