For up to date information on Coronavirus from the government, NHS and other organisations, please see the links below:
LATEST ANNOUNCEMENTS
Prime Minister confirms move to Step 4 from 19th July 2021 - for details please click here.
To see a copy of the Prime Minister's latest Statement at the Press Conference on 12th July please click here.
Self isolation to be eased for fully vaccinated adults in step 4 - As part of step 4 of the Government’s COVID-19 roadmap, double vaccinated people will no longer be legally required to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. For further details please click here.
To see a copy of the Prime Minister's Statement on 14th June 2021 please click here.
INFORMATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT
For the latest (COVID-19) Coronavirus restrictions: what you can and cannot do please click here.
Changes from 21 June 2021
- Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies can be attended by as many people as social distancing allows at the venue, to minimise the risk of COVID-19.
- Commemorative events can be attended by as many people as social distancing allows.
- Out-of-school groups, such as Brownies, Scouts and Duke of Edinburgh, will now be able to have overnight trips in groups of up to 30 children.
- Care home residents will no longer need to isolate for 14 days after visits outside, except after overnight hospital stays and visits classed as high risk by the care home.
- For weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and commemorative events of more than 30 people, the venue manager or organiser must complete a risk assessment beforehand.
Changes from 17 May 2021
- The rule of six will be extended to indoor areas, which means groups of six or larger if they are from just two households can meet in people’s homes.
- Domestic overnight stays will also be permitted, so long as they follow the same rules.
- Groups of up to 30 will be allowed outdoors.
- Some large events will also be allowed to resume. Indoor events will have a capacity of 1,000, or 50 per cent, whichever is smaller.
- Outdoor events will be capped at 4,000 or 50% capacity.
- Outdoor seated events, such as football matches, will be capped at 10,000 or 25% capacity.
- Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues will be allowed to open indoors, with the rule of six in place inside, and groups of up to 30 outside.
- Venues will still be table service only.
- Indoor entertainment venues like cinemas, theatres and bingo halls will be allowed to reopen, with social distancing measures in place.
- Organised indoor adult sport, such as badminton and indoor tennis, will be allowed to resume, and some gym classes will be allowed again.
- Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions, funerals and wakes.
- This limit will also apply to other types of significant life events including bar mitzvahs and christenings.
- Domestic holidays have been allowed in household groups from 12 April, but from 17 May this will be extended to the rule of six.
Further easing of Covid restrictions confirmed for 17th May - for details please click here.
Changes from 12th April 2021
More businesses will open, but indoor settings should be visited alone, or with household groups. Outside, six people or two households can meet.
• non-essential retail can reopen
• personal care services such as hairdressers and nail salons can reopen, including those provided from a mobile setting
• public buildings such as libraries and community centres can reopen
• outdoor hospitality venues can reopen, with table service only
• most outdoor attractions including zoos, theme parks, and drive-in performances (such as cinemas and concerts) can reopen
• some smaller outdoor events such as fetes, literary fairs, and fairgrounds can take place
• indoor leisure and sports facilities can reopen for individual exercise, or exercise with your household or support bubble
• all childcare and supervised activities are allowed indoors (as well as outdoors) for all children. Parent and child groups can take place indoors (as well as outdoors) for up to 15 people (children under 5 will not be counted in this number)
• weddings, civil partnership ceremonies, wakes and other commemorative events can take place for up to 15 people (anyone working is not included in this limit), including in indoor venues that are permitted to open or where an exemption applies. Wedding receptions can also take place for up to 15 people, but must take place outdoors, not including private gardens
• self-contained accommodation can stay open for overnight stays in England with your household or support bubble
• care home residents will be able to nominate two named individuals for regular indoor visits (following a rapid lateral flow test)
• you should continue to work from home if you can and minimise the amount that you travel where possible
Changes from 29th March 2021
Social contact
• Outdoor gatherings (including in private gardens) of either 6 people or 2 households will be allowed.
Business and activities
• Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and open-air swimming pools, will be allowed to reopen.
• People will be able to take part in formally organised outdoor sports.
Travel
• You should continue to work from home where you can and minimise the number of journeys you make where possible, avoiding travel at the busiest times and routes.
• Travel abroad will continue to be prohibited, other than for a small number of permitted reasons.
• Holidays abroad will not be allowed.
Find out more about the roadmap out of lockdown on the Government website here
LATEST ANNOUNCEMENTS & RESTRICTIONS
Prime Minister sets out roadmap to cautiously ease lockdown restrictions - for details please click here. Please see the posters below:
ROADMAP TO RECOVERY
Please see below the posters detailing the gradual ease out of national lockdown.
PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS & INFORMATION
Across the UK people are playing their part and providing essential support to their friends and family who are in isolation. To find out how to help safely please click here.
New legal duty to self-isolate comes into force on 28th September - for more details click here.
Face coverings are now mandatory in shops, supermarkets, shopping centres and enclosed transport hubs - please click here for details.
