Key announcements prior to 4 January
Announcement 30 December
Goring, Streatley and South Stoke remain in Tier 4; many other areas of the country have now been placed in Tier 4 or Tier 3.
The return to school for the new term is being staggered. Primary schools in the area will return on 4 January. Secondary schools will organise testing with the aim of all pupils returning by 18 January.
In some other areas there are further measures.
An expanded vaccination programme will begin on 4 January following the approval of the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine..
Here is the statement by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Change 00.01 26 December
Goring (and all Oxfordshire) in TIER 4 STAY AT HOME
The Tier 4 Restrictions now apply
CHANGE 00.01 20 December
Streatley (and all West Berkshire) in new Tier 4 STAY AT HOME
Goring and South Stoke (and all Oxfordshire) remain Tier 2 High alert
But travel guidance changes and the Christmas exceptions are limited.
Announcements
There are no Christmas exceptions in Tier 4 and in tier 2 they are limited and apply on 25 December only. There is revised guidance
Additional key guidance
Specific advice is available about shielding clinically extremely vulnerable people within Tier 4
Change 00.01 Saturday 19 December
Goring and South Stoke Remain Tier 2 High Alert
Streatley becomes Tier 3 Very High Alert OVERTAKEN by above
On 17 December the Government announced the results of the first review of the tiers following their introduction on 2 December.
The changes were outlined in the Oral Statement by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
A written statement added further details of the changes.
You can see the current allocation of local authorities and changes for 19 December and the (lengthy) data analysis underpinning the decisions.
Tiers and Restrictions came into effect Wednesday 2 December
From 2 December a revised 3 Tier system of Alerts and Restrictions was introduced. The guidance and then regulations are in the Quick Links on the right.. This structure of tiers will be in effect until 2 February 2021.
There are two factors that change how the guidance and regulations will operate:
- The tier applied to each area must be reviewed every 2 weeks. The first review was announced on 17 December and changed the allocation of Streatley (see above. There should be a further review on 30 December)
- There are some changes for the Christmas period. These are provided by special exceptions to the regulations for each tier.
From 14 December Self Isolation Period now 10 days
This took immediate effect: see the guidance
Christmas Period 23 to 27 December OVERTAKEN by above
Special exemptions will be in place for the Christmas period.
- You will be able to a Christmas Bubble with up to three households
- You can see how the exceptions work in detailed guidance for the Christmas period.
- There is also some SAGE advice on planning for safe gatherings In the home
Plans for Vaccination
The Government announced that vaccinations will start around 8 December.: see the graphic and overall bundle of guidance in Quick Links There is now:
- a full set of information about the vaccination programme and details of the impact on adults etc here
- the initial programme for care homes
- a guide for older adults
- important advice for women who are pregnant or of childbearing age