We are all in this together stresses council as government announces new Covid-19 measures

Yesterday, following weeks of rising cases nationally and around Europe, the government announced a series of new measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19 which are likely to remain in place for six months.

These include urging those who can work from home to do so, new restrictions on operating hours for certain businesses, changing some of the rules that affect how businesses can operate from guidance to law, higher fines for businesses who break Covid-19 rules, reducing exemptions for the 'rule of six', expanding the places in which face coverings are required and increased fines for breaking the rule of six and for failing to wear a covering.

These changes are on top of the new laws and financial support arrangements around self-isolation announced on Saturday, as well as the introduction of the new NHS Track and Trace app and rules, both of which involve fines for any breaches.

The council is working hard following these announcements to push government for urgent details of how these new rules and payment processes will work. Once we get more details we can work with partners to determine the best way to implement and manage them. As things become clearer the council will be updating its website, social media feeds and providing information in its weekly resident's newsletters.

Cllr Forward, leader of the council, said,

"We know that cases are rising nationally, and to a lesser extent locally, and the government has responded by bringing in new measures to try to reduce the spread of the virus. These measures will affect us all and we need to work together to keep supporting each other and to follow the new rules to get through this challenging winter period.

"The implications of these new rules are complex, and we are unfortunately in a position again where announcements about them were made before we had details of how they would work. Despite that, we are doing all we can to prepare to implement the new financial support schemes, as we know how important they will be for the residents and businesses who will be eligible.

We are also working closely with our partners to ensure we are giving the right support, advice and guidance to businesses. We will continue to help businesses to comply with the rules and act responsibly, as most of them are doing, so that the need for enforcement action is avoided where possible. From the outset we have put people's safety at the heart of our decision making and have worked to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and we will continue to do so."