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Tier 3 remains in place for Nottinghamshire

The Government has decided that the whole of Nottinghamshire will remain in Tier 3: very high alert restrictions throughout December. The next review date is Wednesday 30 December.

Rates of infection, their trajectory and pressures on the local health and social care system are all factors considered in making the decision.

The local tier levels are part of the Government’s Winter Plan, a strategy to save lives, protect health and care services, and keep our economy and schools open.

Nottinghamshire councils have pledged to work together to help communities throughout the festive period and into 2021.

Jonathan Gribbin, Director of Public Health for Nottinghamshire said:

 “We recognise the sacrifices Nottinghamshire residents have made throughout a very difficult year to help drive down the rate of infection across the county and I appreciate that the continuation of Tier 3 measures will be a disappointment to many who were hoping for an easing of the restrictions.

“I would like to thank those who have stuck to the very difficult restrictions placed on them. Their diligence and perseverance have helped reduce rates which has kept more people safe from COVID-19. However, the rate of infection remains a concern, especially among people over 60, and our hospitals are still experiencing high levels of admissions of people very poorly with COVID-19.

“To help save lives and protect the NHS and our social care services we must continue to observe the restrictions that apply. The roll out of the vaccine to the most vulnerable groups is of course very positive news but it will be some time to come before until we know how much it will impact infection rates more generally.  Therefore, it is essential that you protect yourself and everyone around you is to stick to the Hands, Face, Space principles.

As a reminder, Tier 3 restrictions mean you must avoid mixing indoors with any other households and the rule of six applies in public outdoor settings. Full details on the measure are available at: https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/care/coronavirus/covid19-tier-3-restrictions-for-nottinghamshire

“At this time of the year, when our high streets are busy with shoppers preparing for Christmas it’s also important to be extra vigilant in crowded places. Remember, you must wear a face covering in public indoor settings, as well as outdoors, where you feel it will provide additional protection.

“Those who are taking advantage of the Christmas Bubble arrangements will hopefully have planned ahead which households they intend to mix safely with to celebrate Christmas. It’s important to remember the rules about Bubbles:

• you can form an exclusive ‘Christmas bubble’ composed of people from no more than three households. New guidance for Wales advises only two households to mix.
• you can only be in one Christmas bubble
• you cannot change your Christmas bubble
• you can travel between tiers and UK nations for the purposes of meeting your Christmas bubble
• you can only meet your Christmas bubble in private homes or in your garden, places of worship, or public outdoor spaces
• you can continue to meet people who are not in your Christmas bubble outside your home according to the rules in the tier you are meeting in
• if you form a Christmas bubble, you should not meet socially with friends and family that you do not live with in your home or garden unless they are part of your Christmas bubble

You should travel to meet those in your Christmas bubble and return home between the 23 and 27 December. Anyone travelling to or from Northern Ireland may travel on the 22 and 28 December.

In England, Bubble arrangements are only in place between 23 and 27 December and after this, you must return to the Tier 3 restrictions. This means, no New Year parties with other households!

This week the government asked everyone to exercise additional vigilance when forming bubbles.

“How each and every one of us adheres to the guidance during the Christmas Bubble window will make a significant difference to the overall rate of infection in the days and weeks to come. By continuing to stick to those rules today, you will give our communities the best possible chance of keeping rates low and helping to give everyone the prospect of a safe New Year.”

The Christmas bubble rule enable families to mix safely over the Christmas period. For further guidance for the Christmas period, visit:

https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/care/coronavirus/guidance-for-the-christmas-period