Social distancing

Guidance for National Lockdown

From Tuesday 5 January 2021, the Government placed England into new national lockdown restrictions.

This means you must stay at home and only leave for essential reasons including to:

• shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person
• go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home
• exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
• meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one 
• seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
• attend education or childcare - for those eligible 

Further details and guidance about following the rules for the current national lockdown can be found on the Government website. 

Further information and proposed dates for lifting lockdown restrictions can be found by reading the Government's Roadmap out of Lockdown.

Remember - ‘Hands. Face. Space.’

It is crucial, that when people leave home, they stick to the guidelines to help limit the spread of Covid-19:  

• Hands – wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds
• Face – wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet
• Space – stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings)

In all circumstances, you should follow the guidance on meeting others safely. 

NHS Track and Trace QR Code

Businesses, place of worship or community organisations with a physical location that are able to remain open during national lockdown must now support the NHS Track and Trace app by displaying a unique QR code. It is easy to create a coronavirus QR code poster by submitting your details and location online.  

Closure of sports facilities 

In line with Government rules for the current national lockdown and to reduce the spread of Covid-19, we have closed all sports facilities/ courts, multi-use games areas, skateparks, trim trails and outdoor gyms in the following locations:

Babergh District Council

• Sudbury: Belle Vue Park, First/ Second Avenue, Hartest Way and Raleigh Road
• Hadleigh: Calais Street
• Lavenham: Harwood Place
• Pinewood: Burnett Meadow

Mid Suffolk District Council

• Stowmarket: Lindsey Way, Chilton Fields and Pikes Meadow

Downloadable posters

We have created a series of downloadable posters with guidance and reminders to help maintain social distancing:

Babergh District posters

• National lockdown - facilities closed
• Keep your distance - 2 metres
• Keep your distance
• Play area guidelines

Mid Suffolk District posters

• National lockdown - facilities closed
• Keep your distance - 2 metres
• Keep your distance
• Play area guidelines 

General posters

• Visitors: social distancing reminder
• Face covering: social distancing reminder
• Working safely to welcome customers

Questions?

If you have any queries about social distancing at your business please call 0300 1234000 and select option 7 or email the Social Distancing team.