Author: Ian Hague

From 24 October this area will be in Local COVID Alert Level: Very High.

What are the restrictions?

• People must not meet socially with friends and family indoors in any setting unless they are part of your household or support bubble*. This includes private homes and indoors in hospitality venues, such as pubs. You also must not meet with people outside of your household or support bubble in a private garden or in most outdoor public venues.
  (*A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household. Households in that support bubble can still visit each other, stay overnight, and visit public places together.)
  
• People must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in an outdoor public space such as a park or beach, the countryside, a public garden or a sports venue. Venues following COVID-secure guidance can host more people in total, but no one must mix indoors or in most public outdoor venues with anyone who they do not live with (or have formed a support bubble with). This includes in pubs and restaurants, shops, leisure and entertainment venues and places of worship.
  
• Pubs and bars will close and will only remain open where they operate as if they were a restaurant – which means serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal. They will only be able to serve alcohol as part of such a meal. Certain businesses selling food or drink on their premises are required to close between 10pm and 5am. Businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-thru.
  
• People should try to avoid travelling outside the ‘Very High’ alert level or entering a ‘Very High’ alert level area, other than for work, education or for caring responsibilities or to travel through as part of a longer journey. If people need to travel they are encouraged to walk or cycle where possible, or to plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport, to allow for social distancing.
  
• Face masks must be worn on all public transport and not car share with someone from outside your household or your support bubble unless you can practise social distancing. If people need to use public transport, you should follow the safer travel guidance. This includes the rules on wearing face masks and advice on car sharing.
  
• People should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK, and others should avoid staying overnight in the ‘Very High’ alert area.
  
• Visits should not be made to a care home except in exceptional circumstances, for example to visit someone who is at the end of their life.

In addition, the following restrictions will also apply in South Yorkshire:

• Additional closures will include: Betting shops, adult gaming centres, casinos and soft play centres.
  
• Gym classes will not be allowed (but gyms will remain open).

Full details on what ‘very high’ category guidelines are can be found on the
Government pages around Covid-19 guidance