News Keep your distance
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson will be writing to each household in the UK urging people to stay home, outlining the guidance everyone should follow and the measures the government has put in place to fight coronavirus and to support businesses and workers.
He will urge everyone to follow the rules to save lives and thank NHS staff working round the clock as well as everyone volunteering their time to protect others. “If too many people become seriously unwell at one time, the NHS will be unable to cope. This will cost lives. We must slow the spread of the disease, and reduce the number of people needing hospital treatment in order to save as many lives as possible.”
Maidstone Borough Council is reinforcing this message and asking people to:
Stay at home
* Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)
* If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times
* Wash your hands as soon as you get home
Do not meet others, even friends or family.
You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.
When am I allowed to leave the house?
You should only leave the house for very limited purposes:
* shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
* one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household
* any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid or escape risk of injury or harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
* travelling for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home
Martyn Jeynes, Head of Community Protection said:
“We have had a couple of reports in both urban area and rural areas of people continuing to gather. This is unacceptable as the rules must be observed for everyone’s safety and well-being. If people break the rules the police have the power to issue fines and disperse gatherings.”
“We have had a couple of reports in both urban area and rural areas of people continuing to gather. This is unacceptable as the rules must be observed for everyone’s safety and well-being. If people break the rules the police have the power to issue fines and disperse gatherings.”
To report a crime online use the link: https://www.kent.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/
For more information about what you can or cannot do: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do