Context: Due to the high and rising infection rate in Leeds, the government has introduced additional local restrictions for the city, some of which are enforceable. These measures are on top of the recent national regulations announced, including hospitality changes. The relevant gov.uk page is West Yorkshire restrictions. Whilst these additional local restrictions are important to help slow down the spread of the virus, they are only one aspect of the actions we can take. The important advice continues to be: -- Keep a safe distance wherever you can -- Wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds -- Cover your face in enclosed spaces -- Isolate when you need to/are advised to -- Only get a test if you have coronavirus symptoms -- Get the App now that it is available, and get a QR code if you run any venues -- Be aware of the penalties for breaking the rules Everyone has a responsibility to do their bit to help limit the spread – please play your part and encourage others to do the same. We need more people, to do more of the right thing, more of the time, because they choose to. Who do these restrictions apply to? The government restrictions apply to the whole city even if you don’t have an LS postcode – if your wheelie bin gets emptied by Leeds City Council – they apply to you. Full details on the restrictions and the areas across West Yorkshire that are affected can be found here.
Why is all of Leeds included and not just wards with the highest infection rates? The current evidence shows that Covid-19 is present in all wards in the city, with over half of the wards have significant levels of cases over 100 per 100,000. It is also likely that Leeds, and the country as a whole, is in the upturn of the second wave of the virus, and so any wards with relatively smaller numbers of cases can easily turn very quickly into higher levels of infection. Analysis of infection rates in different wards in the city over recent weeks reveals that the level of the virus in different wards is very dynamic, so it is therefore possible that a ward with a relatively low level of cases can quickly become one with higher levels. In essence things can change quickly and more localised restrictions would be even more confusing leading to less compliance. Additionally, we believe that the government are moving away from that approach of restrictions below a local authority level. When are these government restrictions applicable from? The government restrictions are applicable from midnight on Friday 25 September.
How long will these additional restrictions from government be applied to Leeds? We monitor cases daily in Leeds to inform our local action, and weekly through our partnership arrangements. Additionally the restrictions will be regularly reviewed by government, depending on infection rates, but it is unlikely that they will be removed quickly. The recent additional national restrictions are expected to be in place for 6 months. How do the additional government restrictions affect me, my family and my friends? If you live in Leeds, in order to help prevent the spread of coronavirus you must not: -- host people you do not live with in your home or garden, unless they’re in your support or childcare bubble -- meet people you do not live with in their home or garden, whether inside or outside the affected local areas, unless they’re in your support or childcare bubble. Your household is defined as the people you live with and any support or childcare bubble. A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household. Households within a bubble can still visit each other, stay overnight, and visit public places together. You may be able to link with one other household to form a Childcare Support Bubble. You can form a childcare support bubble if you: -- have a child who is 13 or under -- need help with childcare -- are not in another childcare support bubble You can have one support bubble and one childcare support bubble. You can be fined for ignoring these restrictions. Are these additional restrictions law or advice? Currently household mixing within the home or garden is law and enforceable, apart from the exemptions listed below. Household mixing in other places e.g. pubs, parks etc. is government advice. What are the exemptions for when people can still come inside your home or garden for specific purposes? These are set out in law and are as follows: -- where everyone in the gathering lives together or is in the same support bubble -- to attend a birth at the mother’s request -- to visit a person who is dying (the visitor can be someone the dying person lives with, a close family member, friend or, if none of those is visiting, anyone else) -- to fulfil a legal obligation -- for work purposes, (see guidance on working safely in other people’s homes or for the provision of voluntary or charitable services -- for the purposes of education or training -- for the purposes of childcare provided by a registered provider and informal childcare as part of a childcare bubble -- to provide emergency assistance -- to enable one or more persons in the gathering to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm -- to facilitate a house move -- to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person -- to continue existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children where the children do not live in the same household as their parents, or one of their parents What action can be taken against me? The police will be able to take action against those that break these rules, including asking people to disperse and issuing fixed penalty notices starting at £200 for those who participate in illegal gatherings. People aged 18 or over can be fined: -- £200 for the first offence, lowered to £100 if paid within 14 days -- £400 for the second offence, then doubling for each further offence up to a maximum of £6,400 Can we mix households in other venues and places? If you live in Leeds, the government advises that you should not socialise with people you do not live with, unless they’re in your support bubble, in any public venue.
