New lockdown rules and help available

Published date: 05 November at 16:00 pm News Item

As England enters a second Lockdown Maidstone Borough Council is reminding residents of the new restrictions which are currently scheduled to finish on 2 December and where to get help.

We need to act together to protect lives and livelihoods. Under the new restrictions we must all:

Only leave home for food, medical reasons, exercise, education or work
You must work from home if you can
Avoid travel unless essential
Avoid meeting people you do not live with, except for specific purposes
Close certain businesses and venues

Cllr Martin Cox, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council said:

“The rules are slightly different from the first Lockdown, with fewer industries being entirely shut down and education venues, schools, colleges and universities staying open. There is slightly more flexibility about when you can leave the house.
For example, you can visit people in your support bubble or to provide care for vulnerable people.
“Parts of the economy can remain open including the housing market, and construction; so trades people can continue to carry out work in other people’s homes. We will keep you updated with more information as soon as we have it on our website https://maidstone.gov.uk/.”
“It is so important we all stick to these new rules to reduce the growth rate of the virus, which will prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed, this way schools, colleges and universities can stay open and as many people as possible can continue to work.”

The Test and Trace Support payment of £500 is available to help people who have been told to self-isolate by the NHS. It is for anyone employed or self-employed on a low income and in receipt of certain benefits who has tested positive for COVID-19 or been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. To apply people need to complete an online self-isolation payment application form which will then be assessed for eligibility:https://maidstone.gov.uk/home/other-services/covid-19/tier-2-primary-areas/test-and-trace-and-self-isolation/test-and-trace-support-payments

Non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues will be closed. Click and collect services can continue and essential shops, including supermarkets, will remain open. Pubs, bars, restaurants must close, except for takeaway and delivery services.

The Government will make funding available to all local authorities to cover certain types of businesses that might be affected and is yet to publish the details of how local authorities should administer these grants. To find out more go Maidstone borough council website.

For those needing extra support the following organisations are available:

Kent Together helpline

Maidstone Borough Council is working with Kent County Council to provide a

24 hour helpline which has been set up to support vulnerable people in Kent who need urgent help, supplies or medication.

If you are vulnerable and have an urgent need that cannot be met through existing support networks, you can contact the Kent Together helpline via the kenttogether website or by calling on 03000 41 92 92.

You can also report your concerns about the welfare of someone else.

Mutual aid

https://covidmutualaid.org/

Find your local COVID-19 community group in your area

Citizens Advice Maidstone

www.maidstonecab.org.uk

Tel: 0344 848 7978

Age UK Maidstone

www.ageuk.org.uk/maidstone

Email: info@ageukmaidstone.org.uk

Tel: 01622 753618

Involve Kent