Announcements & Latest News!
British Wado Federation’s ‘Back to the Dojo Phase-1 implementations’
Please be advised.
All activities within the Dojo MUST conform to the latest Government advice and active recommendations within the British Wado Federation’s own ‘Covid-Aware’ protocols.
All participants (club personnel, committee/s, instructors and students, etc.) must already have the British Wado Federation’s ‘Covid-Aware Certificate’ prior to entering the Dojo.
All others, such as visitors, parents, etc., must also be made aware of these implications prior to entering the Dojo: For ‘peace of mind’ Instructors may wish to issue the Covid-Aware information to all other Dojo users/visitors, etc., prior to entering.
The BWF is introducing 3-phased procedures, which are recommended for all associations & groups. These phases will eventually lead to a full return to normal training situation. However, until our full return to normality, BWF are recommending the following phases to be implemented.
Phase-1: Social distancing non-contact indoor Dojo training, such as line-work, Kata, etc.
Phase-2: Using training equipment, such as the use of striking-dummies, striking-pads, makiwara, etc.
Phase-2a (may be included in Phase-2): Restricted 1-partner only partner-work (i.e. the same partner used throughout the full training session).
Phase-3: Return to normal training (including sparring & competition, etc.).
As from the 25th of July we will be entering into the ‘Phase-1’ period of the easing of lockdown.
It must be emphasised that these ‘phases’ must also accompany all the strict requirements of the BWF’s Covid-Aware implementations. The phases must also comply FULLY to ALL the Government’s policies of ‘safe practice’. Failure to comply may also INVALIDATE BWF Insurances.
For clarity, please refer to the Covid Aware information, which has been openly available to all BWF Members from the British Wado Federation Website.
For further detailed & essential Government information.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/providers-of-grassroots-sport-and-gym-leisure-facilities
Please be advised.
All activities within the Dojo MUST conform to the latest Government advice and active recommendations within the British Wado Federation’s own ‘Covid-Aware’ protocols.
All participants (club personnel, committee/s, instructors and students, etc.) must already have the British Wado Federation’s ‘Covid-Aware Certificate’ prior to entering the Dojo.
All others, such as visitors, parents, etc., must also be made aware of these implications prior to entering the Dojo: For ‘peace of mind’ Instructors may wish to issue the Covid-Aware information to all other Dojo users/visitors, etc., prior to entering.
The BWF is introducing 3-phased procedures, which are recommended for all associations & groups. These phases will eventually lead to a full return to normal training situation. However, until our full return to normality, BWF are recommending the following phases to be implemented.
Phase-1: Social distancing non-contact indoor Dojo training, such as line-work, Kata, etc.
Phase-2: Using training equipment, such as the use of striking-dummies, striking-pads, makiwara, etc.
Phase-2a (may be included in Phase-2): Restricted 1-partner only partner-work (i.e. the same partner used throughout the full training session).
Phase-3: Return to normal training (including sparring & competition, etc.).
As from the 25th of July we will be entering into the ‘Phase-1’ period of the easing of lockdown.
It must be emphasised that these ‘phases’ must also accompany all the strict requirements of the BWF’s Covid-Aware implementations. The phases must also comply FULLY to ALL the Government’s policies of ‘safe practice’. Failure to comply may also INVALIDATE BWF Insurances.
For clarity, please refer to the Covid Aware information, which has been openly available to all BWF Members from the British Wado Federation Website.
For further detailed & essential Government information.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/providers-of-grassroots-sport-and-gym-leisure-facilities
For Those Offering ‘Online Karate Tuition’!
Online Karate Sessions (Zoom, etc.)
Online video call training sessions. Instructor’s insurance cover applies, as far as I was told by insurers. However, they did also advise/state that as students are training in their own home, each student needs to assess their own health & safety in regards to the space they train in [garden, or lounge etc.] to decide for themselves that they are safe to take part, as obviously the instructor is unable to be there to check.
Stuart Richings 3rd Dan. Momiji Dojo.
https://www.un.org/en/un-coronavirus-communications-team/life-under-lockdown-practical-tips-un
Online Karate Sessions (Zoom, etc.)
Online video call training sessions. Instructor’s insurance cover applies, as far as I was told by insurers. However, they did also advise/state that as students are training in their own home, each student needs to assess their own health & safety in regards to the space they train in [garden, or lounge etc.] to decide for themselves that they are safe to take part, as obviously the instructor is unable to be there to check.
Stuart Richings 3rd Dan. Momiji Dojo.
https://www.un.org/en/un-coronavirus-communications-team/life-under-lockdown-practical-tips-un
This is national guidance that applies to England only – people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should follow the specific rules in those parts of the UK. If you live in an area that is experiencing a local COVID-19 outbreak and where local lockdown measures have been imposed, different guidance and legislation will apply. Please consult the local lockdown restrictions page to see if any restrictions are in place in your area.
The government has set out its plan to return life to as near normal as we can, for as many people as we can, as quickly and fairly as possible in order to safeguard livelihoods, but in a way that continues to protect our communities and our NHS.
The government has published guidance on staying alert and staying safe outside your home. This page sets out key questions and answers on what you should and should not do.
1. Changes in restrictions
1.1 What is changing and what can I do that I couldn’t do before?
From 15 August, the following businesses can reopen and activities can resume provided they follow the Covid-19 Secure guidelines:
In the Prime Minister’s update on progress on 17 July, he set out the next stages of our roadmap.
From 1 September:
1.3 What should I still avoid doing?
It remains the case that you should not:
Please consult the local restrictions page to see if any restrictions are in place in your area. In some areas, it will be illegal to meet people you do not live with inside a private home or garden, except where you have formed a support bubble (or for other limited exemptions to be specified in law).
1.4 I don’t have to stay at home anymore?
You don’t have to stay at home anymore but when you leave your home, you should follow the guidelines on staying safe outside your home.
As businesses reopen and people begin to socialise more regularly, you should maintain social distancing from people you do not live with or are not in your support bubble, and should wash your hands regularly. This will help to protect you and anyone you come into contact with and is critical to keeping everyone as safe as possible.
The more people you have interactions with, the more chance the virus has to spread. Therefore, try to limit the number of people you see – especially over short periods of time.
If you or someone in your household or your support bubble is showing coronavirus symptoms, everyone in your support bubble should self-isolate, stay at home and get a test. If you or a member of your support bubble is contacted as part of the test and trace programme, the individual contacted should stay at home. If that individual becomes symptomatic, everyone in the support bubble must then isolate. This is critical to staying safe and saving lives.
Find out more about meeting people you don’t live with.
1.5 If I have had C19 symptoms, do I need to keep self-isolating if I have received a negative test result?
If you and your household are isolating because you are experiencing coronavirus symptoms, you and your household are able to end self-isolation early if you receive a negative test.
However, if you are isolating because you live with someone who has symptoms, you must continue to isolate for 14 days even if you receive a negative test. You may only end isolation early if the person with symptoms in your household receives a negative test.
If you are isolating because you have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace or because you are required to under public health measures at the border, you must continue to isolate for 14 days even if you receive a negative test.
1.6 What will need to remain closed by law?
Some businesses will need to remain closed, as we have assessed that they cannot yet be made sufficiently COVID-19 Secure. See a full list of businesses that will need to remain closed. This list will be updated as the reopening described above comes into effect.
1.7 What do the local lockdown restrictions mean?
So that more people can lead lives closer to normal, the Government is replacing national restrictions with local action to contain local outbreaks. Where increased local transmission of COVID-19 is identified, areas may be required to take additional measures to reduce the spread of the virus. This could include closing certain premises or restricting the movements of people and interactions with others.
1.8 Is my area in a local lockdown and what does this mean?
You can check whether your area is in local lockdown here.
1.9 Can the government stop me going to a particular public place?
Where the risk of a local flare-up is identified, it is important that we take quick and appropriate action to control the spread. Both the government and local authorities, will be able to impose a range of different restrictions – from closing down individual premises to preventing people from going to a particular outdoor space. Any measure will be proportionate to the risk identified and we will publicise online, and at the place itself, if these powers have been used.
2. Social contact and events2.1 Can I visit people indoors?
Yes, you are able to meet indoors in groups of up to two households (anyone in your support bubble counts as one household). This includes inviting people from one household into your home or visiting the home of someone else with members of your own household. You should continue to maintain social distancing with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble when doing so.
If you are in a support bubble you can continue to see each other without needing to maintain social distancing.
The more people you have interactions with, the more chance the virus has to spread. Therefore, try to limit the number of people you see – especially over short periods of time. The risk of transmission is also higher indoors, so you should take extra care to stay as safe as possible.
2.2 How many people am I allowed to meet with outdoors?
You can meet in groups of up to six people who you do not live with or who are not in your support bubble.
You can also meet people in groups of more than six people if everyone is exclusively from two households (anyone in the same support bubble counts as one household).
There is more information about the guidelines you should follow when meeting people you do not live with here.
2.3 Can I use public transport if I’m seeing friends in a park or going to my parents’ garden?
You can help control coronavirus and travel safely by walking and cycling, if you can. However where this is not possible, you can use public transport or drive. If you do use public transport, you must wear a face covering and you should follow the safer travel guidance for passengers.
