In response to today’s Government announcement about local COVID-19 restrictions(external link), the Leader of Calderdale Council, Cllr Tim Swift, said:
“Last week the Government asked local political leaders to recommend where local restrictions should be applied within Calderdale based on our local coronavirus case data and our knowledge of our communities.
“Working cross party with our local MPs and Group Leaders we developed a set of recommendations which have now been approved by the Government for Calderdale.
“I would like to thank my colleagues for their constructive contributions which helped shape our recommendations. These are complex and difficult decisions, as they must balance the need to support our local economy and to allow those social freedoms that we all enjoy against the risk of spreading the virus.
“We understand that the decision to keep additional restrictions in place in the Halifax constituency for another week, will cause disappointment and heartache to those who miss their loved ones. To them I offer my sympathy and promise that we will continue with all the measures we are taking to further bring down the numbers and make the case for the remaining local restrictions to be lifted as soon as possible.
“Our local contact tracing programme, which launched last week to support the national test and trace programme, will play a vital role in helping us to contain the spread of the virus. If successful it will help us to reduce local cases and give us the assurance we need to allow us to ease these greater restrictions.
“And finally I would like to remind those living in the Calder Valley constituency, where local restrictions will now be eased from Wednesday 2nd September, that all of the national restrictions still apply.
“The virus is still active in our community and we must all continue to wash our hands regularly, keep two metres apart and avoid contact with other people as much as possible.
“For more information about our local restrictions visit www.calderdale.gov.uk.”
ENDS
Wards in the Halifax constituency which will still be subject to local restrictions, as well as the national restrictions, are:
- Illingworth and Mixenden
- Northowram and shelf
- Ovenden
- Park
- Skircoat
- Sowerby Bridge
- Town
- Warley
Wards in the Calder Valley constituency which will not be subject to local restrictions, but where the national restrictions still apply, are:
- Brighouse
- Calder
- Elland
- Greetland and Stainland
- Hipperholme and Lightcliffe
- Luddendenfoot
- Rastrick
- Ryburn
- Todmorden
The local restrictions are as follows:
- Must not have visitors from or visit other households in your home or garden (other than those in your support bubble)
- Must not socialise with people you do not live with in other indoor public venues
- Must not visit friends or family in care homes, other than in exceptional circumstances
- The following cannot open while the local restrictions are in place: casinos, skating rinks, bowling alleys, indoor play areas, indoor performances, 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.
The national restrictions are as follows:
Must not socialise indoors in groups of more than two households including when dining out or going to the pub
- Must not socialise outdoors in a group of more than six people from different households
- Must not hold or attend celebrations / gatherings of more than 30 people
- Must not stay overnight away from your home with members of more than one other household (your support bubble counts as one household)
- Nightclubs cannot open.
We can all play our part to beat the virus by:
- Washing our hands regularly
- Staying two metres apart
- Wearing a face covering when we are indoors where we might come into contact with others, such as public transport, taxis, shops, museums and places of worship
- Not visiting, or having visitors from, other households
- Staying away from crowds and avoiding close contact with others, such as handshakes and hugs
- Keeping up with guidance
- Isolating for 10 days and getting a test if we have symptoms of COVID-19
- Following the advice of the Test and Trace service if we have come into contact with someone with the virus.
For up-to-date and reliable information about COVID-19, use trusted sources such as:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus(external link)