Dear Resident,
Today we are sharing with you the latest guidance and restrictions to help control the spread of coronavirus in Leeds.
Latest updates to Leeds restrictions
The government has announced that from Monday 2 November, Leeds will move into the ‘very high’ COVID alert level (tier 3), with the latest seven day COVID-19 rate having risen to 416 per 100,000 people. The NHS is experiencing a significant increase in demands from the rise in COVID cases and we must all play our part to protect vital services.
Some of the restrictions are the same as those in tier 2, meaning it is still against the law to:
- have guests inside your home (unless you are in a support bubble)
- go inside someone else’s home (in or outside of Leeds)
- meet people you do not live with outside your household or support bubble in any indoor venue (in or outside of Leeds)
Additional tier 3 restrictions mean it is now also against the law to:
- meet with people you do not live with outside your household or support bubble in private gardens
The Rule of Six applies at all tier levels, so as before you should not meet with more than 5 other people outside in public spaces (such as parks or the countryside).
You must also now:
- avoid travelling outside of Leeds, unless this is for essential travel such as for work, education or for caring responsibilities.
The new government restrictions mean that, from Monday 2 November, certain businesses will be ordered to close. This includes:
- Pubs and bars unless serving alcohol with a substantial meal. All venues that remain open are still subject to the 10pm curfew
- Betting shops, adult gaming centres and casinos
- Soft play centres
- Car boot sales
- Indoor exercise classes should not take place, however gyms will remain open
- Shisha bars must not serve shisha, but may operate as cafes
In addition to the above, wedding ceremonies with up to 15 people are permitted but receptions are not. Funerals are permitted up to 30 people.
Shops, schools and universities will remain open.
Playing your part in reducing the spread of coronavirus
We all have an important role to play to reduce the rising infection rates and we can all do our part to stay safe and save lives. Reducing contact with other people outside of your household across all settings is crucial to stopping the spread of the virus and bringing our infection rates down. The less people you come into contact with, the less chance there is of the virus spreading. We can all help to break the chain and reduce the R rate through:
- Limiting the number of people outside our households we come into contact with
- Making space and staying 2m from people outside our households or support bubble
- Washing hands regularly and for 20 seconds
- Covering faces in enclosed spaces
- Isolating when you need to or are advised to
Shielding advice
Although Leeds has moved into the ‘very high’ tier, residents who were told to shield during the first wave of the pandemic do not need to shield at home but should take extra care to stay safe and follow government restrictions.