2.4 Can I share a private vehicle with someone from another household?
You should try not to share a vehicle with those outside your household or social bubble. If you need to, try to:
2.5 Can I stay overnight in someone else’s home?
Yes, you can stay overnight in someone else’s home. However, you should ensure you maintain social distancing with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble. Take particular care to maintain excellent hygiene – washing hands and surfaces – and avoid using shared facilities like bathrooms wherever possible.
You should also only stay overnight in groups of up to two households. This means if you are staying overnight in someone’s home, you should only do so with members of your own household, in addition to the household of your host.
2.6 Can I look after my grandchildren?
People from two different households can meet indoors, which enables you to spend time with your grandchildren. At this time, we still advise that people from different households avoid close contact so childcare should only be provided if it is possible to socially distance from your grandchildren. If you have formed a support bubble with your grandchildren’s household, which is allowed if either you or they live in a ‘single adult household’, then there can be close contact and social distancing is not necessary.
2.7 Is there a limit on the number of people attending funerals?
You should only invite close friends and family. The premises will limit capacity based on how many people it can safely accommodate with social distancing in place, and we advise that funerals are limited to a maximum of 30 people.
The guidance on funerals can be found here.
2.8 Can weddings go ahead?
Yes, wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships are allowed to take place. You should only invite close friends and family, up to a maximum of 30 people where this can be safely accommodated with social distancing in place. The lower the number of attendees, the lower the risk of spreading the virus.
See further guidance on wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships.
From 15 August 2020 guidance that receptions and other celebrations for weddings and civil partnerships should not take place will no longer apply. Receptions and celebrations may take place in the form of a sit-down meal, but only where they can be done in a COVID-19 secure environment/venue, and we advise there should be no more than 30 people attending.
2.9 Can I gather in larger groups for any reason?
You should only be socialising in groups of up to two households (including your support bubble) indoors and outdoors or up to six people from different households when outdoors.
More generally, you can continue to meet in larger groups if necessary for work, voluntary or charitable services, education, childcare or training, elite sporting competition or training, to fulfil legal obligations, to provide emergency assistance, or to enable someone to avoid illness, injury or risk of harm.
It is otherwise against the law for gatherings of more than 30 people to take place in private homes (including gardens and other outdoor spaces). Businesses and venues following COVID-19 Secure guidelines can host larger groups. This is also the case for events in public outdoor spaces that are organised by businesses, charitable or political organisations, and public bodies, provided they take reasonable steps to mitigate the risk of transmission, in line with COVID-19 Secure guidance and including completion of a risk assessment. This can include weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and funerals (which we advise should be limited to no more than 30 people), religious ceremonies and services, community activities and support groups. Any other gathering in an outdoor space or in a private home (or garden) must not be any larger than 30 people.
2.10 How can I stay safe if I am part of a larger gathering?
If taking part in activities with larger groups, you should take particular care to follow social distancing guidelines. In addition to those guidelines, the following principles should be observed to ensure you meet people in a way that minimises the risk of spreading infection:
3.1 Are there restrictions on how far I can travel?
No. You can travel irrespective of distance, but you should take hygiene and safety precautions if using services on the way.
You can use public transport but it is better to travel in other ways if possible. It is difficult to socially distance during car journeys and transmission of coronavirus can definitely occur in this context. So avoid travelling with someone from outside your household or your support bubble unless you can practise social distancing.
Further guidance on car sharing is available. If you need to use public transport, you should follow the safer travel guidance for passengers. When travelling on public transport you are legally required to wear a face covering.
If visiting other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – you must adhere to the laws and guidance of the devolved administrations at all times. If you wish to travel internationally, you should follow the laws of other countries and FCO international travel guidance. Upon return to the UK, you must by law self-isolate for 14 days, unless you have come from one of the countries listed here. This is crucial to help to ensure the virus does not spread across borders.
3.2 Are day trips ok?
Yes, day trips to outdoor open space are allowed. You should take hygiene and safety precautions if using services on the way. You should practise social distancing from other people outside your household or support bubble. You should walk or cycle if you can, however where this is not possible, you can use public transport or drive. If you do use public transport, you must wear a face covering and should follow the safer travel guidance for passengers.
3.3 Can I go on holiday?
Can I stay in my second home?Yes, you can stay overnight away from the place where you are living. This includes staying overnight in a second home, hotels, bed and breakfasts or campsites.
You should only stay overnight in groups of up to two households (anyone in the same support bubble counts as one household) and should ensure you maintain social distancing with anyone you do not live with or is not in your support bubble. Take particular care to maintain excellent hygiene – washing hands and surfaces – and avoid using shared facilities like bathrooms wherever possible.
3.4 Do I need to follow the rules if I’m on holiday in another country?
If you are abroad, you should follow the rules of the country you are in. You should also follow the same principles to keep you and your loved ones safe. It is essential to maintain social distancing wherever possible from those you don’t live with and wash your hands regularly. These rules are important wherever you are in the world.
3.5 Will public toilets and playgrounds reopen?
Councils are responsible for public toilets and this decision is up to them. If you need to use any of these facilities, you should practise social distancing and good hygiene (i.e. washing your hands thoroughly).
Outdoor playgrounds are also able to reopen but the people responsible for them – for example, the local authority – should ensure they comply with COVID-19 Secure guidelines to help avoid risks of transmission. Anyone using playgrounds should take particular care to wash their hands after use and avoid touching their face. Children should be supervised carefully to maintain good hygiene and should not use playgrounds if they have any signs or symptoms of coronavirus.
3.6 Can I visit outdoor tourist sites? What about indoor ones?Yes, you can still travel to outdoor areas, such as National Parks or beaches. It is advisable to check ahead to ensure the venue is open to visitors.
You are also able to visit most indoor sites and attractions. It is strongly advised that you only attend these places in groups of up to two households (anyone in your support bubble counts as one household).
3.7 Can I pray in a place of worship?
Yes, places of worship can open for services and communal prayer in line with guidance for reopening Places of Worship. We advise that you limit your social interaction in these venues to your own household and up to one other, wherever possible. Strict adherence to social distancing is strongly advised and a distance of 2 metres (or 1 metre with additional COVID-19 Secure measures in place) should be kept from people you do not live with wherever possible.
3.8 Can I attend an activity club or support group?
Yes, you can. Premises such as activity clubs, community centres and youth clubs can reopen, and should follow COVID-19 Secure guidelines. It is important to maintain social distancing and good hand hygiene in these circumstances. Outside of these formal activities, to help control the virus, you should limit your interactions with those you don’t live with.
3.9 Can I send my teenagers to their youth club?
Yes, you can. However, you should advise your children to maintain social distancing, wash their hands regularly and limit social interaction outside of these formal activities with anyone you do not live with.
The club should also follow COVID-19 Secure guidance.
3.10 Can I go to a pub or restaurant with people I don’t live with?
When eating or drinking out with people you do not live with (and who are not in your support bubble), you should keep to the wider guidance on group sizes: up to two households indoors, and up to either two households or six people from more than two households outdoors.
In all cases, people from different households should ensure they socially distance as much as possible. You should think about where to sit at a table with this in mind - the premises should also take reasonable steps to help you do so in line with COVID-19 secure guidelines. It remains the case that you do not need to maintain social distancing with those in your support bubble. This change also does not affect the support you receive from your carers.
3.11 Can I register the birth of my child?
You are permitted to register the birth of your child. You should check whether your local register office is open. The office will also be able to advise you on appointment availability.
3.12 Can I go to the theatre or a concert?
You can now attend indoor and outdoor performances, for example dramatic, musical or comedy shows.
If you are watching the performance, you should:
Through our close work with the sectors and public health experts, we have been looking into ways to safely re-open large venues, such as sports stadiums, to the public. We have been piloting our COVID-19 Secure approaches for sporting and other events. However all pilots are currently stopped until such time that the balance of risk allows us to progress with plans.
As set out in the government’s plan, if prevalence remains around or below current levels into the autumn, we will still aim to bring back spectators in stadiums in a safe way, from 1 October.
3.14 Can I play sport outside?
You can play team sport in any number if this is formally organised by a sports club or similar organisation and sports-governing body guidance has been issued. You should only be playing team sports where the relevant governing body has published guidance on how to do so safely. For example, the English Cricket Board has published guidance here and the FA has published guidance here. If you are playing one of these sports informally, such as in the park or a private garden, there must be no more than 30 people involved (including participants, coaches, umpires, spectators).
Team sports that do not have approved guidance should not be played if you cannot socially distance from people you do not live with. Instead, people should train together and take part in activities such as conditioning or fitness sessions in groups of no more than six people (outdoors) or two households (in any setting).
At all times, you should comply with COVID-19 Secure measures and limit social interaction outside of the sporting activity.
3.15 Do I have to wear a face covering in public?
Face coverings are currently mandatory on public transport, and in shops, supermarkets, indoor shopping centres, banks, building societies, post offices, and indoor transport hubs.
From 8 August, you will also be required to wear face coverings in a greater number of public indoor settings such as museums, galleries, cinemas, places of worship, and public libraries. Relevant guidance on face coverings is available here.
People are also strongly encouraged to wear face coverings in any other enclosed public spaces where there are people they do not normally meet.
