COVID-19 Update
While cases are high and rising, everybody needs to continue to act carefully and remain cautious. This is why we are keeping in place key protections:
- testing when you have symptoms and targeted asymptomatic testing in education, high risk workplaces and to help people manage their personal risk.
- isolating when positive or when contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
- border quarantine: for all arriving from red list countries and for those people not fully vaccinated arriving from amber list countries.
- cautious guidance for individuals, businesses and the vulnerable whilst prevalence is high including:
- whilst Government is no longer instructing people to work from home if they can, Government would expect and recommend a gradual return over the summer
- Government expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded areas such as public transport;
- being outside or letting fresh air in
- minimising the number, proximity and duration of social contacts.
- encouraging and supporting businesses and large events to use the NHS COVID Pass in high risk settings. The Government will work with organisations where people are likely to be in close proximity to others outside their household to encourage the use of this. If sufficient measures are not taken to limit infection, the Government will consider mandating certification in certain venues at a later date.
Although most legal restrictions have been lifted at step 4, and many people have been vaccinated, it is still possible to catch and spread COVID-19, even if you are fully vaccinated, and we are still in the third wave of this pandemic in the UK.
COVID-19 will be a feature of our lives for the foreseeable future, so we need to learn to live with it and manage the risk to ourselves and others.
As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, it is important that we all use personal judgement to manage our own risk. All of us can play our part by exercising common sense and considering the risks. While no situation is risk free, there are actions we can take to protect ourselves and others around us. Following this guidance will help you stay safe and protect others by controlling the spread. Every action to help reduce the spread will reduce any further resurgence of the virus in the coming months.
Lifting restrictions
Most legal restrictions to control COVID-19 have been lifted at step 4. This means that:
- You do not need to stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with. There are also no limits on the number of people you can meet.
- However, in order to minimise risk at a time of high prevalence, you should limit the close contact you have with those you do not usually live with, and increase close contact gradually. This includes minimising the number, proximity and duration of social contacts.
- You should meet outdoors where possible and let fresh air into homes or other enclosed spaces.
- The Government is no longer instructing people to work from home if they can. However, the Government expects and recommends a gradual return over the summer.
- The requirement to wear face coverings in law has been lifted. However, the Government expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded areas such as public transport.
- There are no longer limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, civil partnerships, funerals and other life events (including receptions and celebrations). There is no requirement for table service at life events, or restrictions on singing or dancing. You should follow guidance for weddings and funerals to reduce risk and protect yourself and others.
- There are no longer restrictions on group sizes for attending communal worship. COVID-19 has not gone away, so it’s important to remember the actions you can take to keep yourself and others safe. Everybody needs to continue to act carefully and remain cautious.
Businesses and venues
All remaining closed businesses and venues such as nightclubs and adult entertainment venues are able to reopen. All capacity limits at sporting, entertainment, or business events have been lifted.
Hospitality venues such as pubs, restaurants and bars are no longer required to provide table service or follow other social distancing rules.
All businesses should follow the principles set out in the working safely guidance. Whilst the Government is no longer instructing people to work from home if they can, the Government would expect and recommend a gradual return over the summer.
Employers still have a legal duty to manage risks to those affected by their business. The way to do this is to carry out a health and safety risk assessment, including the risk of COVID-19, and to take reasonable steps to mitigate the risks you identify. Working Safely guidance sets out a range of mitigations employers should consider including:
- cleaning surfaces that people touch regularly
- identifying poorly-ventilated areas in the venue and taking steps to improve air flow
- ensuring that staff and customers who are unwell do not attend the workplace or venue
- communicating to staff and customers the measures you have put in place.
We encourage organisations in certain settings to use the NHS COVID Pass as a condition of entry, in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19. This will especially be the case in large, crowded settings (such as nightclubs) where people are likely to be in close proximity to others outside their household.
To support organisations and individuals in these settings, the NHS COVID Pass will be made available through the NHS App, NHS.UK, or as a letter that can be requested by ringing NHS 119. Visitors will also be able to show text or email confirmation of test results. Organisations should ensure they are in compliance with all legal obligations, including on equalities.
There are some settings where the NHS COVID Pass should not be used as a condition of entry, in order to ensure access for all. This includes essential services and essential retailers which have been able to stay open throughout the pandemic.
Businesses are also encouraged to continue displaying QR codes for customers wishing to check in using the NHS COVID-19 app, or to continue collecting customer contact details to support NHS Test and Trace, however this will no longer be a legal requirement.
LATEST NEWS FROM THE UK GOVERNMENT
Companies urged to file accounts early and online to avoid delays
If you’re due to file accounts with Companies House by the end of September, use our online services where possible and allow plenty of time before your deadline.
International travel update: new destinations added to government travel lists
Montenegro and Thailand will move to the red list 4am Monday 30 August. The Azores, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania and Switzerland will move to the green list.
Prime Minister urges caution as England moves to Step 4
England has moved to Step 4 of the Roadmap.
LATEST PRESS CONFERENCES FROM THE UK GOVERNMENT
ROTHERHAM COUNCIL
LATEST NEWS FROM ROTHERHAM COUNCIL
Nice to See You’ at the new-look Rotherham Civic Theatre
It will be curtain up at a new-look Rotherham Civic Theatre for the first time in 18 months on 3rd September.
It’s been a rollercoaster 18 months for the 60 year-old venue which, along with Theatres across the UK, was forced to close at the outbreak of the pandemic. The theatre has had to cancel or postpone scores of shows, with some staff redeployed to roles at Rotherham Council to support the Covid-relief effort.
Relocated Dinnington test site set to open
Rotherham Council has moved quickly to secure a replacement Covid testing site in Dinnington, which will open tomorrow (Thursday 26 August).
A welcome return for the Rotherham Show
The biggest cultural event in our town’s calendar – the Rotherham Show – is back at Clifton Park from 3 to 5 September 2021.
BARNSLEY COUNCIL
LATEST NEWS FROM BARNSLEY COUNCIL
Message from Julia Burrows, Barnsley Director of Public Health – 27 August 2021
In addition to the message around a safe return to schools for children and young people this week from my colleague Mel John Ross I’d like to extend some of these health and wellbeing messages to older residents too.
First projects from £23.1m Towns Fund investment complete
The first wave of projects as part of more than £23.1m investment in Goldthorpe, Thurnscoe and Bolton upon Dearne through the Towns Fund have been completed.
An exciting and ambitious £23.1m investment in the future of the Dearne was approved by the government in March. It followed the submission of a Town Investment Plan prepared by the Goldthorpe Town Board designed to help attract jobs and economic investment to the area, improve the local street scene and attractiveness of the High Street, improve local housing and develop better transport links.
Barnsley Youth Zone to be first of its kind in Yorkshire
Exciting plans for a state-of-the-art OnSide Youth Zone, funded by Barnsley Council and corporate and private sponsors including the town’s largest private employer, ASOS, were approved by Barnsley Council’s Cabinet earlier today.
