Coronavirus: Christmas restrictions tightened for Shropshire residents

Shropshire residents can still enjoy Christmas with friends and family – but plans will need to be drastically scaled back following a change in Government guidance.

The change in guidance comes after a new strain of coronavirus was discovered in the UK, with a new tiering system introduced as a result.

The Christmas rules allowing up to three households to meet will now be limited to Christmas Day only, rather than the five days as previously set out.

Shropshire residents are also being encouraged to ‘stay local’ and avoid travelling outside their area, and carefully consider whether staying at home might be the best option.

Shropshire currently remains in Tier 2. The latest guidance encourages people across Shropshire to:

• Keep your Christmas bubble as small as possible. Two other households is a maximum, not a target
• Do not join a Christmas bubble with anyone from a Tier 4 area
• Stop all unnecessary social contact outside your immediate household as soon as possible and for at least five days before you meet other households in your bubble.

Only meet your Christmas bubble in private homes or in your garden, places of worship, or public outdoor spaces.

• Only see your bubble on Christmas Day. Do not stay overnight and keep your visits as short as possible
• Stay local where possible. Avoid travelling from a high prevalence to a low prevalence area
• Only meet people who are not in your Christmas bubble outside your home according to the rules in the tier you live in (unless coming from a lower to a higher tier), and do not meet socially with friends and family that you do not live with in your home or garden unless they are part of your Christmas bubble.

Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, said:

“I know this news will worrying and the Christmas changes will be tough to take, especially for many people who had already made plans for the festive period. Whilst Shropshire’s case rate is lower than many areas across the country, our rates of infection are increasing, particularly in cases linked to the over 60s.

“Our local NHS and its brilliant staff are also facing increasing pressures and demands.

“Everyone has made enormous sacrifices this year, but these tougher measures are necessary to protect our loved ones and those most vulnerable members of our community.

“We all still need to be extremely careful about who you mix with in the run-up to Christmas. If you catch COVID-19 now, you could pass it to a loved one over the festive period.

“If you are currently in a Tier 4 region and were planning on returning to Shropshire for Christmas,  please stay at home and protect your loved ones. If you have travelled from these areas then please be super cautious. If you have symptoms call 119 to get a test, and avoid mixing with other households.

“The safest way to spend this Christmas period is within your own household and within your own home. We are urging people to be sensible and stick to the guidance. The greatest gift anyone can give this Christmas and New Year is keeping yourself and your family safe. “

New variant

Early evidence suggested that this variant of the virus spreads more quickly and easily than other strains; however, health chiefs stress there is no evidence to suggest that it causes more significant illness.

While most cases of the new strain are in London, and parts of east and south-east England, Wales have also reported cases. Therefore, we cannot let our guard down and must all continue to play our part in controlling the spread of the virus.

What to do

Rachel Robinson added:

“The good news is the measures we need to control the virus and this new variant remain the same. This is yet another reminder of the need to limit your number of contacts, wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, keep your distance and wear a face covering in enclosed spaces.

If you have symptoms, no matter how mild, residents are encouraged to call 119 or go online here to arrange for testing at a local site or at home.

Rapid testing is also available for those in higher risk groups; for example frontline and key worker services, and those moving around the country including students returning from university.

Tests can be booked here: www.shropshire.gov.uk/lfdpublictesting/

For local advice and support during the pandemic (especially if you are self-isolating), call Shropshire Council’s COVID-19 Helpline on 0345 678 9028 (lines open on the weekend on Saturday from 9am-4pm and Sunday 9am-12pm) or visit our website. 

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