You do not need to wear a face covering if you have a legitimate reason not to. This includes (but is not limited to):
Relevant guidance on face coverings is available here
4. Clinically vulnerable groups and clinically extremely vulnerable groups, and care homes
If you have any of the health conditions listed in the clinically vulnerable guidance or are over 70 you could be at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus.
Specific advice can be found in the clinically vulnerable guidance.
4.1 How is guidance to those shielding (clinically extremely vulnerable) being relaxed?
The guidance for the clinically extremely vulnerable is that shielding has been paused from 1 August. This means:
You will still be able to get:
4.2 What safety standards will need to be put in place in care homes?
We have issued detailed guidance about infection control and staff safety in care homes to help admit and care for residents safely and protect care home staff.
This includes isolation procedures, PPE and infection control training for all staff, cleaning and how to provide personal care safely.
As with all of our advice, this guidance is kept under constant review and updated frequently, in line with the latest scientific evidence.
5. Going to work and being COVID-19 Secure
5.1 Who is allowed to go to work?With the exception of the organisations listed in this guidance on closing businesses and venues, the government has not required any other businesses to close to the public – it is important for business to carry on.
It is at the discretion of employers as to how staff can continue working safely. Working from home is one way to do this, but workplaces can also be made safe by following COVID-19 Secure guidelines. Your employer should consult with you on how you can work safely, and must ensure workplaces are safe if they are asking you to return, as above.
If you are clinically extremely vulnerable, you can go to work as long as the workplace is Covid-19 Secure but should carry on working from home wherever possible.
There is specific guidance for those showing symptoms that should be observed when considering adjustments to enable people to go back to work.
5.2 What are the ‘COVID-19 Secure’ safety guidelines workplaces have to put in place?
We have set out clear, practical steps that businesses should take to ensure their workplaces are COVID-19 Secure and give their staff the confidence to return back to work.
These include how to keep as many people as possible safely apart from those they do not live with in various workplace settings.
5.3 Do I need to stay 2 metres apart – or 1 metre?
People should either stay 2 metres apart or ‘1 metre plus’ – which is one metre plus mitigations that will help to prevent transmission. These mitigations will depend on the workplace or setting. For example, on public transport (and from July 24, in shops and supermarkets), people must wear a face covering, as it is not always possible to stay 2m apart. People should also wash or sanitise their hands regularly and avoid the busiest routes and times (like the rush hour).
In other spaces, mitigations could include installing screens, making sure people face away from each other, putting up hand washing facilities, minimising the amount of time you spend with people outside your household or bubble, and being outdoors.
We have set out COVID-19 Secure guidance to help businesses take the measures that are right for them.
5.4 How will health and safety regulations be enforced?
Where the enforcing authority, such as the Health and Safety Executive or your local authority, identifies employers who are not taking action to comply with the relevant public health legislation and guidance to control public health risks (for example, not completing a new risk assessment taking account the risk of COVID-19, or taking insufficient measures in response), they will consider a range of actions to improve control of workplace risks. This includes giving specific advice to a business, or issuing an improvement notice, which a business must respond to in a fixed time, or a prohibition notice. Failure to comply is a criminal offence, which can lead to fines or imprisonment for up to two years, giving the COVID-19 Secure guidelines indirect legal enforceability.
Local authorities also have new powers to close any premises if they believe it necessary to help prevent transmission of COVID-19.
6. Workers’ rights
6.1 My employer is asking me to come to work but I’m scared.Employers and staff should discuss and agree working arrangements.
For now, people who can work from home should continue to do so. Employers should decide, in consultation with their employees, whether it is viable for them to continue working from home. Where it is decided that workers should come into their place of work then this will need to be reflected in the risk assessment and actions taken to manage the risks of transmission in line with this guidance.
From 1 August, it will be at the discretion of employers as to how staff can continue working safely. Working from home is one way to do this, but workplaces can also be made safe by following COVID-19 Secure guidelines. Your employer should consult with you on how you can work safely, and must ensure workplaces are safe if they are asking you to return, as above.
If you remain concerned that your employer is not taking all practical steps to promote social distancing then you can report this to your local authority or the Health and Safety Executive who can take a range of action, including where appropriate requiring your employer to take additional steps.
6.2 What if they try to fire me because I won’t go to work but cannot work at home?
We urge employers to take socially responsible decisions and listen to the concerns of their staff. Employers and employees should come to a pragmatic agreement about their working arrangements.
If individuals need advice, they should approach ACAS where they can get impartial advice about work disputes.
7. Public Transport
7.1 Who is allowed to travel on public transport?
You should walk or cycle if you can. However where this is not possible, you can use public transport or drive. If you are using public transport, you should follow the safer travel guidance for passengers.
7.2 Should people wear face coverings on public transport?It is the law that you must wear a face covering when travelling in England on a:
Please be aware that some people are exempt, and do not have to wear a face covering on public transport, including for health, age or equality reasons.
We have published guidance for those making face coverings at home, to help illustrate the process.
A face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used as part of personal protective equipment by healthcare and other workers; these should continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against risks in their workplace such as health and care workers and those in industrial settings like those exposed to dust hazards.
7.3 Will a face covering stop me getting COVID-19?
The evidence suggests that face coverings can help us protect each other and reduce the spread of the disease from someone who is suffering from coronavirus, but not showing symptoms. That is why it is important to wear a face covering on public transport and it is required by law. It is currently mandatory to wear face coverings in shops, supermarkets, indoor shopping centres, banks, building societies, post offices, and indoor transport hubs.
From 8 August, you will also be required to wear face coverings in a greater number of public indoor settings such as museums, galleries, cinemas, places of worship, and public libraries. Relevant guidance on face coverings is available here.
To protect yourself, you should also continue to follow social distancing measures and isolation guidance and wash your hands regularly.
8. Schools and Childcare8.1 Can children go back to early years settings and schools or university?
The government is committed to doing everything possible to allow all children to go back to school safely, to support their well-being and education and help working parents. The government’s plan is for all students in England to return to education settings in September.
You can find out more about the government’s approach to education and how schools are preparing.
8.2 How will you make sure it is safe?
Keeping children and staff safe is our utmost priority. As more children return to school, we require new safety standards to set out how schools and early years settings can be adapted to operate safely.
We have published guidance advising schools and early years on reopening to ensure schools can adequately prepare new safety measures to operate safely and minimise the spread of the virus.
Protective measures to reduce transmission include regular hand cleaning, hygiene and cleaning measures, and small consistent group and class sizes of no more than 15 pupils. We have asked schools to consider staggering drop-off and arrival times, break times and assemblies, and make use of outdoor space.
9. Borders / international visitors
9.1 Are you isolating people at the border now?
The scientific advice shows that when domestic transmission is high, cases from abroad represent a small amount of the overall total and make no significant difference to the epidemic. Now that domestic transmission within the UK is coming under control, we need to impose measures relating to people arriving in the UK. Exemptions are in place for some countries where the risk of transmission is low. Find out more about self-isolation when you travel to the UK.
In England, if you are required to self-isolate and do not, you can be fined £1,000. If you do not provide an accurate contact detail declaration – or do not update your contact detail form in the limited circumstances where you need to move to another place to self-isolate – you can be fined. These fines start at £100, and will double - up to £3,200 - for repeated offences.
9.2 How do the quarantine exemptions work?
Unless you have visited or stopped in any other country or territory in the preceding 14 days, passengers arriving from the countries and territories listed here will not be required to self-isolate on arrival into England.
We will keep the conditions in these countries and territories under review. If they worsen we will not hesitate to reintroduce self-isolation requirements.
Travellers should always check the latest FCO travel advice. Travel advice includes information on any health measures in place for visitors to the country or territory. These can include a requirement to self-isolate, quarantine, or undergo testing for COVID-19, or even restrictions on entry.
Information on self-isolation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be published in due course by the Devolved Administrations.
9.3 What rules do I need to follow if I am visiting the UK?
People should follow the government guidelines, including maintaining social distancing with those they are not staying with and washing their hands regularly.
The government has set out its plan to return life to as near normal as we can, for as many people as we can, as quickly and fairly as possible in order to safeguard livelihoods, but in a way that continues to protect our communities and our NHS.
The government has published guidance on staying alert and staying safe outside your home. This page sets out key questions and answers on what you should and should not do.
1. Changes in restrictions
1.1 What is changing and what can I do that I couldn’t do before?
From 15 August, the following businesses can reopen and activities can resume provided they follow the Covid-19 Secure guidelines:
- casinos
- skating rinks
- bowling alleys
- indoor play areas, including soft play areas
- indoor performances
- remaining close contact services, including any treatments on the face such as eyebrow threading or make-up application
- wedding receptions and celebrations for up to 30 people, in the form of a sit-down meal
In the Prime Minister’s update on progress on 17 July, he set out the next stages of our roadmap.
