The Prime Minister has announced a new national lockdown which starts immediately, to be ratified in law on Wednesday and lasting at least six weeks.

What this means is that people in Nottingham like the rest of the country must now follow new, stricter rules which aim to bring the spread of Covid19 under control. These are:

You must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary. You may leave the home to:

• Shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person
• Go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home
• Exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
• Meet your?support bubble?or?childcare bubble?where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one
• Seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
• Attend education or childcare - for those eligible.

Colleges, primary and secondary schools will remain open only for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. All other children will learn remotely until February half term. Early Years settings remain open. Higher Education provision will remain online until mid-February for all except future critical worker courses.

Click here for the full Government guidance on the new national lockdown rules

It?s been clear for some time that, while Nottingham?s infections rates are now well below the national average, across the country the numbers have been increasing at a worrying rate and putting huge pressure on NHS services elsewhere.

It?s high time the Government took the decisive action that?s required to control the virus ? if it had done so earlier in the pandemic, we could have been in a much better position coming into 2021. However, I know the people of Nottingham will step up and do the right thing to protect themselves, others and the NHS. Let us hope that these new measures could be the last major push before the vaccines that are currently being rolled out start to take effect in the wider population. I welcome the Prime Minister?s announcement that the aim is to vaccinate everyone in top priority groups by the middle of next month ? all care home residents and their carers, the over 70s, frontline healthcare workers and the clinically extremely vulnerable.

While it?s regrettable - when so many people have been following guidance and making huge sacrifices for many months ? it?s right that tougher action is taken if the science says that?s what is needed. We now also need Government to come forward with the right level of support for affected businesses, and to give everyone clarity and certainty about our national response to Covid so we can finally put it behind us.

If you need advice about self-isolating and getting a test, or about getting help for people who are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable, please visit the City Council website: https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19 ?