This page sets out key FAQs to inform the public and let you know what you can and can't do: .https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do
VACCINATIONS
To see the Covid-19 Vaccination: Guide for Adults please click here
To see an information on the COVID-19 vaccines available please click here.
To view easy-to-read leaflets Covid-19 vaccination leaflets please click here.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
To see the latest information on meeting others safely (social distancing) please click here.
VULNERABLE PEOPLE
For updated information for shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 please click here.
Central government support for those who are high risk: Central government are offering support for people who are high risk and considered to be extremely vulnerable. They can register for support from the government here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable. The central government contact number for those who are high risk is 0800 0288327.
Someone is extremely vulnerable if they:
• have had a solid organ transplant
• have lung cancer, and you’re getting active chemotherapy or radical radiotherapy
• have cancer of the blood or bone marrow, at any stage of treatment - for example, leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma
• have any cancer for which you’re getting immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments
• have any cancer for which you’re getting a targeted treatment which can affect the immune system - for example, protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
• have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or are still taking immunosuppression drugs
• have a severe respiratory condition - including cystic fibrosis, severe asthma or severe COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
• have a rare disease or inborn error of metabolism that significantly increases your risk of infection - for example SCID or homozygous sickle cell
• are getting an immunosuppression therapy that’s sufficient to significantly increase your risk of infection
• are pregnant, and have a significant congenital or acquired heart disease
SIGN UP TO GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
Government Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp: The UK Government has launched a GOV.UK Coronavirus Information service on WhatsApp. This free to use service aims to provide official, trustworthy and timely information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19). For further details please click here.
For all Government information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public
TRAVEL & TRANSPORT
For the latest information on safer travel guidance please click here.
New rules on face coverings from Monday, 15th June 2020 will help keep passengers safe - please see here for details.
WORKING
For guidance on working safely during Coronavirus please click here.
POSSIBLE INFECTION
For guidance for households with possible Coronavirus infection please click here.
For guidance to parents and guardians on when you should book a coronavirus test for your child please click here.
FUNERALS
For the latest guidelines on the safe conduct on funerals please click here.
NHS
NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Think you have symptoms?
Do not go to a GP, pharmacy or hospital. Find out what to do if you think you have symptoms here.
NHS Test and Trace
To find out how the NHS Test and Trace works please click here.
Download the new NHS COVID-19 app from www.covid19.nhs.uk. The new app is part of the NHS Test and Trace service and will be used, alongside traditional contact tracing, to notify users if they come into contact with someone who later tests positive for coronavirus. The app allows people to report symptoms, order a coronavirus test, and check in to venues by scanning a QR code.
It also helps the NHS trace app users who have spent time near other app users, who they may not personally know, and who later test positive for coronavirus. It does this by tracking the virus, not individuals. When you first download the app, it asks for your postcode district (in common to thousands of people) which helps the app work out where the virus is spreading. It cannot be used to identify you, track you or to check if you are self-isolating. If you have been advised by the app to self-isolate, the app provides a countdown timer so that you can keep track of how long you need to self-isolate. Please see further details here: https://www.covid19.nhs.uk./
Information for children to help them understand what Coronavirus is, the importance of hand washing and how to help stop the virus spreading is available on the Public Health England website. Find out more here.
Central & North West London, the NHS Trust who supply district nursing, mental health, occupational therapy, addiction and many other community services in Milton Keynes have updated their current guidance on service availability here: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/news/coronavirus-service-updates
You can contact the NHS for help online here.
Help from NHS Volunteer Responders
If you’re shielding and need help with essential food or medication, call the NHS Volunteer Responders on 0808 196 3646. Please get in touch now.
LOCAL INFORMATION
Community Action MK
Community Action:MK have published a list of groups helping out in local areas - please see here.
Community Action:MK are offering online support to community groups during the present crisis -. please see here.
THE PARKS TRUST
Use of the parks
We are pleased that parks and green spaces can continue to be enjoyed safely with some restrictions in place. Head to our website for the full guidance: https://www.theparkstrust.com/our-work/our-policies/statement-on-coronavirus/
The Parks Trust would like to remind everyone to please stay safe in the parks and follow the latest Government guidelines.
The Parks Trust play areas are open with restrictions in place. If you decide to use the play equipment, please ensure you are following the guidance and restrictions in place.
OTHER LOCAL ORGANISATIONS
Healthwatch Milton Keynes: https://www.healthwatchmiltonkeynes.co.uk/news/2020-03-18/milton-keynes-and-covid-19
The Mayor of Milton Keynes has been posting updates about the impact of coronavirus on Milton Keynes on his Facebook page. You can find the updates at: https://www.facebook.com/MayorMK/
Milton Keynes Community Foundation: https://www.mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk/news-events/milton-keynes-community-foundation-news/2020/covid-19-update. For further details about MK Community Foundation's Covid-19 MK Emergency Respense Appeal click here.
ALLOTMENT PLOT HOLDERS
Please see The National Allotment Society's Covid 19 Emergency Measures here. Please note that when using the allotments the lock should be cleaned before and after each use. We kindly ask that allotment holders adhere to social distancing rules.