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Thursday, October 29, 2020 10

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COVID-19: All your key Withwinter fast approaching, it is nowmore

important than ever for us all to carry on following COVID-19precautions tohelp stop the spread of the virus by always observing the three-tier local restrictions and remembering three keywords – Hands, Face, Space. Please continue towash your hands, cover your face andmake space between yourself andothers to control infection rates.

HERE, THEUKGovernment answers your tenmost asked questions … Q share a living room, kitchenand bathrooms but have their own bedrooms. Is thisOK? A : Your son and his friends likely constitute a household, so they can continue to gather together, but would not be able to socialise with another person as a household. Q :My grandmotherneeds a carer. Howcan she ensure she is not going to catch COVID-19 if shehires one? A : Guidance has been developed in collaboration with care provider representative groups for those delivering home care, to ensure that appropriate levels of hygiene are achieved to reduce the risk of infection. You should speak to your care provider about the processes they are following tomaintain good hygiene. Q : Iwent to awell-known coffee shopchain last weekandwas not asked tofill outmyNHSTest andTrace information.Whynot?Are there different rules fordifferent kinds of establishments? A : The UKGovernment has introduced a new law to make it mandatory for businesses in the hospitality sector, leisure and tourism sectors, close contact services :My son is inuniversity campus accommodation with sevenotherswho

and community centres and village halls to ask customers for their contact details to support NHS Test and Trace. However, it is only in hospitality sectors where refusal to provide this will necessitate the business refusing entry or service. This does not apply to services where products are taken off-site immediately, for example if food and drink is taken away. If a business offers amixture of sit-in and takeaway services, contact information should only be collected for customers who are dining in. Q :My childrenare starting to comehome from schoolwith snuffles and sore throats, but not fevers or coughs. Do I need to get them testedevery time they complain of feeling “coldy”? Regional guidelines Because thereare local varia- tions toCOVID-19restrictions, including local lockdowns and site-specificwatch lists,weare all encouraged tokeepcheck- ing the latest local andregional guidelines. Q gov.uk/find-coronavirus-local- restrictions Q Local authoritywebsites also carry coronavirus support infor- mation for individuals, families andbusinesses.

A : You should get your child tested if they developone of the threemain symptoms of COVID-19: a high temperature, anew continuous cough and/or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste Q : I amapensioner andam feeling very lonely. Asocial group Iwas previouslypart of has startedmeeting fordinners etc. in small groups inrestaurants. Would I be safe to join them? A : If you live inaMediumrisk areayouareallowedto join small groups inrestaurants, either indoorsoroutdoors, as longas

canparticipate in indoor sportbut mustnotmixwithotherhouseholds orbubbles.Disabled indoor sport andsupervisedsports for children areexempt fromthese restrictions. Outdoor sports cancontinue to take placewithmore thansixpeople if they areorganisedbyacompanyorother recognisedbody, andwhere thisbody undertakes the relevantprecautions. Q : I assume that since I amback atworkwith15people, I can havethosepeoplebacktomy house, tosocialise inthegarden, as longaswekeepthesamedistance wewould intheoffice. Is that right?

thenumberdoesn’t exceedsix. If you live inaHighor aVeryHighriskarea youcanmeet ingroupsof uptosix peopleoutdoors, insome settings, and onlyonehousehold indoors. Single householdsor supportbubblesofmore thansixare still able togather together. Q : Canmy local gymput ona yoga class formore than six people?Andcan I continue toplay inmynetball team? A : Indoor sport canonly take place if thegeneral gathering rules inthat areaarecomplied with. InaHighorVeryHighriskareas, individual householdsorbubbles