New guidance issued by the Government has imposed additional local restrictions of a number of English regions.

The latest iteration of the “what you can and cannot do” guidance added updated guidance for areas where the new COVID-19 variant is spreading.

In the following areas, the guidance now includes requirements that people “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
• avoid travelling in and out of affected areas unless it is essential, for example for work (if you cannot work from home) or education

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

The areas referred to are:

• Bedford Borough Council
• Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
• Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Burnley Borough Council
• Kirklees Council
• Leicester City Council
• London Borough of Hounslow
• North Tyneside Council