New restrictions in Kirklees – useful information
Late last night, the government announced new restrictions for 4 million people in the North of England, including everyone in Kirklees. We understand that local people will have many questions about the new rules. Here’s what we know so far:
What am I not allowed to do?
The main change in the rules is about visiting people in their homes or gardens. The new restrictions mean:
- You cannot visit any other home or garden that isn’t your own.
- You cannot have anyone visit your home or garden.
If you are part of a support bubble, you can continue to visit each other.
If you are going out (to a restaurant, pub or other indoor space) you must not go with anyone from outside your household. You cannot meet or interact indoors with people outside your household while you are out.
What is a support bubble?
A support bubble is strictly limited to one household and one other person who lives on their own. You can only be in one support bubble.
Can I still meet outside in public?
In line with the national guidance, you can continue to meet in groups of up to six people who you do not live with or who are not in your support bubble.
You can also meet people in groups of more than six people if everyone is exclusively from two households (anyone in the same support bubble counts as one household).
The council has already said it will not allow gatherings of more than 30 people outside.
What else am I not allowed to do?
You can’t visit anyone in their homes even if they don’t live in Kirklees. People can’t come to your home from outside Kirklees to visit you.
You can continue to do everything else that was allowed before yesterday: go to work, shops, pubs and restaurants. But you cannot do these things with people from outside your household.
Can my friends or family still visit to provide childcare?
You should not meet with people you don’t live with in their homes or gardens. Two households, or up to six people from multiple households, can still meet in outdoor public places (like parks) for childcare.
Where people from single adult households (people who live alone or single parents with dependent children aged under 18) have formed a support bubble with another household, they can continue to visit each other for childcare purposes. Parents and carers can continue to use registered child care provision, including childminders. They can also continue to employ nannies (please see guidance on working safely in other people’s homes.)
Can I still exercise with people from outside my household?
Yes. You can meet people in groups of six people for exercise outdoors. This group can be bigger if everyone is exclusively from two households (anyone in the same support bubble counts as one household).
What does this mean for sports clubs?
Sports clubs can continue to organise and play sport, following the latest Government guidance.
However, in Kirklees we are asking that organisers ensure that more than 30 attendees are not present. Local sports governing bodies and sports league secretaries will be contacted with guidance and advice on how to manage this.
We understand that for some people taking part in sport that their parents or carers may need to attend with them and our advice is that they social distance from people not from their household.
If you’re an organiser of any sporting activity or event, please contact us if you’d like further advice.
Is shielding going to be extended?
There are no plans to extend or reintroduce shielding. However, if you do feel as though you are vulnerable we would advise you to take necessary precautions to avoid contact with people not in your support bubble or household.
Do the restrictions apply to everyone?
Yes, everyone who lives anywhere in Kirklees and around 4 million people in the North of England. There are some exceptions for vulnerable people but they are not yet clear.
Why have the restrictions been introduced?
The government has decided that there is a risk that the virus is spreading quickly in parts of England. The moves are to try and stop the infection spreading between households.
Why do the restrictions cover parts of Kirklees where infection rates are low?
The government has decided where the restrictions should apply. They have taken an approach that many whole local authority areas should be included. They think that there is a danger that the virus is present in areas beyond the clusters we have seen over previous weeks. Other local authorities have recently seen increases in cases in areas where the virus have previously been low. They think that might also happen in Kirklees.
What are the rates of infection in Kirklees?
Last week’s data showed that the rates of infection in Kirklees were four times as high as the national average. This week’s data is likely to show a significant reduction in that rate. So we are currently in a different position to many of the local authorities affected. Nevertheless, the government believes the threat of increases in the rate are high and they have decided to take this action.
What has the council done to reduce infections?
As soon as we had the data from the government about infections, we have taken targeted action in the areas most affected. We have gone out into the community, delivered a public information campaign and worked with partners to get the messages out about staying safe and protecting our communities. The past week has seen a reduction in cases and we will carry on our work to get numbers down further.
What happens if I don’t follow the rules?
This could put your health and the health of others at risk. This could also result in an increase in rates in Kirklees and could risk putting us in a local lockdown.
The government has said it will give local authorities and police forces the powers to enforce these restrictions and more details on these will be set out when the regulations are published.
Can I still go to work?
Yes. There are no changes to work. But you must still follow the rules on social distancing.
If you are working in someone else’s home, you can continue to do that.
When do the restrictions come into force?
These restrictions are in force now.
When do the restrictions end?
We don’t know yet. Given our decreasing infection rates, we hope we can get our freedoms back quickly.
What can I do?
If we follow the rules, we will bring infections down. Continue to social distance, wash your hands, use a face covering and isolate as soon as you have symptoms. You can also call 119 to get a test.
Can i travel outside kirklees to my son in Warrington? with the lockdown in west yorkshire?
Can I have workmen inside the house
Unfortunately some Cleckheaton residents either have not read the information or choose to ignore it putting other residents at risk. Do they not care about people who have not been able to see lived ones since lock down begun !.
I had a pre arranged appointment to visit my brother in a care home in Leeds 5th August which would have been our first visit since the initial lockdown in March. I had a test on 31 July which gave a negative result yet I cannot visit now. He is nearer the source of the clusters that I am. As he has dementia I am more than worried that He will not recognise me after this extended isolation. Isolate by postcode not the blanket metropolitan authority. This would also identify the specific areas of most risk., or is that too politically sensitive? Disappointed and increasingly disillusioned!