This applies to inside and outside of the affected areas. Examples of public venues include pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attractions and parks. What should I do if I am a business or organisation in Leeds? If you operate a business or organise events within the affected areas you should take steps to ensure people
do not socialise with people they do not live with, in line with COVID-19 secure guidance. How is travel affected by the government restrictions for Leeds? Currently there are no specific travel restrictions for Leeds, but you should follow all relevant transport guidance when making a journey into, within or out of the areas affected. You must wear a face covering on public transport, taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) and in substantially enclosed areas of transport hubs in England. You be breaking the law if you fail to do so and could be fined. Some people do not have to wear a face covering including for age, health, or disability reasons. Can I car share in Leeds given the additional government restrictions? The government advises that you should try not to share a car with those outside your household or support bubble. If you need to, try to: -- share the car with the same people each time -- keep to small groups of people at any one time -- open windows for ventilation -- travel side by side or behind other people, rather than facing them, where seating arrangements allow -- face away from each other -- consider seating arrangements to maximise distance between people in the vehicle -- clean your car between journeys using standard cleaning products – make sure you clean door handles and other areas that people may touch -- ask the driver and passengers to wear a face covering Can I travel outside the area? You can travel outside your area. However, you must not meet people you do not live with in their home or garden, whether inside or outside of your area, unless they’re in your support bubble. You can still go on holiday outside of your area, but you should only do this with people you live with (or have formed a support bubble with). What about people coming to Leeds on holiday? There is separate guidance on what to do if you have booked holiday accommodation in an area with local restrictions. What if I was shielding because I am classed as clinically extremely vulnerable? If you are clinically extremely vulnerable, the government are not currently advising that you need to shield at home. However, a small number of people who are undergoing active treatment – such as chemotherapy or a recent organ transplant – may be advised individually to shield by their medical team. All people who are clinically vulnerable are strongly advised to take precautions to prevent infection, including limiting the number of overall contacts you make every day from outside the home and working from home where possible. People in this group are also advised to take additional precautions if you live with someone who comes in to contact with a large number of people – such as through attending school, using public transport, in a work place or socialising. This includes that person washing their hands and changing their clothes when they re-enter the home. More advice is available in the national general guidance for clinically extremely vulnerable people or from the Leeds City Council page for the shielding group: www.leeds.gov.uk/shielding Should children who are clinically extremely vulnerable (the shielding group) attend school in Leeds? Yes, but any child who is on the national shielded patient list should have a risk assessment in place for attending school. For most children who are clinically extremely vulnerable it is not deemed clinically necessary to shield at home at the moment and so should attend school – unless on the specific advice of their medical team. This usually applies if they are undergoing chemotherapy or have had a recent organ transplant. If a parent/carer or child is worried about attending school because they are clinically extremely vulnerable, they are advised to discuss this with school and agree any additional measures. Can I play team sport and do physical activity or dance? When exercising outdoors you must not do so in groups of more than 6. In Leeds the Government advice is that you should not exercise with people you do not live with or are not part of your social bubble. Exercising outdoors as part of a group of more than 6, or indoors as part of any group of 2 or more, is only allowed if it is organised or licensed as explained below. You can still take part in an organised team sport or licensed physical activity in groups of: -- more than 6 people outdoors -- up to 6 people indoors Organised team sports for children and disabled people can continue indoors in groups of more than 6.
These activities must be organised by a: -- national governing body -- club -- registered instructor or coach -- business or charity They can also take place if they involve someone who has an official licence to use equipment relevant to the activity. The organiser must carry out a risk assessment and follow COVID-19 secure guidance. The organiser should make sure they are following the: -- indoor sport facilities guidance on GOV.UK -- outdoor sport and recreation guidance on GOV.UK -- Team sports guidance You can find out which sports have published guidance on GOV.UK or by checking with the sport's governing body. For example a dance and exercise classes: Organised dance and exercise classes can take place where more than 6 are present, but you should be part of a separate group of no more than 6 and not mix with any other group. How are weddings and funerals affected by the government restrictions? As of Monday 14 September, in line with the new rules across the whole of England, you must not meet in a group of more than 6 people in any location. Weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and receptions, funerals (including ceremonies at crematoria) and other religious or belief based lifecycle ceremonies are exempt. The Government restrictions for Leeds mean the following applies: -- Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are limited to 15 people from 28 September -- Wedding receptions and celebrations can continue for up to 15 people in the form of a sit-down meal and in a Covid Secure setting from 28 September -- Funerals (including ceremonies at crematoria) are limited to 30 people -- All other religious or belief-based standalone life cycle ceremonies or celebrations are limited to 6 people from 28 September Anyone working at these ceremonies or events are not included as part of the person limit. These events must comply with COVID-19 secure guidance and venue capacity. See detailed guidance for small marriages and civil partnerships. People living outside of these areas can travel to these areas to attend a wedding, civil partnership ceremony or funeral, but they must not meet with another household in a private home or garden. What about religious ceremonies and places of worship? You can attend a regular service at a place of worship. However, you should not mix with people who are not in your household or support bubble. You should: -- keep 2 metres apart from other people -- wear a face covering -- use hand sanitiser Weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and funerals have their own restrictions. If possible, prayer or religious services should take place outdoors. Can I go to work? People living inside and outside of the affected areas can continue to travel in and out for work. Workplaces must implement COVID-19 secure guidance. However, to help contain the virus, office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter. Where an employer, in consultation with their employee, judges an employee can carry out their normal duties from home they should do so. Public sector employees working in essential services, including education settings, should continue to go into work where necessary. Anyone else who cannot work from home should go to their place of work. The risk of transmission can be substantially reduced if COVID-19 secure guidelines are followed closely. Extra consideration should be given to those people at higher risk. Can I move house given the additional government restrictions in Leeds? People can move home. Estate and letting agents as well as removals firms can continue to work and people looking to move home can continue to undertake viewings. How is childcare affected by the additional government restrictions for Leeds? You can continue to use early years and childcare settings, including childminders and providers offering before or after school clubs or other out-of-school settings for children. You can also continue to employ nannies – see guidance on working safely in other people’s homes. The following people can provide childcare support in private homes and gardens: -- Registered childcare providers, including nannies -- People who are in your support bubble -- People who are in your childcare support bubble
Friends or family who do not live with you and are not part of a support or childcare bubble must not visit your home to help with childcare.
