Wakefield in Tier 2 lockdown: Latest guidance on childcare, public transport, weddings, fitness classes and more in Wakefield, Pontefract and Castleford

The Wakefield district will officially enter into a Tier 2 lockdown this week, after cases of Covid-19 continued to rise.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

From tomorrow (Wednesday, October 14), new rules and restrictions will be in place across the district, which will have a Local COVID alert level of high under the government's new system.

You can find out more about the new system, including the three tier system, here.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The government has now published more guidance for the new alert levels, including guidance on weddings and funerals, moving home, support groups and even protests. Read below to find out more:

The Wakefield district will officially enter into a Tier 2 lockdown this week, after cases of Covid-19 continued to rise.The Wakefield district will officially enter into a Tier 2 lockdown this week, after cases of Covid-19 continued to rise.
The Wakefield district will officially enter into a Tier 2 lockdown this week, after cases of Covid-19 continued to rise.

General Rules

Under the new guidelines, you may not meet family and friends in any indoor setting, unless you live together or are in a support bubble.

A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household. Households in that support bubble can still visit each other, stay overnight, and visit public places together.

This guidance applies to meetings with people both in and outside your alert area.

From tomorrow (Wednesday, October 13), new rules and restrictions will be in place across the district, which will have a Local COVID alert level of high under the government's new system.From tomorrow (Wednesday, October 13), new rules and restrictions will be in place across the district, which will have a Local COVID alert level of high under the government's new system.
From tomorrow (Wednesday, October 13), new rules and restrictions will be in place across the district, which will have a Local COVID alert level of high under the government's new system.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

You may continue to see family and friends you do not live with outside, including in a private garden or other outdoor space, but must not meet in a group of more than six, including children.

When meeting, people are encouraged to follow social distancing rules,a nd limit how many people they see socially over a short period of time.

Meeting in larger groups is against the law, and police have the power to issue fines of up to £6,400.

Exceptions

There are a number of exceptions to these rules, which allow people to meet with those they do not live with indoors.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

These exceptions include: for registered childcare, education and training; for prospective adopting parents to meet a child or children who may be placed with them; for before and after school childcare, youth groups and activities; for birth partners or to see someone who is dying.

Weddings and funerals

Weddings and funerals are allowed to go ahead under current guidelines, but must be held in Covid-19 secure venues our outdoor spaces, and not in public dwelings.

Wedding receptions of up to 15 people may go ahead, providing the organiser has carried out a risk assessment and taken "all reasonable measures" to limit the spread of the virus.

For funerals, a maximum of 30 people may attend, as well as up to 15 people at wakes or commemorative events.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At weddings and funerals, people may interact with those who are not part of their household or support bubble, but should practice social distancing.

Any food or drink must be provided in the form of a sit down meal.

People working at these events are not generally counted as part of the limit.

Sport

A number of new guidelines have been introduced surrounding sport.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The guidelines state that elite sportspeople and their coaches may meet "if necessary for competition and training", as well a parents or guardians if they are a child.

Outdoor exercise and dance classes, organised outdoor sport and licenced outdoor physical activity may go ahead, as well as indoor organised team sports for disabled people and youth sport.

Other activities, such as indoor exercise classes and other activity groups can only continue provided that households or support bubbles do not mix

Shops, pubs, bars, restaurants and places of worship

Venues such as pubs, shops and restaurants are allowed to stay open and may host multiple groups, but people should not mix indoors with people they do not live with.

Outdoors, they may meet in groups of up to six people.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At least one person in each group should offer their details of test and trace, or use the NHS Covid-19 App.

However, businesses selling food and drink to be consumed on the premises are required to close between 10pm and 5am,

Food to be consumed elsewhere can still be ordered, provided it is delivered or picked up, and all orders should be made remotely.

Travel to work, school, college and university

Under new guidelines, office workers are being encouraged to work from home wherever they can do so effectively, but may travel to work if they cannot carry out their normal duties from home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Public sector employees working in essential services, including education settings, should continue to go into work where necessary.

There is no limit to the group size when you are meeting or gathering for work purposes, but workplaces should be set up to meet the COVID-19 Secure guidelines.

Schools remain open, and students are encouraged to attend university while following social distancing guidelines and avoiding mixing with those they do not live with.

Childcare

Childminders, after school clubs, playgroups and other childcare settings are exempt from legal gathering limitations and are permitted to carry on.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In private homes and gardens, childcare may be provided by registered providers, including nannies, people in your support bubble and people in your childcare bubble, which is one person from another household providing informal childcare to a child aged 13 or under.

Children may also travel between households without breaching the rules if they do not live with both parents or guardians.

Care homes

You should not visit a care home except in exceptional circumstances, for example to visit an individual who is at the end of their life.

Travel and holidays

You may continue to travel to venues which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The government advises that people walk or cycle where possible, or plan ahead to avoid busy times on public transport.

Avoid car sharing where possible, but if needed, be sure to share the transport with the same group of people each time, keep windows open for ventilation, wear a face covering and face away from each other.

You can still travel within High alert level areas to hotels and other guest accommodation, but you should only do this with people in your household or support bubble.

You can still go on holiday outside of High alert level areas, but you must only do this with people in your household or support bubble.

Additional: moving home, support groups and protests

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

You can still move home if you’re in a High alert level area. Estate and letting agents and removals firms can continue to work and people looking to move home can continue to undertake viewings.

Follow the national guidance on moving home safely which includes advice on social distancing and wearing a face covering.

Formally organised support groups providing mutual aid, therapy and other forms of support are allowed to go ahead, provided there are not more than 15 people in attendance and the session is not held in a private dwelling.

Protests may also go ahead, provided they follow Covid-19 guidance including social distancing and wearing masks.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Have you still got questions? Let us know on Twitter and Facebook and we'll do our best to find out.

A message from deputy news editor Gavin Murray:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you