Can I have an electrician/plumber visit my home to do a job ?
Excellent, some clarity for a change
If someone in Kirklees wants to visit a relative in London is this allowed
I 72 years old and was hoping to come out of sheilding so what i want to know can i get in someones car and can my daughter come and visit me and stay the night she lives in cumbria.i haven’t seen her for 5 mts i live on my own.
Agree with you there Gordon – a great effort to help make quite a complex set of rules we now need to navigate much clearer
Far more concise and easy to understand than the stuff put out by the Government. Whoever sorted this should be commended for their brevity and concise writing. Someone at Westminster should be taking notes, perhaps the author of this could give them a hand??
Thanks for information
Are the police going to be more visible to enforce these rules.
Can I still go on holiday in this counry
I am worried about your advoce about sheilding its different on the government website it says to sheild again if we are in this area i need confirmation as im supposed to go back to work i am classed as extremely vunrable i work in a supermarket and have leukaemia need advice asap
The above notes and advise are very clear. However how many residents in Kirklees will log on to read this advice? and how can you (Kirklees Council) get all these important details to everyone who should read and understand them? It is so important that we ALL do as much as we can to help keep our loved ones, family and friends safe from this terrible C19, but one our main concerns is that not everyone is either not taking the severity of the outbreak seriously or they are not able to understand what we ALL have to do to help control, and hopefully reduce the rates of infection, not only in Kirklees but across the whole country and beyond.
I dont understand. In one paragraph you say you can meet with up to six people from multiple households….in another you say that 6 people can meet up but must be from only 2 households. Could you clarify please.
so I can play golf with 3 mates. then we go to a pub and sit outside in the beer garden. can we sit together maintaining social distancing or do we have to sit at seperate tables ?
Can I please ask if I am in a support bubble with someone who lives in kirklees, I can see that I can continue to be in that bubble. However, I live in Wakefield, so should I also follow the rules as if I live in Kirklees because I am in a support bubble with someone who lives in Kirklees.
Thank you
If I am extremely vulnerable and live in kirklees and follow the rules how can I be expected to return to work in a supermarket where I will come into contact with 1000s of people and that supermarkets are not allowed to reinforce everyone must wear a face mask
It’s a bit daft not being able to meet at home or distanced in gardens, when you can in the pub???
A very clear message thank you very much hope everyone sticks by the message
Can persons from more than one households travel together in a car? S
Can a (free) grandparent be a childminder for their grandchild to enable the mother to go back to work? The guidance says a parent can continue to use a childminder or nanny. The father works away and the mother is effectively a single parent so far as child care is concerned.
If we have a holiday arranged staying in various UK B&B’s. Are we still allowed to visit these homes?
Much clearer than the national guidance – thank you
They are indeed very clear and perfectly understandable however, it is just such a shame that some people choose to ignore them.
It would seem that they have the attitude of these rules applying to everyone else but not to them.
This is probably what got us in the current situation.
Thank you for your write up, as you point out the guidance has not been fully thought through. Though it seems if it involves money then you are ok to do it!
Thank you – clear guidance and has helped me understand why Kirklees are included despite falling rates, and why the whole of Kirklees is included.
I need clarification on sporting arrangements. It says contact you but how? This is urgent. Events supposed to be running Saturday & Sunday.
Pity the government leaves us clinically extremely vulnerable people in the dark and fails again to say what is going to happen to us
Yes, the information is clear. However it contradicts what Matt Hancock said this morning on the TV. He said that local residents could meet with others outside the area, if social distancing were observed. This needs to be sorted out.
Agree. Thank you Kirklees
Can you please confirm if I am ok being in my mum’s Corona bubble – like we have been doing. My son is coming out of shielding 1st August and with my mum not seeing anyone else and my son not seeing anyone else, we decided that it would be ok for us to bubble up with my Mum, who is on her own & I just want clarification that I am doing the right thing and that I can take our son into my mum’s house and in her garden and that she can do the same if she wants a change of scenery and coming over to our house
This is the clearest information that I’ve seen today
Absolutely ridiculous, half measures don’t work. I have just passed a pub in my village where people are squashed round beer tables need I say more.
Thank you this is very clear to understand. I hope everyone follows the advice.
It should be said in a way that everyone could understand it is so confusing
At last an outline that is helpful and clear. Thank you
Splendidly clear. #Thanks.
I was Shielding and intended to go to the hairdressers in Holmfirth next week. Can I still do so ?
As regards a running club, may my Athletes continue to run outside in groups of 6 or not? Please clarify.
If I support workers can they still support me and also can I still travel around and about
can i meet 6 people in a beer garden / outdoor public place ?
‘Get our freedoms back ‘ bit melodramatic .
Can children still go to nursery?
I am a massage therapist living in Kirklees who was going to start working from home with clients coming to the house on 10th August . Does this mean I can’t do this ?
Well done These notes are very clear
I am separated. My children who are 10 and 7 live with their mum in kirklees and i live in wakefield. We share childcare duties and i have 2 step children who live with me. Can my children still come to me to be looked after overnight?
Can I gio on a planned holiday
I’m due to travel to Scotland in my caravan is this still allowed