A support bubble is where a lone adult household with one adult joins with another household (on an exclusive basis).
You may be able to link with one other household to form a Childcare Support Bubble. You can form a childcare support bubble if you:
-- have a child who is 13 or under
-- need help with childcare
-- are not in another childcare support bubble
You can have one support bubble and one childcare support bubble.
The government recommends that you form a support bubble or childcare support bubble with a household that lives locally wherever possible. This will help to prevent the virus spreading from an area where there might be a higher rate of infection.
Children of parents who are separated can continue to move between households.
Are there any additional implications for schools and colleges?
In education settings where pupils and students in Year 7 and above are educated, face coverings should be worn by staff, visitors and pupils/students when moving around in corridors and communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
It is not necessary to wear face coverings in the classroom where protective measures already mean the risks are lower and they may inhibit teaching and learning.
How do these new government restrictions for Leeds affect universities and higher education?
You can move home and travel in order to attend or work at a university or higher educational establishment. This applies to the whole country, including Leeds.
You should follow all relevant university and higher educational guidance if you attend, work at or manage higher education establishments, including universities and associated accommodation.
The guidance also covers what to do in the event of an outbreak at these establishments. It is important to understand how to minimise risk during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and ensure that the experience of attending or working at these establishments is enjoyable and as safe as possible.
We recognise the pressure of attending or working at these establishments during these uncertain times. There are support services within your university or higher education establishment to help you should you need advice or support.
In addition, we have worked with the Office for Students to provide the Student Space platform, which seeks to bridge gaps in mental support for students arising from this unprecedented situation. It provides a range of information, access to dedicated support services, details of the support available at each university, and tools to help students manage the challenges of their student life.
How do the government’s social contact restrictions affect students?
If you are a student in Leeds, you must not meet or host people you do not live with in private homes or gardens unless they are in your support bubble, please see below to understand how this may affect you.
If you live student halls or official accommodation in Leeds:
-- you must not meet people in a group of more than 6
-- you must not meet people you do not live with in their home or garden, whether inside or outside of the affected areas, unless they’re in your support bubble
-- you should not host people you do not live with in your student halls, unless they’re in your support bubble
-- you should not meet people you do not live with in their student halls, whether inside or outside of the affected areas unless they’re in your support bubble
If you live in private rented accommodation in Leeds:
-- you must not meet people in a group of more than 6.
-- you must not host people you do not live with in your home or garden, unless they’re in your support bubble
-- you must not meet people you do not live with in their home or garden, whether inside or outside of the affected areas, unless they’re in your support bubble
-- you should not meet people you do not live with in their student halls, whether inside or outside of the affected areas unless they’re in your support bubble
You commute into an affected area to attend or work at a university:
-- you must not meet people in a group of more than 6.
-- you must not meet people you do not live with in their home or garden inside one of the affected areas, unless they’re in your support bubble
-- you must not host people you do not live with in your home or garden, if they live in one of the affected areas, unless they’re in your support bubble
-- you should not meet people you do not live with in their student halls, whether inside or outside of one of the affected areas unless they’re in your support bubble
Is there a possibility that university students may be unable to return home for the Christmas holidays?
Currently this is not known and will likely be determined nationally and dependent on infection rates, nearer the time. However, Leeds City Council would not support the idea of students having to stay in their university area for Christmas.
Can people still go on holiday, either within the U.K. or abroad?
This remains the same as the national restrictions and are not affected by any local lockdowns. The main advice will be to not travel or mix with other households, including while you’re on holiday. Please check the government’s website for travel guidance and the latest list of travel corridors.
If a holiday is booked on a UK coach and all social distancing measures are in place, can people still go?