From 1 September:
- schools, nurseries and colleges will open for all children and young people on a full-time basis
- universities are working to reopen as fully as possible
- we will bring back audiences in stadiums, and allow conferences and other business events to recommence in a COVID-19 Secure way
1.3 What should I still avoid doing?
It remains the case that you should not:
- socialise indoors in groups of more than two households (anyone in your support bubble counts as one household) – this includes when dining out or going to the pub
- socialise outdoors in a group of more than six people from different households; gatherings larger than six should only take place if everyone is from exclusively from two households or support bubbles
- interact socially with anyone outside the group you are attending a place with, even if you see other people you know, for example, in a restaurant, community centre or place of worship
- hold or attend celebrations (such as parties) where it is difficult to maintain social distancing and avoid close social interaction – even if they are organised by businesses and venues that are taking steps to follow COVID-19 Secure guidelines
- stay overnight away from your home with members of more than one other household (your support bubble counts as one household)
Please consult the local restrictions page to see if any restrictions are in place in your area. In some areas, it will be illegal to meet people you do not live with inside a private home or garden, except where you have formed a support bubble (or for other limited exemptions to be specified in law).
1.4 I don’t have to stay at home anymore?
You don’t have to stay at home anymore but when you leave your home, you should follow the guidelines on staying safe outside your home.
As businesses reopen and people begin to socialise more regularly, you should maintain social distancing from people you do not live with or are not in your support bubble, and should wash your hands regularly. This will help to protect you and anyone you come into contact with and is critical to keeping everyone as safe as possible.
The more people you have interactions with, the more chance the virus has to spread. Therefore, try to limit the number of people you see – especially over short periods of time.
If you or someone in your household or your support bubble is showing coronavirus symptoms, everyone in your support bubble should self-isolate, stay at home and get a test. If you or a member of your support bubble is contacted as part of the test and trace programme, the individual contacted should stay at home. If that individual becomes symptomatic, everyone in the support bubble must then isolate. This is critical to staying safe and saving lives.
Find out more about meeting people you don’t live with.
1.5 If I have had C19 symptoms, do I need to keep self-isolating if I have received a negative test result?
If you and your household are isolating because you are experiencing coronavirus symptoms, you and your household are able to end self-isolation early if you receive a negative test.
However, if you are isolating because you live with someone who has symptoms, you must continue to isolate for 14 days even if you receive a negative test. You may only end isolation early if the person with symptoms in your household receives a negative test.
If you are isolating because you have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace or because you are required to under public health measures at the border, you must continue to isolate for 14 days even if you receive a negative test.
1.6 What will need to remain closed by law?
Some businesses will need to remain closed, as we have assessed that they cannot yet be made sufficiently COVID-19 Secure. See a full list of businesses that will need to remain closed. This list will be updated as the reopening described above comes into effect.
1.7 What do the local lockdown restrictions mean?
So that more people can lead lives closer to normal, the Government is replacing national restrictions with local action to contain local outbreaks. Where increased local transmission of COVID-19 is identified, areas may be required to take additional measures to reduce the spread of the virus. This could include closing certain premises or restricting the movements of people and interactions with others.
1.8 Is my area in a local lockdown and what does this mean?
You can check whether your area is in local lockdown here.
1.9 Can the government stop me going to a particular public place?
Where the risk of a local flare-up is identified, it is important that we take quick and appropriate action to control the spread. Both the government and local authorities, will be able to impose a range of different restrictions – from closing down individual premises to preventing people from going to a particular outdoor space. Any measure will be proportionate to the risk identified and we will publicise online, and at the place itself, if these powers have been used.
2. Social contact and events2.1 Can I visit people indoors?
Yes, you are able to meet indoors in groups of up to two households (anyone in your support bubble counts as one household). This includes inviting people from one household into your home or visiting the home of someone else with members of your own household. You should continue to maintain social distancing with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble when doing so.
If you are in a support bubble you can continue to see each other without needing to maintain social distancing.
The more people you have interactions with, the more chance the virus has to spread. Therefore, try to limit the number of people you see – especially over short periods of time. The risk of transmission is also higher indoors, so you should take extra care to stay as safe as possible.
2.2 How many people am I allowed to meet with outdoors?
You can meet in groups of up to six people who you do not live with or who are not in your support bubble.
You can also meet people in groups of more than six people if everyone is exclusively from two households (anyone in the same support bubble counts as one household).
There is more information about the guidelines you should follow when meeting people you do not live with here.
2.3 Can I use public transport if I’m seeing friends in a park or going to my parents’ garden?
You can help control coronavirus and travel safely by walking and cycling, if you can. However where this is not possible, you can use public transport or drive. If you do use public transport, you must wear a face covering and you should follow the safer travel guidance for passengers.
2.4 Can I share a private vehicle with someone from another household?
You should try not to share a vehicle with those outside your household or social bubble. If you need to, try to:
- share the transport with the same people each time
- keep to small groups of people at any one time
- open windows for ventilation
- travel side by side or behind other people, rather than facing them, where seating arrangements allow
- face away from each other
- consider seating arrangements to maximise distance between people in the vehicle
- clean your car between journeys using standard cleaning products - make sure you clean door handles and other areas that people may touch
- ask the driver and passengers to wear a face covering
2.5 Can I stay overnight in someone else’s home?
Yes, you can stay overnight in someone else’s home. However, you should ensure you maintain social distancing with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble. Take particular care to maintain excellent hygiene – washing hands and surfaces – and avoid using shared facilities like bathrooms wherever possible.
You should also only stay overnight in groups of up to two households. This means if you are staying overnight in someone’s home, you should only do so with members of your own household, in addition to the household of your host.
2.6 Can I look after my grandchildren?
People from two different households can meet indoors, which enables you to spend time with your grandchildren. At this time, we still advise that people from different households avoid close contact so childcare should only be provided if it is possible to socially distance from your grandchildren. If you have formed a support bubble with your grandchildren’s household, which is allowed if either you or they live in a ‘single adult household’, then there can be close contact and social distancing is not necessary.
2.7 Is there a limit on the number of people attending funerals?
You should only invite close friends and family. The premises will limit capacity based on how many people it can safely accommodate with social distancing in place, and we advise that funerals are limited to a maximum of 30 people.
The guidance on funerals can be found here.
2.8 Can weddings go ahead?
Yes, wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships are allowed to take place. You should only invite close friends and family, up to a maximum of 30 people where this can be safely accommodated with social distancing in place. The lower the number of attendees, the lower the risk of spreading the virus.
See further guidance on wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships.
From 15 August 2020 guidance that receptions and other celebrations for weddings and civil partnerships should not take place will no longer apply. Receptions and celebrations may take place in the form of a sit-down meal, but only where they can be done in a COVID-19 secure environment/venue, and we advise there should be no more than 30 people attending.
2.9 Can I gather in larger groups for any reason?
You should only be socialising in groups of up to two households (including your support bubble) indoors and outdoors or up to six people from different households when outdoors.
More generally, you can continue to meet in larger groups if necessary for work, voluntary or charitable services, education, childcare or training, elite sporting competition or training, to fulfil legal obligations, to provide emergency assistance, or to enable someone to avoid illness, injury or risk of harm.
It is otherwise against the law for gatherings of more than 30 people to take place in private homes (including gardens and other outdoor spaces). Businesses and venues following COVID-19 Secure guidelines can host larger groups. This is also the case for events in public outdoor spaces that are organised by businesses, charitable or political organisations, and public bodies, provided they take reasonable steps to mitigate the risk of transmission, in line with COVID-19 Secure guidance and including completion of a risk assessment. This can include weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and funerals (which we advise should be limited to no more than 30 people), religious ceremonies and services, community activities and support groups. Any other gathering in an outdoor space or in a private home (or garden) must not be any larger than 30 people.
2.10 How can I stay safe if I am part of a larger gathering?
If taking part in activities with larger groups, you should take particular care to follow social distancing guidelines. In addition to those guidelines, the following principles should be observed to ensure you meet people in a way that minimises the risk of spreading infection:
- limit the time you spend interacting with people from outside your household or support bubble to the activity which you are partaking in
- limit the number of different activities which you partake in succession to reduce the potential chain of transmission
- follow strict social distancing guidelines from people outside your household or support bubble
- group size should be limited to the minimum which allows the activity to take place
- if organising an activity, you should carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment to identify actions which could minimise the risk of transmission. Employers have a legal responsibility to protect workers and others from risk to their health and safety
3.1 Are there restrictions on how far I can travel?
No. You can travel irrespective of distance, but you should take hygiene and safety precautions if using services on the way.
You can use public transport but it is better to travel in other ways if possible. It is difficult to socially distance during car journeys and transmission of coronavirus can definitely occur in this context. So avoid travelling with someone from outside your household or your support bubble unless you can practise social distancing.
Further guidance on car sharing is available. If you need to use public transport, you should follow the safer travel guidance for passengers. When travelling on public transport you are legally required to wear a face covering.
If visiting other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – you must adhere to the laws and guidance of the devolved administrations at all times. If you wish to travel internationally, you should follow the laws of other countries and FCO international travel guidance. Upon return to the UK, you must by law self-isolate for 14 days, unless you have come from one of the countries listed here. This is crucial to help to ensure the virus does not spread across borders.
3.2 Are day trips ok?
Yes, day trips to outdoor open space are allowed. You should take hygiene and safety precautions if using services on the way. You should practise social distancing from other people outside your household or support bubble. You should walk or cycle if you can, however where this is not possible, you can use public transport or drive. If you do use public transport, you must wear a face covering and should follow the safer travel guidance for passengers.
