The latest data shows that the virus is spreading aggressively and is being attributed to a new variant of COVID-19. There is no evidence that this variant causes a more severe illness nor that the vaccine won’t be any less effective. However, evidence shows that it is passed on more easily and transmits faster.
What does national lockdown mean in practice?
You must stay at home. The single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. The law will be updated to reflect the new rules.
Some of the key changes are below.
- You must stay at home, except for a permitted reason. This includes activities such as shopping for basic necessities, education and childcare, work that cannot be done from home, medical needs, exercise, and communal worship.
- If you do leave home for a permitted reason, you should stay local in the village, town or part of the city where you live.
- You must not meet socially with family or friends unless they are part of your household or support bubble.
- You can leave your home to exercise in a public outdoor place once a day. You can exercise with members of your household or support bubble or, when you are on your own, with one person from another household.
- If you are clinically extremely vulnerable you should not attend work, school, college, or university, and limit the time you spend outside the home.
- Colleges, primary and secondary schools will close to most pupils, with remote learning until February half term. Schools will remain open for vulnerable children and children of critical workers.
- Alternative arrangements will be put in place for students due to take exams this summer.
- Early years settings such as nurseries will remain open.
- University students should learn online apart from those undertaking training and study for a few specific courses.
- Pubs, restaurants, and non-essential shops and businesses will remain closed, although hospitality venues can provide delivery and takeaway services – but not takeaway alcohol.
- Holidays in the UK and abroad are not allowed.
- Indoor gyms and sports facilities will remain closed. Outdoor sports facilities, such as golf courses and riding arenas, must close. Outdoor playgrounds can remain open.
Read a full list of the restrictions on GOV.UK
https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/council/coronavirus-covid-19
Last Updated 7 January 2021
