The UK government has today announced new social restrictions to curb the rate of coronavirus infection in Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell as the areas are placed on the national intervention list.
Cases in Birmingham have increased to 75 per 100,000 people, second only to Bolton which sits at the top of the hot list. Hospital admissions in the city have surged to 68 with hospital chiefs expecting cases to double weekly going forward.
New social restrictions
In an attempt to push down the infection rate, residents will not be able to mix with any other households in each other’s homes – indoors or in private gardens – except for those in a support bubble. This applies both inside and outside the city boundaries and also apply to Sandwell and Solihull.
From Tuesday 15th September you must not:
- host people you do not live with in your home or garden, unless they’re in your support bubble
- meet people you do not live with in their home or garden, whether inside or outside of the affected area, unless they’re in your support bubble
Your household is defined as the people you live with and any support bubble.
A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household (on an exclusive basis).
Households within a bubble can still visit each other, stay overnight and visit public places together.
No further restrictions have been placed on places of worship, pubs and restaurants, organised team sports, weddings and funerals.
View the full local guidelines at www.gov.uk
Rule of Six
Outside the home, residents should follow the Rule of Six which comes into effect on Monday 14th September nationally. People should not meet outdoors at at leisure venues in groups of more than six people, unless they are from the same household or bubble.
Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “I know this is difficult, particularly when we have got used to seeing friends and family, but it is vital we stick to these rules and protect each other given the sudden rise in infection rate. If we all follow the rules we will get the infection rate down, but we have to work together on this. The virus has not gone away, it has not weakened, in fact it is relentless and we must be relentless in our efforts to control the spread.
“I understand that it may be frustrating that you can go to the pub but not see your family, but the data we have shows that the infection rate has risen mainly due to social interactions, particularly private household gatherings. In shops and hospitality venues there are strict measures in place to ensure they are Covid-safe, whereas it is much easier to inadvertently pass on the virus in someone’s house where people are more relaxed and less vigilant.
“So people can still go out to shops and to restaurants and other venues that are open, but remember to be vigilant; if a venue doesn’t look safe and you are not asked for your contact details, take your business elsewhere.
“Continue to wash your hands regularly and wear a face-covering in enclosed spaces and if you feel unwell, get a test.”
Reacting to the Secretary of State for Health’s announcement of additional restrictions affecting Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull, Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street commented:
“I firmly agree with the Government’s decision to introduce additional restrictions in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull. This carefully considered decision has been based on the latest data about Covid-19 infections in each part of our region and – crucially – the latest understanding of the causes of transmission. The restrictions being introduced are designed to address the causes of transmission head on.
“It’s vital that we all do our utmost to keep control of this awful virus, and ensure our efforts over the past few months are not wasted. If we step up our fight against this virus in the ways proposed we can continue the gradual return to other aspects of normal life. Children can keep going to school, and more people can return to work safely.
“If we don’t do this now, we risk more loss of life, even stricter measures in future, and more job losses. So whilst not seeing family and friends is tough, we must think of them, our responsibility to them, and to the whole community. If we all come together to follow the new rules in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull, we can defeat the virus, save lives, and protect livelihoods.
“And let’s not forget all the hard work our NHS, emergency services, carers, public health officials and council staff do across the region. They are working tirelessly to win the battle against this virus. So let’s continue to give them our support – by all playing our part.
“That means continuing to wash our hands, wearing face coverings when required and observing social distance from others as well as following the new rules that apply in each area.”
To get a test, you can call NHS 119 or visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/
What about schools?
It rules are complicated as you meet in a pub or park . This to me is where you are likely to get Covid-19. I understand it is to stop the younger people from having meetings and parties.
I feel if you are talking to a neighbour ,friend outside with a distance it is no different to queueing to enter a shop as not many people are wearing their masks outside properly. The mask once put on should not be removed till you get home. Touching masks then touching other articles will or could lead to casting Covid-19. Mobile phones are a problem as they may wear a mask but they forget where their hands have been. People need to think on what they are doing and what they are touching. Using hand gels are only useful when used 3 times then you need to wash your hands with soap and water. PLEASE be careful and think
Support bubble, which you don’t have to register, boris Johnson is trusting people, how many are going to support bubble, it’s a joke
If only Germany had Dido Harding, Serco and Deloittes working for them, they could have had the same “world beating” test and trace system as us, instead of their own terribly efficient, locally run, public, test and trace system that actually works.
After giving millions to privately run companies that have failed at every turn, Boris Johnson is now constantly uttering “NHS test and trace” to try and shift the blame from the people who’ve actually been in charge of the failing system and policy..
And those of you who love a vacuous slogan will be lapping it up. Welcome to Tory Britain,10 years in the making.
“The truth is only relative to what you can earn from a lie”
-Del boy
Correct del boy. Track and trace systems need an accurate database of citizens to start with, but we don’t have one. The Germans have ID cards like most European countries, but we voted not to have these when they were proposed – too big brother for us Brits. Countries with greater social control and more compliant citizens have fared best. I’m sure an ID system will be debated again soon.
I can’t see how it’s anything to do with IID cards Dave, and they would be useless to test and track for a virus.
Germany’s test and trace system is locally run by councils and public health teams with trained volenteers.
Ours is run by central government and ministers who are paying millions to consultants and private company’s, who are controlling and mining our data,
(for months only partially sharing) whilst making profits for their shareholders.
In Germany the local systems have been responsible for testing and tracing and have had access to all the testing data, from day one.
Pretty much what should have happened here if we’d followed long laid down plans and protocols from the start.
Instead, countrywide, Boris took all councils and public health teams ability and
Responsibility away from them in early March.
Boris thought he could get away without the need to give money to increase the capacity of the local Councils and heath authority’s t&t system or without having to make severe restrictions or a major lockdown AKA The Sweden plan.
Then with our hospitals started to fill up, they legislated and ordered hospitals to send infected patients back into care homes, increasing the spread and severity of the problem.
I could be wrong but I can’t see at any point, how an I’D card would have made a difference or how it really contributes to Germany’s better local public health responce.
Our councils and public heath authority’s, have no problem with data or collecting data if they need to, They are already used to testing and tracing local outbreaks for all sorts, from food poisoning, mad cows disease, swine and bird flu, Legionnaires Disease and Ebola.