3.3 Can I go on holiday?
Can I stay in my second home?Yes, you can stay overnight away from the place where you are living. This includes staying overnight in a second home, hotels, bed and breakfasts or campsites.
You should only stay overnight in groups of up to two households (anyone in the same support bubble counts as one household) and should ensure you maintain social distancing with anyone you do not live with or is not in your support bubble. Take particular care to maintain excellent hygiene – washing hands and surfaces – and avoid using shared facilities like bathrooms wherever possible.
3.4 Do I need to follow the rules if I’m on holiday in another country?
If you are abroad, you should follow the rules of the country you are in. You should also follow the same principles to keep you and your loved ones safe. It is essential to maintain social distancing wherever possible from those you don’t live with and wash your hands regularly. These rules are important wherever you are in the world.
3.5 Will public toilets and playgrounds reopen?
Councils are responsible for public toilets and this decision is up to them. If you need to use any of these facilities, you should practise social distancing and good hygiene (i.e. washing your hands thoroughly).
Outdoor playgrounds are also able to reopen but the people responsible for them – for example, the local authority – should ensure they comply with COVID-19 Secure guidelines to help avoid risks of transmission. Anyone using playgrounds should take particular care to wash their hands after use and avoid touching their face. Children should be supervised carefully to maintain good hygiene and should not use playgrounds if they have any signs or symptoms of coronavirus.
3.6 Can I visit outdoor tourist sites? What about indoor ones?Yes, you can still travel to outdoor areas, such as National Parks or beaches. It is advisable to check ahead to ensure the venue is open to visitors.
You are also able to visit most indoor sites and attractions. It is strongly advised that you only attend these places in groups of up to two households (anyone in your support bubble counts as one household).
3.7 Can I pray in a place of worship?
Yes, places of worship can open for services and communal prayer in line with guidance for reopening Places of Worship. We advise that you limit your social interaction in these venues to your own household and up to one other, wherever possible. Strict adherence to social distancing is strongly advised and a distance of 2 metres (or 1 metre with additional COVID-19 Secure measures in place) should be kept from people you do not live with wherever possible.
3.8 Can I attend an activity club or support group?
Yes, you can. Premises such as activity clubs, community centres and youth clubs can reopen, and should follow COVID-19 Secure guidelines. It is important to maintain social distancing and good hand hygiene in these circumstances. Outside of these formal activities, to help control the virus, you should limit your interactions with those you don’t live with.
3.9 Can I send my teenagers to their youth club?
Yes, you can. However, you should advise your children to maintain social distancing, wash their hands regularly and limit social interaction outside of these formal activities with anyone you do not live with.
The club should also follow COVID-19 Secure guidance.
3.10 Can I go to a pub or restaurant with people I don’t live with?
When eating or drinking out with people you do not live with (and who are not in your support bubble), you should keep to the wider guidance on group sizes: up to two households indoors, and up to either two households or six people from more than two households outdoors.
In all cases, people from different households should ensure they socially distance as much as possible. You should think about where to sit at a table with this in mind - the premises should also take reasonable steps to help you do so in line with COVID-19 secure guidelines. It remains the case that you do not need to maintain social distancing with those in your support bubble. This change also does not affect the support you receive from your carers.
3.11 Can I register the birth of my child?
You are permitted to register the birth of your child. You should check whether your local register office is open. The office will also be able to advise you on appointment availability.
3.12 Can I go to the theatre or a concert?
You can now attend indoor and outdoor performances, for example dramatic, musical or comedy shows.
If you are watching the performance, you should:
- sit with people from your household or support bubble
- socially distance from people you do not live with (or who are not in your support bubble)
Through our close work with the sectors and public health experts, we have been looking into ways to safely re-open large venues, such as sports stadiums, to the public. We have been piloting our COVID-19 Secure approaches for sporting and other events. However all pilots are currently stopped until such time that the balance of risk allows us to progress with plans.
As set out in the government’s plan, if prevalence remains around or below current levels into the autumn, we will still aim to bring back spectators in stadiums in a safe way, from 1 October.
3.14 Can I play sport outside?
You can play team sport in any number if this is formally organised by a sports club or similar organisation and sports-governing body guidance has been issued. You should only be playing team sports where the relevant governing body has published guidance on how to do so safely. For example, the English Cricket Board has published guidance here and the FA has published guidance here. If you are playing one of these sports informally, such as in the park or a private garden, there must be no more than 30 people involved (including participants, coaches, umpires, spectators).
Team sports that do not have approved guidance should not be played if you cannot socially distance from people you do not live with. Instead, people should train together and take part in activities such as conditioning or fitness sessions in groups of no more than six people (outdoors) or two households (in any setting).
At all times, you should comply with COVID-19 Secure measures and limit social interaction outside of the sporting activity.
3.15 Do I have to wear a face covering in public?
Face coverings are currently mandatory on public transport, and in shops, supermarkets, indoor shopping centres, banks, building societies, post offices, and indoor transport hubs.
From 8 August, you will also be required to wear face coverings in a greater number of public indoor settings such as museums, galleries, cinemas, places of worship, and public libraries. Relevant guidance on face coverings is available here.
People are also strongly encouraged to wear face coverings in any other enclosed public spaces where there are people they do not normally meet.
You do not need to wear a face covering if you have a legitimate reason not to. This includes (but is not limited to):
- children under 11
- because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
- to communicate with someone who relies on lip reading
- to avoid harm or injury; to identify yourself
- to eat or drink if necessary
Relevant guidance on face coverings is available here
4. Clinically vulnerable groups and clinically extremely vulnerable groups, and care homes
If you have any of the health conditions listed in the clinically vulnerable guidance or are over 70 you could be at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus.
Specific advice can be found in the clinically vulnerable guidance.
4.1 How is guidance to those shielding (clinically extremely vulnerable) being relaxed?
The guidance for the clinically extremely vulnerable is that shielding has been paused from 1 August. This means:
- you do not need to follow previous shielding advice
- you can go to work as long as the workplace is COVID-Secure but should carry on working from home wherever possible
- clinically extremely vulnerable children should attend education settings in line with the wider guidance on reopening of schools and guidance for full opening: special schools and other specialist settings
- you can go outside as much as you like but you should still try to keep your overall social interactions low
- you can visit businesses, such as supermarkets, pubs and shops, whilst keeping 2 metres away from others wherever possible or 1 metre plus other precautions • you should continue to wash your hands carefully and more frequently than usual and that you maintain thorough cleaning of frequently touched areas in your home and/or workspace • you will no longer receive free food parcels, medicine deliveries and basic care from the National Shielding Service
You will still be able to get:
- local volunteer support by contacting your local authority
- prescriptions, essential items and food you buy delivered by NHS Volunteer Responders
- priority slots for supermarket deliveries (if you previously registered for free food parcels).
4.2 What safety standards will need to be put in place in care homes?
We have issued detailed guidance about infection control and staff safety in care homes to help admit and care for residents safely and protect care home staff.
This includes isolation procedures, PPE and infection control training for all staff, cleaning and how to provide personal care safely.
As with all of our advice, this guidance is kept under constant review and updated frequently, in line with the latest scientific evidence.
5. Going to work and being COVID-19 Secure
5.1 Who is allowed to go to work?With the exception of the organisations listed in this guidance on closing businesses and venues, the government has not required any other businesses to close to the public – it is important for business to carry on.
It is at the discretion of employers as to how staff can continue working safely. Working from home is one way to do this, but workplaces can also be made safe by following COVID-19 Secure guidelines. Your employer should consult with you on how you can work safely, and must ensure workplaces are safe if they are asking you to return, as above.
If you are clinically extremely vulnerable, you can go to work as long as the workplace is Covid-19 Secure but should carry on working from home wherever possible.
There is specific guidance for those showing symptoms that should be observed when considering adjustments to enable people to go back to work.
5.2 What are the ‘COVID-19 Secure’ safety guidelines workplaces have to put in place?
We have set out clear, practical steps that businesses should take to ensure their workplaces are COVID-19 Secure and give their staff the confidence to return back to work.
These include how to keep as many people as possible safely apart from those they do not live with in various workplace settings.
5.3 Do I need to stay 2 metres apart – or 1 metre?
People should either stay 2 metres apart or ‘1 metre plus’ – which is one metre plus mitigations that will help to prevent transmission. These mitigations will depend on the workplace or setting. For example, on public transport (and from July 24, in shops and supermarkets), people must wear a face covering, as it is not always possible to stay 2m apart. People should also wash or sanitise their hands regularly and avoid the busiest routes and times (like the rush hour).
In other spaces, mitigations could include installing screens, making sure people face away from each other, putting up hand washing facilities, minimising the amount of time you spend with people outside your household or bubble, and being outdoors.
We have set out COVID-19 Secure guidance to help businesses take the measures that are right for them.
5.4 How will health and safety regulations be enforced?
Where the enforcing authority, such as the Health and Safety Executive or your local authority, identifies employers who are not taking action to comply with the relevant public health legislation and guidance to control public health risks (for example, not completing a new risk assessment taking account the risk of COVID-19, or taking insufficient measures in response), they will consider a range of actions to improve control of workplace risks. This includes giving specific advice to a business, or issuing an improvement notice, which a business must respond to in a fixed time, or a prohibition notice. Failure to comply is a criminal offence, which can lead to fines or imprisonment for up to two years, giving the COVID-19 Secure guidelines indirect legal enforceability.
