Yesterday evening 23rd March 2020 the Prime Minister announced the tightening of rules and guidance about social distancing, including who can and who should not go to work.

These rules may tighten still further but it is vital that we all follow them now – this is to protect our NHS staff so that they can care for us and other essential workers to keep supplies of food and medicine going.

The key thing is to STAY AT HOME. There are exceptions to this but the general rule should be for all of us to stay at home unless absolutely necessary and within the rules. Even if you want to go out and it is within the rules, please always ask yourself if it is necessary and when you do go out, always observe social distancing, that is, stay 2 metres (about seven feet) away from every other person other than anyone with whom you normally live.

Exceptions include:  going to work if you are a key worker; shopping for medicines and basics, but as infrequently as you can; one form of exercise per day; helping a vulnerable person – BUT for all of these, social distancing rules apply – stay 2 metres away from other people.

You can read the guidance about social distancing and staying at home here.

There is new guidance about which workplaces can operate and which should not be operating. You can read this here.

There is advice about how to manage if you have to self-isolate or are otherwise vulnerable and need help.

If you are unsure about whether or not to go to work, please contact your own employer.

I know that everyone is worried. I also know that some of you, particularly people who are self-employed or in jobs where it is not clear to you if you should be at work or not, or are renting have specific concerns I’m trying to sort out. My colleagues and I have put significant pressure on the government, who have said they welcome this and need it, to change policy. Keep an eye out for further announcements.

Please, everyone, follow the guidance. It’s there for good reasons and we need it to keep us all as safe and healthy as possible.

Take care.