Bulletin Friday 16 October 2020

Bolton placed under High Level measures

As of 4.30pm Friday 16 October, the borough of Bolton, is in the ‘High Level’ of measures to tackle coronavirus COVID -19, along with the rest of Greater Manchester.

It’s because these areas are seeing the virus being passed on between large numbers of people. The more people have the virus the quicker and easier it is to pass on.

The measures are designed to limit contact between people so it makes it harder for the virus to spread.

This means:

• you must not socialise with anybody outside of your household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place
• you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 outside, including in a garden or other spaces like beaches or parks (other than where specific exemptions apply in law)
• businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-secure manner, other than those that remain closed in law
• certain businesses are required to ensure customers only consume food and drink while seated, and must close between 10pm and 5am
• businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
• schools, universities and places of worship remain open
• weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees
• exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors. These will only be permitted indoors if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with or share a support bubble with, or for youth or disability sport
• you can continue to travel to venues or amenities that are open, for work or to access education, but should look to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible

You must:

• wear a face covering in those areas where this is mandated

You should continue to:

• follow social distancing rules
• work from home where you can effectively do so
• walk or cycle where possible, or plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport

Further information is available on the council’s website.

Local Restrictions Map

This handy interactive map shows what local restrictions apply in which areas (link no longer available).

Protecting the most vulnerable at risk of coronavirus (COVID-19)

The government has issued updated guidance for clinically and clinically extremely vulnerable people.

The guidance can be found here.

If you need to self-isolate what should you do?

People will be required by law to self-isolate from 28 September if told to do so or who develop symptoms.

We’ve put together the enclosed FAQs to help you do so (link no longer available).

You need to self-isolate if:

• You develop symptoms of coronavirus
• You arrive back in the UK from a country that is not on the exemptions list
• You have been contacted by Test and Trace and told you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
• If you've got an alert from the NHS Covid App, telling you that you've spent time near someone who has tested positive for coronavirus, then you will have to stay at home for 14 days.

Self-isolation is hard. It means you cannot go out of your house and this could mean that you will be alone for two weeks. There is support available in these circumstances.

People are being asked to self-isolate because we must stop the virus being passed on from people to people. Because it can take up to two weeks for symptoms to develop it means that if you do have the virus you could pass it on to so many people before you know it.

We need to stop that happening. And we need your help to do this.

If you have no means of support please contact our support helpline by calling 01204 337221.

There are also sources of support and information that can help, such as the Every Mind Matters website.

Guidance about safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care settings

The government has updated guidance about safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care settings to provide information on the care that staff members visiting families in their own homes should take.

Bolton’s Fund COVID response: £250,000 for food and other essentials

Grants totalling £250,000 are available through Bolton’s Fund for groups helping residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to access food and other essentials.

The latest round of funding aims to support foodbanks, community kitchens and similar organisations working to support those in most need as a result of the pandemic and subsequent lockdown.

More information and details of how to apply are available on the Bolton CVS website (link no longer available).

Five in a row for Queens Park

Queens Park has won a prestigious award for the fifth year in a row, highlighting Bolton Council’s commitment to providing excellent green spaces.

The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the government.

It recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world.

For the latest updates