News Help keep Maidstone at ‘Medium’!
Currently the COVID Alert level for Maidstone is Medium and Maidstone Borough Council is asking everyone to continue to socially distance, washing hands and wearing a face covering to stop the borough moving to a higher level.
Martin Cox, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council said:
“I know Maidstone residents have done really well so far in adhering to what can be confusing rules.“So we need you all to please continue to keep to the rules below and not get complacent, to avoid a local lockdown we are reminding everyone of these once again.
“We really do not want to be put into a higher risk level and losing the freedoms we currently have.”
To help avoid a local lockdown the Council is reminding everyone of the rules.
- When seeing friends and family you do not live with (or who are not part of your support bubble) you must not meet in a group of more than six, indoors or outdoors. In England, this limit of six includes children of any age.
- Venues following COVID secure guidance can host more people in total, but no one must mix indoors in groups larger than six, unless you all live together, or are in the same support bubble. This includes: pubs and restaurants, leisure and entertainment venues, places of worship. At least one person in your group should give their contact details to the venue or check in using the official NHS COVID-19 app so NHS Test and Trace can contact you if needed.
- All businesses and venues should follow COVID secure guidelines to protect customers, visitors and workers.
- To help contain the virus, office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter.
- You should aim to walk or cycle if you can, but where that is not possible you can use public transport or drive.
- You can attend places of worship for a service if you’re in a medium alert level area. However, you must not mingle with anyone in a group of more than six people, other than with people you live with or have formed a support bubble with.
- Wedding and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions must only take place in COVID-19-secure venues or in public outdoor spaces unless in exceptional circumstances and are restricted to 15 people.
- Funerals must only take place in COVID-secure venues or in public outdoor spaces with up to 30 people in attendance. Wakes or linked ceremonial events (such as stone-settings) before or after the funeral are limited to 15 people and must not take place in private homes. Where food or drink is consumed, this should be in the form of a sit down meal.
- You can take part in organised outdoor sport and physical activity, including exercise classes, in any number, provided this follows the relevant guidance (for team sports, or for other outdoor licensed physical activity and exercise classes).
- Organised sport, exercise classes and other activity groups can continue indoors with larger numbers present (subject to venue requirements), provided that participants are in separate groups of up to six people (or larger groups from the same household or support bubble), which do not mix.
- There are exceptions from legal gatherings limits for registered childcare, education or training, and supervised activities provided for children – including wraparound care, youth groups and activities, and children’s playgroups.
Please remember to wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, wear a face covering in indoor settings where socially distancing may be difficult and please, make space, stay two metres apart from people you do no live with where possible.
For more detailed information on the guidance on medium level please see the government website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-level-medium
Remember Hands, Face, Space