A little later than we usually post but here is the latest update from Leeds City Council

Dear resident,

This week we reached one year since the first national Covid-19 lockdown. The past year has had an enormous impact on all our lives and this week we’ve taken the time to reflect and remember those we have lost.

An update on Leeds’ infection rates

The latest figures for infection rates in Leeds are currently at 102.1 per 100,000, which is a slight decrease on last week. The positivity rate remains stable at 4%.

The Leeds vaccination programme continues to go well and hospital admissions in Leeds are now reducing. However, we must all remain vigilant to maintain this positive progress. Please follow the restrictions, remember to keep distance from those you don’t live with and wear a face covering when required.

Changes to restrictions from Monday 29 March

From Monday 29 March the current restrictions will begin to gradually lift. Even though the “Stay At Home” rule will end, you are still expected to stay local and work from home wherever possible. If you cannot work from home, minimize your number of journeys and avoid commuting during busy times. Travelling abroad will remain prohibited unless for a small number of permitted reasons which does not include holiday making.

From Monday 29 March you will be able to:

• Attend outdoor gatherings (including in private gardens) of either 6 people (the Rule of 6) or 2 households
• Visit outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and open-air swimming pools and attend formally organised outdoor sports. Temple Newsam and Roundhay golf courses will be reopening too.

As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer it may be tempting to start skipping ahead of the roadmap and adopting the new measures early. However, it’s really important that we all keep doing the right thing and wait until the dates when restrictions are eased to meet up with more than one person or another household outdoors.

For more information, visit http://orlo.uk/Rl8Q8

Guidance for those shielding

Since March last year over 70,000 people have been advised to shield at home because of the high risk posed to them should they catch Covid-19 – they are known as the clinically extremely vulnerable group. On 31 March the advice to shield will be paused, meaning people in this group will be returning to their workplaces, to shops, places of worship, and will be able to meet up with family and friends – in line with national guidelines that apply to everyone.

Although the transmission rates of Covid-19 have dropped the risk is still present, and for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable the consequences of them catching the virus remain extremely serious. Around one in five people from this group have not yet accessed the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and almost all have not yet had their second dose.

We all have a responsibility to keep each other safe, especially important for those who are clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) people. Please continue following guidance on social distancing, wearing face masks, and washing hands regularly.

If you are clinically extremely vulnerable, you will recieve a letter in the next week or so to explain what these changes mean for you. Please be assured that the support we have provided locally will continue to be available. If you have already registered for priority access to supermarket delivery slots, you will continue to be able to access these until 21 June 2021.We want to help you stay safe as we continue fighting against the pandemic.

More information is available at: www.leeds.gov.uk/shielding

New contact tracing service to reduce spread of Covid-19 in Leeds

Leeds Contact Tracing Service – consisting of Leeds City Council, Better Together Leeds and the NHS – aims to stem the spread of Covid-19 across the city by working closely with contacts of those infected. The telephone-based service – led by Leeds City Council – traces contacts and offers guidance and support including help with shopping, collecting prescriptions and financial advice. Representatives from Better Together Leeds – who are experienced in community health development and have a thorough understanding of the communities they work with – will knock on doors in local neighbourhoods to follow up with residents which the contact service can’t reach.

Take part in the vaccination survey

The NHS in Leeds would like to hear from people about their experience of having the Covid-19 vaccine. Feedback will be shared with vaccination teams to inform others about what to expect when going for their vaccination and help improve the vaccination experience for everyone in Leeds. Complete the survey here.

Celebrating Pesach safely

Pesach is usually a time to meet and celebrate with friends and family.

If you are celebrating Pesach, please continue to follow the current national restrictions. If you plan to meet with friends and family outdoors, remember to wash your hands and remain 2 meters apart from those you don’t live with.

Around 1 in 3 people who have Covid-19 have no symptoms (asymptomatic) and will spread it without realising. Alongside wider testing facilities, we have opened three sites across the city where anyone who can’t work from home can access regular testing. The aim of this testing is to find cases that may otherwise go undetected and therefore reduce the spread of the virus.

The NHS advise that you should have two tests during a week-long period, and should still be tested even if you’ve had your first vaccination dose.

There’s no requirement to book – you can just attend whichever of the three sites is most convenient for you.

The locations of these sites, along with full details of all testing facilities across Leeds, can be found on the NHS Leeds website.

Businesses grant changes

The grant for businesses that had to close during the national lockdowns in November, December (Tier 3) and January to 15 Feb will only be paid where the application was received by 31 March 2021. For any applications received after 31 March, only the grant for the period 16 February to 31 March 2021 will be paid.

Restart Grant: businesses that were forced to close during the current national lockdown are to get help to reopen. The Restart grant will open for applications early next week.

Discretionary Grant for businesses with low or no fixed property costs RE-OPENS: Smaller businesses affected by Coronavirus restrictions who have NOT previously applied for this Discretionary Grant can apply when the grant re-opens from 30 March to 5pm on Tuesday 13 April.

Full details of all business grants will be available on our website at

https://bit.ly/LeedsGrants

 City and Local Centre Conversation

Please take ten minutes to complete our survey on how Leeds and its local centres have changed since the Covid-19 pandemic began. We want to hear about the changes you have made to how and where you work, how and where you choose to spend your money and how you travel, as well as how you see yourself working, living and travelling in Leeds in the future. You have until midnight Friday 26 March to fill in the survey at http://bit.ly/LeedsConversation