News

Changes to COVID-19 guidance

On Monday 21 February, the Prime Minister announced an end to restrictions as part of the Government’s ‘Living with COVID’ plan.

Despite these changes, you are still encouraged to continue to follow public health advice, just as you would for diseases, such as the flu, to minimise the risk of catching COVID-19 and help protect your family and friends.  

From Thursday, 24 February:

• Restrictions in England will be removed and the legal requirement to self-isolate ends
• Between now and 1 April, if you test positive for COVID-19, you are advised to stay at home. Adults and children who test positive are advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least five full days. You should continue to follow the guidance until two negative test results on consecutive days, have been recorded.

 From April

• The Government will update guidance setting out the steps people with COVID-19 should take to be careful and considerate of others, similar to advice on other infectious diseases. This guidance will mirror changes to testing
• Self-isolation support payments, national funding for practical support and the medicine delivery service, will no longer be available.

Routine contact tracing will end, including venue check-ins on the NHS COVID-19 app.

Fully vaccinated adults and those aged under 18 who are close contacts will no longer be advised to test daily for seven days and the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate, will be removed.

The government have also announced that all adults over the age of 75, residents in care homes for older people and those over 12 years of age and those immunosuppressed, will be offered an additional booster. More information about this will be shared over the coming weeks.

Find out more on the Government's website

COVID-19 has not gone away, so let’s stay safe

Following the government’s announcement about changes to COVID-19 rules, it is important to remember that COVID-19 has not gone away, and we must learn to live with the virus.

There are simple things you can do to protect yourself, and others.

• get your vaccination if you haven’t already - it's never too late to get vaccinated
• wash your hands regularly
• let fresh air in when you’re meeting with others indoors
• consider wearing a face covering when in crowded, indoor spaces

If we all do our bit, we can continue helping to keep Redbridge safe.