Updated Government guidance including guidance for people living in areas with variants of concern.

The guidance for relates to:

• Bedford Borough Council
• Blackburn with Darwen Borough Counci
• lGreater Manchester Combined Authority (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan)
• Kirklees Council
• Lancashire County Council (Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Lancaster, Pendle,Preston, Ribble Valley, Rossendale, South Ribble, West Lancashire, Wyre)
• Leicester City Council
• London Borough of Hounslow
• North Tyneside Council

It states:

The new COVID-19 variant spreads more easily from person to person. To help stop the spread, you should take particular caution when meeting anyone outside your household or support bubble.

In the areas listed above, wherever possible, you should try to:

• meet outside rather than inside where possible
• keep 2 metres apart from people that you don’t live with (unless you have formed a support bubble with them), this includes friends and family you don’t live with
  minimise travel in and out of affected areas

You should also:

• Get tested twice a week for free and isolate if you are positive
• Continue to work from home if you can
• Get vaccinated when you are offered it, and encourage others to do so as well
  Refer to local health advice for your area (linked above)