Latest Update : Thursday 10th September 2020
Following the government announcement yesterday with the update to the current COVID-19 guidelines, we have highlighted the key headlines below:
- Rate of Infection is increasing rapidly at the same trajectory as France
- This rate of infection is now UK wide and not isolated to particular areas
- 20-29 age group has the most significant rate of infection, followed by 30-39 age group
- 17-18 yr olds and 19-21 yr olds are showing a steep rise in cases and positive tests
- Government stated ‘if we act quickly we can see the rate of infection come down quickly’ as shown in Belgium
- 8 deaths today, with 1.2m tests carried out per week
- Testing is being increased
Key Messages / Restrictions
- Key messages on how to deal with transmission – new Gov slogan ‘Hands – Face – Space’;
- Wash hands for 20 secs as before
- Wear a face covering if in enclosed space or with people we have not met before
- Maintain social distance (2m or 1m + mitigation)
- Simplifying rules to make them easier to understand
- Only get an NHS Test if you have the following symptoms;
- A high temperature / fever
- A persistent cough
- Loss of taste or small
- Do not book a test if you do not have symptoms
- Limit social contact and social interactions indoors and outdoors
- Social gatherings above 6 people are banned, both indoors and outdoors
- This includes in people’s homes, pubs, restaurants etc
- This replaces the previous limit of meeting up to 30 people outdoors or 2 households
- Fines will be applied against businesses that are not COVID-19 Secure
- Enforcement to be increased with COVID-19 Marshalls to monitor social distancing
- Hospitality sector to be mandated to take customer details
Exemptions
- The exemptions are;
- If you are already in a household bubble of more than 6 people
- COVID-19 Secure Venues can still welcome more than 6 people, but individual groups cannot exceed 6 people
- Education settings
- Workplaces – providing they are COVID-19 Secure
Forward Planning – this side of Christmas
- Gov’ pursuing option of ‘mass testing’, which will increase testing with results in 20-90 mins
- Could lead to reduced social distancing and lead to businesses being able to open further
- Unclear how long restrictions will be in place for – depends on rate of infection.
