The government has announced that the whole of London, including Ealing, has had its COVID-19 alert status raised. London is now moving to Tier 2, or ‘high’.
Council leader Julian Bell said: “The number of COVID-19 cases in Ealing and across London are rapidly rising, so it is no surprise that government have moved London into Tier 2 from Friday (16 October) at midnight, in to Saturday (17 October) morning.
“This means that, on top of the current guidance on Hands, Face and Space, the ‘rule of six’ now applies outdoors. And we now must not meet socially with friends and family indoors in any setting unless we live with them or have formed a support bubble with them. This includes private homes, and any other indoor venues such as pubs and restaurants.
“Myself, and all leaders of London councils, meet weekly with the Mayor of London and the Cabinet office. We are asking the government for economic support for London’s businesses and additional funding to ensure these new measures are a success.
“But we all have a responsibility to work together to beat this virus so please wash your hands regularly with warm water, wear a face covering in shops, crowded places, pubs and restaurants unless seated and keep a safe distance from anyone not in your household or support bubble. Thank you.”
Symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. If you have these symptoms you should self-isolate immediately and apply for a test at nhs/coronavirus or call 119.
The new restrictions
The key element of the new restrictions is that we must not meet socially with friends and family indoors in any setting unless we live with them or have formed a support bubble with them. This includes private homes, and any other indoor venues such as pubs and restaurants.
A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household. Households in that support bubble can still visit each other, stay overnight, and visit public places together.
Informal childcare can also be provided via childcare bubbles.
People may continue to see friends and family they do not live with (or have not formed a support bubble with) outside, including in a garden or other outdoor space. When people do so, they must not meet in a group of more than six. This limit of six includes children of any age.
Further information about the new restrictions, including information about which business can remain open and childcare are available on the government website.
Financial support
Working people on selected benefits who have been told by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate, and will lose income as a result, are eligible to receive a £500 payment and all London boroughs are now able to process these payments. In order to receive the payment eligible individuals should apply to their local authority online. A small amount of funding has also been made available to local authorities for discretionary payments to workers with low incomes who have been told by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate but who are not in receipt of the selected benefits.
Find out more on the payments on the council website.
