Latest guidance and health advice

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• Latest guidance
• Stopping the spread of Covid-19
• Furlough scheme
• Support available
• Clinically extremely vulnerable and clinically vulnerable groups
• Information on testing, self isolation and test and trace
• Where to get medical help
• NHS covid-19 app

Latest guidance

Some of the rules on what you can and cannot do changed on 17 May 2021

• Hugging close friends and family members will be a 'personal choice' but factors such as whether someone has had one or two doses of the vaccine, and whether they have had time to develop immunity, should be taken into consideration.
• Up to 30 people can meet outdoors
• The rule of 6 or two households will apply indoors
• Indoor hospitality, indoor entertainment and attractions, including cinemas, museums and soft play can reopen
• Indoor exercise classes and adult group sports can resume
• Performances and sporting events in indoor and outdoor venues can resume with capacity limits
• Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings (dancing will remain banned at weddings), receptions, christenings and bar mitzvahs
• Numbers of mourners at funerals will differ based on venue capacity
• Follow the traffic light system rules for international travel. Countries on the green list.
• All higher education students will be able to access in-person teaching
• Pupils and teachers will not be required to wear face coverings in the classroom, but teachers should continue to wear them in communal areas
• Care home residents are allowed up to five named visitors (two at any one time), provided visitors test negative for COVID-19

 

The above images summarises the latest Covid-19 guidance. Visit the gov.uk website for the detailed guidance.

Please also see:

• enabling safe and effective volunteering during coronavirus (COVID-19)
• guidance for meeting people from outside your household
• making a childcare bubble with another household
• safer travel guidance for passengers for walking, cycling, and travelling in vehicles or on public transport during the coronavirus outbreak
• advice on using green spaces safely to protect yourself and others
• guidance for visiting care homes during the coronavirus pandemic
• guidance for the safe use of places of worship and special religious services and gatherings
• guidance for people planning to get married or form a civil partnership
• guidance for funerals during the coronavirus pandemic
• our business pages for guidance for safety in the work place

 

Breaking coronavirus restrictions is against the law. Please check the latest Government guidance.

If you notice someone breaking the rules, you can report them on the Bedfordshire Police website.

If you spot any businesses not complying please email [email protected].

Stopping the spread of Covid-19​

 

One in three people who have coronavirus have no symptoms and will be spreading it without realising it.

The best thing we can all do to keep each other safe is:

• hands – wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds
• face – wear a face covering  where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet
• space – stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with
• fresh air – when meeting people, to do so outside
• self-isolate at home if you (or anyone in your household) is displaying symptoms or tests positive for Covid-19; or if you have been contacted by Test and Trace to say you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
• get a test, even if you don’t have symptoms

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Furlough scheme

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (also known as the furlough scheme) has been extended until 30 September 2021.

Claims for furlough days in April 2021 must have been made by 14 May 2021.

You will no longer be able to submit claims for claim periods ending on or before 31 October 2020.

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Support available

The thought of a tightening of restrictions will be upsetting and challenging for many of us. If you are worried about your physical or emotional health, please talk to someone. There are many organisations that offer help and support that will be happy to help.

Also see the government's plans to support people's wellbeing and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

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Clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) and clinically vulnerable (CV) groups

There are two levels of higher risk:

• high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable) - group which was previously shielding
• moderate risk (clinically vulnerable)

 

High risk - clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) can make anyone seriously ill, but for some people the risk is higher.

People with certain medical conditions are classed as being clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus.

See NHS guidance if you have certain health conditions

 

Although the advice to shield has ended, clinically extremely vulnerable people must continue to follow the rules that are in place for everyone.

However, you should continue to take precautions to protect yourself.

Including continuing to:

• maintain strict social distancing
• keep their overall social contacts at low levels
• working from home where possible

Read the guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19.

 

The clinically extremely vulnerable have got priority access to vaccination against COVID-19 before the general population and in line with the priority ordering set by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

If people have already registered for priority access to supermarket delivery slots, they will continue to be able to access these until 21 June 2021.

If you're CEV and in need of more urgent support please learn about some of the support you can access locally​. If you are in more urgent need of support call 01582 548955 (9am to 5pm weekdays, except Wednesdays 10am to 5pm).

Moderate risk - clinically vulnerable (CV)

If you're over 60 or clinically vulnerable, you could be at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus.

Clinically vulnerable include people who:

• are 70 or older
• have a lung condition that's not severe (such as asthma, COPD, emphysema or bronchitis)
• have heart disease (such as heart failure)
• have diabetes
• have chronic kidney disease
• have liver disease (such as hepatitis)
• have a condition affecting the brain or nerves (such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy)
• have a condition that means they have a high risk of getting infections
• are taking medicine that can affect the immune system (such as low doses of steroids)
• are very obese (a BMI of 40 or above)
• are pregnant – see advice about pregnancy and coronavirus

 

Some of the rules on what you can and cannot do are below. Follow the government guidelines:

• You should continue to work from home if you can and minimise the number of journeys you make where possible
• You should was your hands carefully and more frequently than usual
• You should maintain thorough cleaning of frequently touched areas in your home and workspace
• You should get a test and follow the stay at home guidance if you have COVID-19 symptoms.

 

You can read the COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021 (Roadmap) for more information on the roadmap out of lockdown in England. It is underpinned by law.

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Where to get medical help

Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:

• you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
• your condition gets worse
• your symptoms do not get better after seven days

 

Only call NHS 111 if you cannot get help online.

See the NHS website for the most up to date medical advice

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