This remains the same as the national restrictions and are not affected by any local restrictions. The main advice will be to not travel or mix with other households, including while you’re there. Please check the government’s website for travel guidance.
Will there be any new measures in place at Leeds Bradford Airport to stop people bringing the virus into the city from abroad?
Currently this is not part of the government’s strategy.
Can community volunteer groups (such as food banks, community litter picks) continue - Including garden makeovers and helping people who have a disabilities and/or older residents?
They are allowed to continue, providing people maintain strict social distancing, including with the residents they are helping. This is set out in law (for the provision of voluntary or charitable services). Government guidance can be found here.
How do I report a breach of the local or national restrictions to the Police?
There are various methods to contact the Police, which can be done from the safety of your own home, including telephone, 101 live chat and online reporting. More details can be found here. Only dial 999 if it is an emergency.
Can local support/charitable groups still go ahead?
This is a complex area and each case maybe slightly different. All cases should be judged against the clear intention of these restrictions being to limit contact, but whilst also trying to avoid a detrimental impact on broader wellbeing. If groups consider the rules allow them to go ahead, then take all additional precautions possible.
For example, small group sessions that offer support for vulnerable residents who live alone, and who do not have access to a support bubble, can go ahead but organisations should be mindful of the need to minimise contact, maintain social distancing of 2m at all times and ensure frequent use of hand sanitiser products. We would advise that group sessions are capped at 6 attendees and should not take place where distancing of 2 m cannot be maintained.
What are the different bubbles and how do they work in practice?
A support bubble is where a lone adult household with one adult joins with another household (on an exclusive basis).
You may be able to link with one other household to form a childcare support bubble. You can form a childcare support bubble if you:
-- have a child who is 13 or under
-- need help with childcare
-- are not in another childcare support bubble
You can have one support bubble and one childcare support bubble.
A bubble in an education setting is specific and only applicable to that setting e.g. school, nursery etc. Given the aim of these restrictions is to limit contact, people should only be in one of each bubble.
Can I visit a friend of family member who is in a care home?
Current government advice is not to visit friends or family in care homes, other than in exceptional circumstances. Care homes should restrict visits to these circumstances. As a city, we are pushing the government for a more compassionate approach that is still safe.
Can I still provide support to an elderly or vulnerable friend or family member? There is an exemption allowing visits to households to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person.
I work from home, and welcome clients into my home as part of my job. Is this allowed?
In most instances, yes, as long as strict Covid measures are in place. You should follow the advice as if your home is your business premises – if you are a close contact service such as hairdresser you should follow this government advice, if another business select the most appropriate type from this government advice
I go into other people’s homes as part of my job. Is this allowed?
In most instances, yes, as long as strict Covid measures are in place, follow this government advice and consider if your employer/trade representative/trade associations has further specific advice.
Will the new government restrictions that have been applied to Leeds impact on council services?
We are working through the implications of this, but given that the restrictions are primarily aimed at limiting household mixing, we hope that the implications will be minimal. We expect our venues to be operating in the same or similar way to last week prior to the additional restrictions. We don’t expect opening of leisure centres or other attractions to be impacted, we expect housing repairs, and waste service to continue, and community hubs to stay open. We will update changes if they are necessary.
How many cases of Coronavirus are in Leeds?
Information on the number of cases nationally can currently be accessed here. And for Leeds as a whole it can be found here. For a more detailed analysis the Middle Super Output Area (MSOA) map data can be found here.
What is the situation with Council operated community centres in Leeds?
Leeds City Council Community Centres remain shut for general hirers. Most activities would not be appropriate under the current guidelines. A limited number of Leeds buildings are being used for work associated with the pandemic (food relief preparation for example) and for Childcare which is permitted with risk assessments and appropriate safeguards in place. We are happy to discuss particular circumstances with individual groups.
What if I do not live with my spouse or partner and what is meant by an ‘established relationship’ as mentioned in the Government guidelines?
If you are in an established relationship and do not live together, you can only meet in a home or garden if you are in a support bubble together.
If you are not in a support bubble, you can still meet outside of a private home or garden and you do not need to follow social distancing guidance. In plain terms people in a relationship can still hold hands when outside.
If you are in an ‘established relationship’ there is nothing to prevent that “established relationship” person being the linked household if the criteria is met.
The Regulation 6 criteria for linked households is:
-- 1 adult living alone or with children
-- Agrees to link with another household
-- Neither household are already linked to others in this way
-- Neither household have been linked to another household in this way since 14 September 2020
Does the rule of 6 prevent performing arts events taking place?
No. The rule of 6 doesn't prohibit performances. Performing arts events can take place if they adhere to the government guidance. As part of the guidance the audience - when seated or moving round the building - has to be in family/Bubble groups of a maximum of 6.