Latest guidance and health advice

Quick links

• Latest guidance
• Stopping the spread of Covid-19
• Furlough scheme
• Support available
• Clinically extremely vulnerable and clinically vulnerable groups
• Roadmap for easing restrictions
• 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 29 March 2021

• You can meet outdoors either in a group of 6 (from any number of households), or in a group of any size from up to 2 households (a household can include an existing support bubble, if eligible).
• You can take part in formally organised outdoor sports with any number of people (outdoor sports venues and facilities will be able to reopen)
• Childcare and supervised activities are allowed outdoors for all children.
• Formally organised parent and child groups can take place outdoors for up to 15 attendees. Children under 5 will not be counted in this number.​
  

The above image 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. 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) will remain open until the end of April 2021, with employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500.

It will operate as the previous scheme did, with businesses being paid upfront to cover wages costs.

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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 this winter.

 

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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

 

If you're clinically extremely vulnerable you would have received a letter saying that you are no longer advised to shield.

See shielding advice for the clinically extremely vulnerable to stop from April

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 changed on 29 March 2021, however, many restrictions remain in place.

• You must not socialise indoors with anyone you do not live with or have formed a support bubble with
• 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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Roadmap for easing restrictions

The government has set out a roadmap for the easing of lockdown restrictions. See the first four steps here​.

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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