Local authorities also have new powers to close any premises if they believe it necessary to help prevent transmission of COVID-19.
6. Workers’ rights
6.1 My employer is asking me to come to work but I’m scared.Employers and staff should discuss and agree working arrangements.
For now, people who can work from home should continue to do so. Employers should decide, in consultation with their employees, whether it is viable for them to continue working from home. Where it is decided that workers should come into their place of work then this will need to be reflected in the risk assessment and actions taken to manage the risks of transmission in line with this guidance.
From 1 August, it will be at the discretion of employers as to how staff can continue working safely. Working from home is one way to do this, but workplaces can also be made safe by following COVID-19 Secure guidelines. Your employer should consult with you on how you can work safely, and must ensure workplaces are safe if they are asking you to return, as above.
If you remain concerned that your employer is not taking all practical steps to promote social distancing then you can report this to your local authority or the Health and Safety Executive who can take a range of action, including where appropriate requiring your employer to take additional steps.
6.2 What if they try to fire me because I won’t go to work but cannot work at home?
We urge employers to take socially responsible decisions and listen to the concerns of their staff. Employers and employees should come to a pragmatic agreement about their working arrangements.
If individuals need advice, they should approach ACAS where they can get impartial advice about work disputes.
7. Public Transport
7.1 Who is allowed to travel on public transport?
You should walk or cycle if you can. However where this is not possible, you can use public transport or drive. If you are using public transport, you should follow the safer travel guidance for passengers.
7.2 Should people wear face coverings on public transport?It is the law that you must wear a face covering when travelling in England on a:
- bus or coach
- train or tram
- ferry or hovercraft or other vessel
- aircraft
- cable car
- in an enclosed transport hub, such as a train or bus station
Please be aware that some people are exempt, and do not have to wear a face covering on public transport, including for health, age or equality reasons.
We have published guidance for those making face coverings at home, to help illustrate the process.
A face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used as part of personal protective equipment by healthcare and other workers; these should continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against risks in their workplace such as health and care workers and those in industrial settings like those exposed to dust hazards.
7.3 Will a face covering stop me getting COVID-19?
The evidence suggests that face coverings can help us protect each other and reduce the spread of the disease from someone who is suffering from coronavirus, but not showing symptoms. That is why it is important to wear a face covering on public transport and it is required by law. It is currently mandatory to wear face coverings in shops, supermarkets, indoor shopping centres, banks, building societies, post offices, and indoor transport hubs.
From 8 August, you will also be required to wear face coverings in a greater number of public indoor settings such as museums, galleries, cinemas, places of worship, and public libraries. Relevant guidance on face coverings is available here.
To protect yourself, you should also continue to follow social distancing measures and isolation guidance and wash your hands regularly.
8. Schools and Childcare8.1 Can children go back to early years settings and schools or university?
The government is committed to doing everything possible to allow all children to go back to school safely, to support their well-being and education and help working parents. The government’s plan is for all students in England to return to education settings in September.
You can find out more about the government’s approach to education and how schools are preparing.
8.2 How will you make sure it is safe?
Keeping children and staff safe is our utmost priority. As more children return to school, we require new safety standards to set out how schools and early years settings can be adapted to operate safely.
We have published guidance advising schools and early years on reopening to ensure schools can adequately prepare new safety measures to operate safely and minimise the spread of the virus.
Protective measures to reduce transmission include regular hand cleaning, hygiene and cleaning measures, and small consistent group and class sizes of no more than 15 pupils. We have asked schools to consider staggering drop-off and arrival times, break times and assemblies, and make use of outdoor space.
9. Borders / international visitors
9.1 Are you isolating people at the border now?
The scientific advice shows that when domestic transmission is high, cases from abroad represent a small amount of the overall total and make no significant difference to the epidemic. Now that domestic transmission within the UK is coming under control, we need to impose measures relating to people arriving in the UK. Exemptions are in place for some countries where the risk of transmission is low. Find out more about self-isolation when you travel to the UK.
In England, if you are required to self-isolate and do not, you can be fined £1,000. If you do not provide an accurate contact detail declaration – or do not update your contact detail form in the limited circumstances where you need to move to another place to self-isolate – you can be fined. These fines start at £100, and will double - up to £3,200 - for repeated offences.
9.2 How do the quarantine exemptions work?
Unless you have visited or stopped in any other country or territory in the preceding 14 days, passengers arriving from the countries and territories listed here will not be required to self-isolate on arrival into England.
We will keep the conditions in these countries and territories under review. If they worsen we will not hesitate to reintroduce self-isolation requirements.
Travellers should always check the latest FCO travel advice. Travel advice includes information on any health measures in place for visitors to the country or territory. These can include a requirement to self-isolate, quarantine, or undergo testing for COVID-19, or even restrictions on entry.
Information on self-isolation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be published in due course by the Devolved Administrations.
9.3 What rules do I need to follow if I am visiting the UK?
People should follow the government guidelines, including maintaining social distancing with those they are not staying with and washing their hands regularly.
Speech
PM statement on coronavirus: 17 July 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a statement on coronavirus.
Published 17 July 2020
From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP
Delivered on: 17 July 2020 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
Good morning,
In the two weeks since I last addressed you from this podium, I am pleased to report that we have continued to make steady progress in our collective effort to beat the coronavirus.
For 3 weeks now, the number of new cases identified through testing each day has been below 1,000.
The latest SAGE advice is that, across the UK, the R rate remains between 0.7 and 0.9.
SAGE also assess that the number of infections is shrinking by between 5 and 1 per cent every day.
The latest ONS data shows prevalence and new infections to be stable and low.
The number of patients newly admitted to hospital with coronavirus each day, and the number of coronavirus patients in mechanical ventilation beds, have both fallen by more than 90% from their peak in early April.
And while we mourn every death, the average daily death rate continues, steadily, to fall.
This progress is testament to the phenomenal efforts of our NHS and social care staff working tirelessly on the frontline.
And it has only been possible thanks to the character and fortitude with which you, the British people, have made fundamental changes to the way you all live and work.
When we set out our plan to rebuild on 11 May, we said our goal was to return life to as close to normal as possible, for as many people as possible, as fast and as fairly as possible, in a way that is safe and continues to protect our NHS.
That goal remains the same – but the tools we use to achieve it are changing.
At the start of the pandemic, when we knew far less about the nature and spread of the virus, we had to take blanket, national measures.
National lockdown was undoubtedly the right thing to do and has saved many thousands of lives.
Now however, we know more about the virus – we understand the epidemiology better and our intelligence on where it is spreading is vastly improved.
That means we can control it through targeted, local action instead.
In England, this work is led by NHS Test and Trace and within it the Joint Biosecurity Centre. My sincere thanks go to Dido Harding who oversees this work and who joins me today.
This approach is already working.
In Weston-super-Mare and Kirklees, we took swift and successful action to contain outbreaks at specific premises.
In Bradford and Blackburn with Darwen, we identified troubling trends in the data and worked closely with the respective local authorities to increase testing and take targeted action. That work continues.
And in Leicester, we instituted a local lockdown in order to bear down on stubborn rates of infection. As the Health Secretary announced last night, we will begin to relax the restrictions there next week. We can do so because the data is improving – with the percentage of people testing positive falling from a weekly rate of 12.2% on 29 June to 4.8% yesterday.
The approach varies in different parts of the UK, but all parts of the UK benefit from the support of our armed forces, additional testing facilities, and billions of pounds of support provided by this Government.
Today we are publishing our framework for containing and controlling future outbreaks in England, which will enable national and local government to work closely together.
From tomorrow, local authorities will have new powers in their areas. They will be able to close specific premises, shut public outdoor spaces, and cancel events. These powers will enable local authorities to act more quickly in response to outbreaks, where speed is paramount.
Action by local councils will not always be sufficient. So next week we will publish draft regulations which clearly set out how central government can intervene more effectively at a local level.
Where justified by the evidence, ministers will be able to close whole sectors or types of premises in an area, introduce local “stay at home” orders, prevent people entering or leaving defined areas, reduce the maximum size of gatherings beyond national rules, or restrict transport systems serving local areas.
I know that it will be hard going for people affected by these local measures. It isn’t easy, and for some it may seem unjust that people just a short distance away can live their lives closer to normal.
But it has to be right that we take local action in response to local outbreaks – there is no point shutting down a city in one part of the country to contain an outbreak in another part of the country.
Now of course, this local approach relies on having an effective testing regime in place.
And here we have made substantial progress.
Antigen test capacity – that’s the test which tells you if you currently have the virus – has increased 100-fold since the start of March, from fewer than 2,000 tests a day to more than 200,000 tests a day now.
Publicly available data suggests we are now carrying out our tests more than anywhere else in Europe in total, and more tests than Germany, France, Italy and Spain per capita.
We have set up testing sites around the UK and now have 200 mobile units which can be rapidly deployed wherever they are needed.
It is now the case, and has been for some time, that anyone, anywhere in the UK with symptoms can get a test without delay. We are also testing increasing numbers of people who don’t have symptoms but who are at higher risk.
