UK Government Guidance

Update

Guidance for people previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 was updated on 1 April 2022 here.

The Prime Minister has announced an end to all remaining Covid restrictions in England, including the legal requirement to self-isolate.

In its place, the government has put forward a Living with Covid Plan .

The changes will not automatically apply across the rest of the UK unless the other nations choose to adopt them.

From 21 February:

staff and students in most education and childcare settings without symptoms no longer have to test twice weekly

From 24 February:

• people with Covid will no longer be legally required to self-isolate
• guidance will remain in place for those who test positive to stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least five full days
• self-isolation support payments of £500 for those on low incomes will no longer be available
• routine contact tracing will end – people in contact with someone with Covid will no longer be advised to self-isolate or take daily tests
• workers will no longer be required to tell their employer if they need to self-isolate

From 1 April:

• Covid tests will no longer be free for most people
• the use of Covid passports will no longer be recommended, except for international travel
• employers will no longer have to consider Covid as a separate risk when working out how to keep employees safe

For the latest infomation see GOV.UK.

Guidance on how to stay safe and avoid the spread of Coronavirus has been updated and is available here. If you were previously identified as ‘Clinically Extremely Vulnerable’ the government says you you should continue to follow their guidance and take advice from your health professional on whether additional precautions are right for you.

Inclusion North has produced this information in Easy Read.

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The Prime Minister has announced that England’s Plan B measures will end on * Thursday January 27th*.

In a statement to MPs in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister said:

• Mandatory Covid passports for entering nightclubs and large events would end
• People would no longer be advised to work from home and should discuss their return to offices with employers
• Face masks will no longer be mandatory, though people are still advised to wear coverings in enclosed or crowded spaces and when meeting strangers
• Secondary school pupils will no longer have to wear face masks in classrooms and government guidance on their use in communal areas would be removed “shortly”

View Press Release on GOV.UK

From Monday 17 January, people with COVID-19 in England can end their self-isolation after 5 full days, as long as they test negative on day 5 and day 6.

4 Jan 2022 It is recommended that secondary school pupils wear face coverings in classrooms. This is a temporary measure.

The COVID19 self-isolation guidance has been updated, including using lateral flow tests to reduce the self-isolation period from 10 to 7 days: https://gov.uk/government/news/self-isolation-for-covid-19-cases-reduced-from-10-to-7-days-following-negative-lfd-tests

Accessing Covid Tests
The test booking site is currently very busy. If you struggle to order a Lateral Flow Test or a PCR Test, please be patient and try again later.

If you continue to have problems booking a PCR at a Covid Test Site, try ordering a home test kit to be delivered to your home.

Testing sites are open across the festive period, visit the Government site for more information and to see the opening times for 119
https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term==

The situation is changing rapidly due to the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus. Please see the latest information in date order below:

On 12 December the Prime Minister gave an address to the nation on booster jabs.

The government has moved to Plan B in England and the new measures include:-

• You must wear a face covering ( unless you are exempt ) in most indoor public places, at large venues and events, and on public transport.

• From 13 December, you should work from home if you can.

• From 15 December you’ll need to show your NHS COVID Pass at nightclubs, some venues and large events to show you’re fully vaccinated, have had a negative test result in the last 48 hours, or you have an exemption.

• If you’re a contact of someone who may have been infected with the Omicron variant, you must self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of your age, vaccination status or any negative test results.

You can apply for a payment of £500 if you are employed or self-employed and will lose income because you must self-isolate or look after a child who needs to isolate. Find out more and apply here.

View Easy Read Information from Inclusion North.

From 30 Nov 2021 it is compulsory for people in England to wear a face covering on all public transport, including taxis and private hire vehicles and in shops ( and public facing areas ). The new ruling has been put in place by the UK government to limit the spread of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant that was first detected in South Africa last week. Omicron has since been detected in England and Scotland, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.

Students in year 7 and above should wear face masks in communal areas, the Department for Education has told schools and colleges in England.

View New Variant Community Information

SheffNews Covid-19
https://sheffnews.com/category/covid-19

The latest guidance is on

GOV.UK

Easy Read information about the changes is available from Inclusion North.