As we approach winter, we will need to go further – not least as many more people will show Covid-like symptoms as a result of seasonal illnesses, and therefore require a test.
So we will further increase testing capacity to at least half a million antigen tests a day – 3.5 million antigen tests a week – by the end of October.
Demand for testing is not the only challenge that winter will bring.
It is possible that the virus will be more virulent in the winter months – and it is certain that the NHS will face the usual, annual winter pressures.
We have taken a number of steps therefore to get the NHS ready for winter.
We have massively increased the number of ventilators available to patients across the UK – up from 9,000 before the pandemic to nearly 30,000 now.
We have substantially increased the pipeline of personal protective equipment for the NHS and social care -constituting over 30 billion items of PPE over the course of the pandemic.
We will be rolling out the biggest ever flu vaccination programme in the history of the U.K.
And we will also of course give the NHS the resources it needs.
And today, I can confirm that we are providing an additional £3 billion of funding to the NHS in England to get ready for winter. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also receive additional funds.
This will allow the NHS to continue to use the extra hospital capacity acquired from the independent sector and also to maintain the Nightingale hospitals until the end of March.
This new funding comes on top of the additional £30 billion of funding for health and social care that we have already announced this year.
So we are making sure we are ready for winter, and planning for the worst.
But even as we plan for the worst, I strongly believe we should also hope for the best.
That means looking ahead with optimism – now extending our plan to lift the remaining national measures which have restricted our lives since March so we can get back to something closer to normal life.
Now I must stress, the timetable I am about to set out is conditional. It is contingent on every one of us staying alert and acting responsibly. It relies on our continued success in controlling the virus. And we will not proceed if doing so risks a second peak that would overwhelm the NHS.
Nonetheless, it is important to give people hope and to give business confidence.
So in England, from today we are making clear that anybody may use public transport, while of course encouraging people to consider alternative means of transport where they are available.
From 25 July, we have already committed to reopening the indoor gyms, pools and other sports facilities.
From 1 August, we will update our advice on going to work.
Instead of government telling people to work from home, we are going to give employers more discretion, and ask them to make decisions about how their staff can work safely.
That could mean of course continuing to work from home, which is one way of working safely and which has worked for many employers and employees.
Or it could mean making workplaces safe by following Covid Secure guidelines. Whatever employers decide, they should consult closely with their employees, and only ask people to return to their place of work if it is safe.
As we reopen our society and economy, it’s right that we give employers more discretion while continuing to ensure employees are kept safe.
Also from 1 August, we will reopen most remaining leisure settings, namely bowling, skating rinks and casinos, and we will enable all close contact services such as beauticians to resume.
Nightclubs and soft play areas will sadly need to remain closed for now – although this will be kept under review.
We will restart indoor performances to a live audience, subject to the success of pilots, and we will also pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadia, with a view to wider reopening in the Autumn.
We will also allow wedding receptions for up to 30 people.
All of these measures for 1 August should be done in a Covid Secure way.
In September, schools, nurseries and colleges will be open for all children and young people on a full-time basis, as planned.
And universities are also working to reopen as fully as possible.
From October, we intend to bring back audiences in stadia and to allow conferences and other business events to recommence – again, these changes must be done in a Covid Secure way, subject to the successful outcome of pilots.
Throughout this period, we will look to allow more close contact between friends and family when we can.
It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest – possibly in time for Christmas.
At all times, we will continue to work with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to support and care for those at risk, wherever they live in the UK.
We have said that the shielding programme for those most at risk in England, the clinically extremely vulnerable, will be paused at the end of this month. We will stay constantly vigilant and be sure to restart shielding at any point if required.
Now I know some will say this plan is too optimistic, that the risks are too great and that we won’t overcome the virus in time.
And of course, if they are right in saying that, and we cannot exclude that they are, let me reassure them, and reassure you: that we will not hesitate at any stage to put on the brakes.
From May 11 onwards, this plan has been conditional, and it remains conditional.
But if we continue to pull together as we have done so far, I know we can beat this virus.
Hoping for the best, but planning for the worst – and it’s in that spirit that we must carry on waging this long, hard fight against Coronavirus.
I’ll now hand over to Dido.
Published 17 July 2020
PM statement on coronavirus: 17 July 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a statement on coronavirus.
Published 17 July 2020
From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP
Delivered on: 17 July 2020 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
Good morning,
In the two weeks since I last addressed you from this podium, I am pleased to report that we have continued to make steady progress in our collective effort to beat the coronavirus.
For 3 weeks now, the number of new cases identified through testing each day has been below 1,000.
The latest SAGE advice is that, across the UK, the R rate remains between 0.7 and 0.9.
SAGE also assess that the number of infections is shrinking by between 5 and 1 per cent every day.
The latest ONS data shows prevalence and new infections to be stable and low.
The number of patients newly admitted to hospital with coronavirus each day, and the number of coronavirus patients in mechanical ventilation beds, have both fallen by more than 90% from their peak in early April.
And while we mourn every death, the average daily death rate continues, steadily, to fall.
This progress is testament to the phenomenal efforts of our NHS and social care staff working tirelessly on the frontline.
And it has only been possible thanks to the character and fortitude with which you, the British people, have made fundamental changes to the way you all live and work.
When we set out our plan to rebuild on 11 May, we said our goal was to return life to as close to normal as possible, for as many people as possible, as fast and as fairly as possible, in a way that is safe and continues to protect our NHS.
That goal remains the same – but the tools we use to achieve it are changing.
At the start of the pandemic, when we knew far less about the nature and spread of the virus, we had to take blanket, national measures.
National lockdown was undoubtedly the right thing to do and has saved many thousands of lives.
Now however, we know more about the virus – we understand the epidemiology better and our intelligence on where it is spreading is vastly improved.
That means we can control it through targeted, local action instead.
In England, this work is led by NHS Test and Trace and within it the Joint Biosecurity Centre. My sincere thanks go to Dido Harding who oversees this work and who joins me today.
This approach is already working.
In Weston-super-Mare and Kirklees, we took swift and successful action to contain outbreaks at specific premises.
In Bradford and Blackburn with Darwen, we identified troubling trends in the data and worked closely with the respective local authorities to increase testing and take targeted action. That work continues.
And in Leicester, we instituted a local lockdown in order to bear down on stubborn rates of infection. As the Health Secretary announced last night, we will begin to relax the restrictions there next week. We can do so because the data is improving – with the percentage of people testing positive falling from a weekly rate of 12.2% on 29 June to 4.8% yesterday.
The approach varies in different parts of the UK, but all parts of the UK benefit from the support of our armed forces, additional testing facilities, and billions of pounds of support provided by this Government.
Today we are publishing our framework for containing and controlling future outbreaks in England, which will enable national and local government to work closely together.
From tomorrow, local authorities will have new powers in their areas. They will be able to close specific premises, shut public outdoor spaces, and cancel events. These powers will enable local authorities to act more quickly in response to outbreaks, where speed is paramount.
Action by local councils will not always be sufficient. So next week we will publish draft regulations which clearly set out how central government can intervene more effectively at a local level.
Where justified by the evidence, ministers will be able to close whole sectors or types of premises in an area, introduce local “stay at home” orders, prevent people entering or leaving defined areas, reduce the maximum size of gatherings beyond national rules, or restrict transport systems serving local areas.
I know that it will be hard going for people affected by these local measures. It isn’t easy, and for some it may seem unjust that people just a short distance away can live their lives closer to normal.
But it has to be right that we take local action in response to local outbreaks – there is no point shutting down a city in one part of the country to contain an outbreak in another part of the country.
Now of course, this local approach relies on having an effective testing regime in place.
And here we have made substantial progress.
Antigen test capacity – that’s the test which tells you if you currently have the virus – has increased 100-fold since the start of March, from fewer than 2,000 tests a day to more than 200,000 tests a day now.
Publicly available data suggests we are now carrying out our tests more than anywhere else in Europe in total, and more tests than Germany, France, Italy and Spain per capita.
We have set up testing sites around the UK and now have 200 mobile units which can be rapidly deployed wherever they are needed.
It is now the case, and has been for some time, that anyone, anywhere in the UK with symptoms can get a test without delay. We are also testing increasing numbers of people who don’t have symptoms but who are at higher risk.
As we approach winter, we will need to go further – not least as many more people will show Covid-like symptoms as a result of seasonal illnesses, and therefore require a test.
So we will further increase testing capacity to at least half a million antigen tests a day – 3.5 million antigen tests a week – by the end of October.
Demand for testing is not the only challenge that winter will bring.
It is possible that the virus will be more virulent in the winter months – and it is certain that the NHS will face the usual, annual winter pressures.
We have taken a number of steps therefore to get the NHS ready for winter.
We have massively increased the number of ventilators available to patients across the UK – up from 9,000 before the pandemic to nearly 30,000 now.
We have substantially increased the pipeline of personal protective equipment for the NHS and social care -constituting over 30 billion items of PPE over the course of the pandemic.
We will be rolling out the biggest ever flu vaccination programme in the history of the U.K.
And we will also of course give the NHS the resources it needs.
And today, I can confirm that we are providing an additional £3 billion of funding to the NHS in England to get ready for winter. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also receive additional funds.
This will allow the NHS to continue to use the extra hospital capacity acquired from the independent sector and also to maintain the Nightingale hospitals until the end of March.
This new funding comes on top of the additional £30 billion of funding for health and social care that we have already announced this year.
So we are making sure we are ready for winter, and planning for the worst.
But even as we plan for the worst, I strongly believe we should also hope for the best.
That means looking ahead with optimism – now extending our plan to lift the remaining national measures which have restricted our lives since March so we can get back to something closer to normal life.
Now I must stress, the timetable I am about to set out is conditional. It is contingent on every one of us staying alert and acting responsibly. It relies on our continued success in controlling the virus. And we will not proceed if doing so risks a second peak that would overwhelm the NHS.
Nonetheless, it is important to give people hope and to give business confidence.
So in England, from today we are making clear that anybody may use public transport, while of course encouraging people to consider alternative means of transport where they are available.
From 25 July, we have already committed to reopening the indoor gyms, pools and other sports facilities.
From 1 August, we will update our advice on going to work.
Instead of government telling people to work from home, we are going to give employers more discretion, and ask them to make decisions about how their staff can work safely.
That could mean of course continuing to work from home, which is one way of working safely and which has worked for many employers and employees.
Or it could mean making workplaces safe by following Covid Secure guidelines. Whatever employers decide, they should consult closely with their employees, and only ask people to return to their place of work if it is safe.
As we reopen our society and economy, it’s right that we give employers more discretion while continuing to ensure employees are kept safe.
Also from 1 August, we will reopen most remaining leisure settings, namely bowling, skating rinks and casinos, and we will enable all close contact services such as beauticians to resume.
Nightclubs and soft play areas will sadly need to remain closed for now – although this will be kept under review.
We will restart indoor performances to a live audience, subject to the success of pilots, and we will also pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadia, with a view to wider reopening in the Autumn.
We will also allow wedding receptions for up to 30 people.
All of these measures for 1 August should be done in a Covid Secure way.
In September, schools, nurseries and colleges will be open for all children and young people on a full-time basis, as planned.
And universities are also working to reopen as fully as possible.
From October, we intend to bring back audiences in stadia and to allow conferences and other business events to recommence – again, these changes must be done in a Covid Secure way, subject to the successful outcome of pilots.
Throughout this period, we will look to allow more close contact between friends and family when we can.
It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest – possibly in time for Christmas.
At all times, we will continue to work with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to support and care for those at risk, wherever they live in the UK.
We have said that the shielding programme for those most at risk in England, the clinically extremely vulnerable, will be paused at the end of this month. We will stay constantly vigilant and be sure to restart shielding at any point if required.
Now I know some will say this plan is too optimistic, that the risks are too great and that we won’t overcome the virus in time.
And of course, if they are right in saying that, and we cannot exclude that they are, let me reassure them, and reassure you: that we will not hesitate at any stage to put on the brakes.
From May 11 onwards, this plan has been conditional, and it remains conditional.
But if we continue to pull together as we have done so far, I know we can beat this virus.
Hoping for the best, but planning for the worst – and it’s in that spirit that we must carry on waging this long, hard fight against Coronavirus.
I’ll now hand over to Dido.
Published 17 July 2020
Yoshitsugu (Yoshi) Shinohara 8th Dan Shihan.
It is with great sadness and regret that I have to announce the passing of a great Wado Sensei, Yoshitsugu (Yoshi) Shinohara 8th Dan Shihan.
As many British Wadokai members will remember, especially during the 1970's to 1990's, he was one of the leading instructors through our UKKF, UKKW, and EKA years.
We have all benefited from the teachings of this great Sensei. He will be sorely missed by us all. Our deepest condolences go out to his Family, Friends and Deshi.
GE Swift Hanshi.
As many British Wadokai members will remember, especially during the 1970's to 1990's, he was one of the leading instructors through our UKKF, UKKW, and EKA years.
We have all benefited from the teachings of this great Sensei. He will be sorely missed by us all. Our deepest condolences go out to his Family, Friends and Deshi.
GE Swift Hanshi.
YOSHITSUGA SHINOHARA 8TH DAN SHIHAN
I recently learned of the passing of a great Wado Sensei who was my instructor for a number of years. Better known as Yoshi when not in the dojo he was a charismatic and knowledgeable instructor in the UKKF, UKKW and EKA. This is sad news for all of his students past and present and my sympathy goes out to his family.
Sensei Yoshi was a frequent visitor to my dojo at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset and a gentlemanly house guest. During my time with the EKA as General Secretary we used to spend a lot of time on the phone and writing letters (pre email!) discussing courses, gradings and unfortunately karate politics. He was always open to discussion outside of the dojo. Over the years we became friends, however as frequently happens, we went our different ways only to meet up again at a competition some years later and this led to more visits to our dojo.
There will be many students of Wado-ryu that have had the benefit and joy of his teachings and we can all be proud to have counted Yoshi as an instructor and mentor.
Yasuraka ni nemuru Sensei
Nick Smith 8th Dan Kyoshi
Chief Instructor Burnham & Highbridge Karate Club
Chief Instructor Kenshukia Wado-ryu Karate-do
Members Bristish Wado Federation, International Wado Federation and English Karate Federation
I recently learned of the passing of a great Wado Sensei who was my instructor for a number of years. Better known as Yoshi when not in the dojo he was a charismatic and knowledgeable instructor in the UKKF, UKKW and EKA. This is sad news for all of his students past and present and my sympathy goes out to his family.
Sensei Yoshi was a frequent visitor to my dojo at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset and a gentlemanly house guest. During my time with the EKA as General Secretary we used to spend a lot of time on the phone and writing letters (pre email!) discussing courses, gradings and unfortunately karate politics. He was always open to discussion outside of the dojo. Over the years we became friends, however as frequently happens, we went our different ways only to meet up again at a competition some years later and this led to more visits to our dojo.
There will be many students of Wado-ryu that have had the benefit and joy of his teachings and we can all be proud to have counted Yoshi as an instructor and mentor.
Yasuraka ni nemuru Sensei
Nick Smith 8th Dan Kyoshi
Chief Instructor Burnham & Highbridge Karate Club
Chief Instructor Kenshukia Wado-ryu Karate-do
Members Bristish Wado Federation, International Wado Federation and English Karate Federation
For those who use BWF’s insurance & licencing facilities.
As from the 1st of December 2019 all BWK & BWF Associate Clubs’ ‘Leading/Club Instructors’ must now acquire Club (Including Temporary Club Instructors), Club Instructor Insurance for at least £5m Liability (@£86.63 per annum). For £10m Liability @£104.00 per annum).
It is with regret that due to the collapse of our previous insurance supplier, Katasure, ALL Instructor Insurances must now be applied for individually through Martial-Guard at Towergate, as they are now no longer issued free (or subsidised) within the BWK/BWF licence.
Please visit;
www.martial-arts-insurance.co.uk/martialguard-instructor.html
NB: In reference to ‘Instructor Insurance’, this means ‘Leading Instructor’, as ‘assistant’ instructors come under the liability responsibilities of the leading instructor (as long as the Leading ‘insured’ Instructor is present), etc.
Applications must be made to run from 31st of November 2019, which will be the date that our policy transfers, for the 1st of December 2019.
Thank you for your support,
As from the 1st of December 2019 all BWK & BWF Associate Clubs’ ‘Leading/Club Instructors’ must now acquire Club (Including Temporary Club Instructors), Club Instructor Insurance for at least £5m Liability (@£86.63 per annum). For £10m Liability @£104.00 per annum).
It is with regret that due to the collapse of our previous insurance supplier, Katasure, ALL Instructor Insurances must now be applied for individually through Martial-Guard at Towergate, as they are now no longer issued free (or subsidised) within the BWK/BWF licence.
Please visit;
www.martial-arts-insurance.co.uk/martialguard-instructor.html
NB: In reference to ‘Instructor Insurance’, this means ‘Leading Instructor’, as ‘assistant’ instructors come under the liability responsibilities of the leading instructor (as long as the Leading ‘insured’ Instructor is present), etc.
Applications must be made to run from 31st of November 2019, which will be the date that our policy transfers, for the 1st of December 2019.
Thank you for your support,
Strictly BWF Yudan Shinsa Syllabus.
It must be noted that all BWF Groups/Clubs who wish the attendance of various BWF Yūdan Panel and/or Committee Members to ‘assist’ or run BWF Member Group Gradings MUST use the official BWF Yūdan Shinsa Syllabus. If groups wish to run Yūdan Shinsa with their own syllabus (which may be unrecognisable to the various panel members) then these gradings must be run by the relevant group grading panel.
Please see BWF Constitution and BWF Yūdan Shinsa requirements.
If you wish to use your own Group Syllabus then you must use your own Group Examiners.
It must be noted that all BWF Groups/Clubs who wish the attendance of various BWF Yūdan Panel and/or Committee Members to ‘assist’ or run BWF Member Group Gradings MUST use the official BWF Yūdan Shinsa Syllabus. If groups wish to run Yūdan Shinsa with their own syllabus (which may be unrecognisable to the various panel members) then these gradings must be run by the relevant group grading panel.
Please see BWF Constitution and BWF Yūdan Shinsa requirements.
If you wish to use your own Group Syllabus then you must use your own Group Examiners.
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