COVID-19 remains a serious health risk and government advice is to stay cautious to help protect yourself and others.

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The Government has issued new guidance on the COVID-19 response in an Autumn and Winter Plan 2021 for England.

Plan A concentrates on:-

an enhanced vaccination programme

• Maximising uptake of the vaccine among those that are eligible but have not yet taken up the offer.
• Offering booster doses to individuals who received vaccination in Phase 1 of the COVID-19 vaccination programme (priority groups 1-9).
• Offering a first dose of vaccine to 12-15 year olds.=

and a continuation of Test and Trace plus safer behaviours and actions that reduce the spread of COVID-19 amongst other measures.

If the data suggests the NHS is likely to come under unsustainable pressure, the Government has prepared a Plan B which they hope not to implement.

• Communicating clearly and urgently to the public that the level of risk has increased, and with it the need to behave more cautiously.
• Introducing mandatory vaccine-only COVID-status certification in certain settings.
• Legally mandating face coverings in certain settings.Plan B

You can view an Easy Read version of the plans from Inclusion North here

On 19 July we reached the final phase of the government’s roadmap to come out of lockdown. Subject to a few final checks the Covid legal restriction will be coming to an end in England So what does that mean in practice? We’ve produced two videos on YouTube to help you to understand the changes.

Our first video is about Opening Up

Our second video provides information for Clinically Extremely Vulnerable People Who Have Been Shielding

You can read guidance about Coronavirus:how to stay safe and help prevent the spread from 19 July on GOV.UK here.

Guidance on Shielding and Protecting People who are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable from COVID-19
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

In England from 21 June, there’s a 4-week pause at Step 3 of the roadmap. After 2 weeks, the government will review the data to see if the risks have reduced. It’s expected that England will move to Step 4 on 19 July. See recent and upcoming changes

Roadmap out of Lockdown
The Government’s roadmap out of lockdown moves onto a further stage on Monday 17 May as part of the country’s slow easing out of Covid restrictions. indoor hospitality including restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes will open. People will be able to meet indoors with up to 6 people or 2 households (each household can include a support bubble) and outdoor gatherings of up to 30 people are now allowed. However a new COVID-19 variant is spreading in some parts of England and the government is urging caution during this phase in order to continue to stay safe.

This decision was planned as part of the COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021 setting up the roadmap out of lockdown.
The government will continue to monitor all of the evidence and adjust this advice should there be any changes in infection rates.

Sheffnews provides a local update and Sheffield City Council has a page summarising rules and restrictions.

Coronavirus Restrictions: What You Can and Can’t Do
Keep up to date with changes in restrictions as they are announced.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

Over 3.79 million clinically extremely vulnerable people in England have been informed that they are no longer advised to shield to protect themselves from Coronavirus from Thursday April 1st. However they have been advised to continue taking extra precautions. These steps include continuing to maintain strict social distancing and keeping overall social contacts at low levels, including working from home where possible. Priority supermarket delivery slots will continue to be available until 21 June 2021.

You can see the government advice here.

Roadmap Easy Read Guide from Mencap
https://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-03/road%20map%20intro%20updated.pdf

Support for Extremely Vulnerable
You can use this service to get access to priority supermarket deliveries, ask for someone to contact you about any local support that’s available, update your details – for example, your address
You can register yourself, or on behalf of someone else.
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-shielding-support

Making a Support Bubble with Another Household
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-support-bubble-with-another-household

Face Coverings: When to Wear One and How to Make Your Own
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

General Information for the public
The Government’s latest guidance appears in date order and you can use the search facility to look for specific guidance on a particular topic.
https://www.gov.uk/search/all?topical_events%5B%5D=coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response&order=updated-newest

British Sign Language Versions of Government Advice
https://www.signhealth.org.uk/coronavirus/

Adult Social Care: our COVID-19 Winter Plan 2020 to 2021
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-coronavirus-covid-19-winter-plan-2020-to-2021/adult-social-care-our-covid-19-winter-plan-2020-to-2021