Tier 4 restrictions introduced in London and the south east. Relaxation for Christmas mixing scrapped.

There is a new variant of the corona-virus which increases the transmission rate. Today the Government have announced that Tier 4 restrictions come into force in London and the south-east from 12.01 on Sunday morning.

Given the early evidence on the new variant of the virus, the potential risk means Christmas can no longer go ahead as planned

Those in tier 4 areas should not mix with anyone outside their household at Christmas, though support bubbles will remain in place.

Across the rest of the country, up to three households can meet but this will be limited to Christmas Day only, rather than the five days previously set out.

There will be no relaxation on the 31 December, so people must not break the rules for new year’s.

Tier 4 restrictions are broadly equivalent to the national restrictions brought in during November.

In tier 4:

·         Residents must stay at home, apart from limited exemptions

·         Non-essential retail, indoor gyms and leisure facilities and personal care services must close

·         People must work from home if they can, unless this is not possible eg manufacturing and construction sectors

·         People should not enter or leave tier 4 areas

·         Tier 4 residents must not stay overnight away from home

·         You can only meet one person from another household in an outdoor public space

·         Communal worship can continue to take place

·         The new variant is concentrated in tier 4 areas, he says, but is nonetheless present around the country.

·         Everyone in all tiers must stay local, he says.

·         Carefully consider whether you need to travel abroad, Johnson says, and follow the rules in your tier.

·         Those in tier 4 will not be permitted to travel abroad, apart from limited exceptions such as for work purposes.

METROPOLITAN POLICE - STREATHAM NEIGHBOURHOODS NEWSLETTER FOR NOVEMBER

This week’s news

Firstly, we would like to wish a warm welcome to PC Jack Sharp, the new police officer for Streatham Hill, and PC Bola Adebakin, who will be working on Streatham Wells.

An update about the 13 year old boy who was attacked outside Dunraven School on Wednesday 25 November: he was put in an induced coma at the time but today has been awake and talking.  We send him our very best wishes and hope he makes a speedy recovery.  The suspect remains in police custody at this stage. 

A bike was stolen from the communal area on Madeira Road.  PCSO Reynolds and PC Pearl found the bike and checked the report to find out who the owner was.  It was returned to them soon afterwards.

PC Takenaka handled a neighbourhood dispute which ended up with the suspect being interviewed for a public order offence.

PC Pearl had some good information from residents regarding drug dealing in Fernwood Avenue. He conducted some patrols there and believes that he disturbed a drug dealer who was about to come and sell drugs.

Officers were called to Copley Park by Lambeth Council with regards to a vulnerable lady being targeted by a rogue trader.  The suspect is 5’ 9” tall, with white thinning hair.  He tells people that he is an antique dealer.  He could be targeting other people around that area.

Crime Advice

There has been an increase in bike crime and breaking into sheds.  Please make sure your property is secure.  Where bikes are concerned, please lock them up securely.  A “D” lock is one of the best cycle locks you can buy.  You can also invest in a shed alarm which can be fitted to make you shed secure.

Covid-19 Advice

Please ensure you follow the latest Government guidelines. Please see post below on the Tier 2 rules. This will help the NHS and other key workers stay as safe as possible so they can continue their amazing work to keep us safe.

Everyone can help to control the virus by staying alert and taking precautions to protect themselves and others.  As well as the above, please remember you should:

·              Hands:   wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds throughout the day or use hand sanitiser if you cannot do this.

·              Face:   wear a face mask or face covering over your nose and mouth on public transport, if you are staff or a customer in shops, taxis, bars and restaurants and in any confined spaces and anywhere else where social distancing is difficult.

·              Space:   keep your distance inside and outside - stay at least two meters away from anyone outside your household or 1 metre with a face covering or other precautions.

·             Get a test:   if you are feeling unwell and have symptoms.  If you have a positive test result, isolate immediately with members of your household for 10 days.  Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.  You can visit the NHS website to book a test or alternatively call 111 for advice.

Remember that everyone can help to control the virus by staying alert, following the rules and taking precautions to protect themselves and others.

Advice from the NHS website on what to do to prevent catching and spreading the virus is as follows:

Ø    wash hands frequently with soap and water or use a sanitiser gel.

Ø    catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues.

Ø    throw away used tissues and then wash your hands.

Ø    if you don’t have a tissue, use your sleeve.

Ø    avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Ø    avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

The most important thing is regular and thorough hand washing, preferably with soap and water. Coronavirus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes small droplets – packed with the virus – into the air.  These droplets can be breathed in and cause an infection if you touch a surface they have landed on then touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

Coughing and sneezing into tissues, not touching your face with unwashed hands, and avoiding close contact with infected people are important to stop the spread of the disease and to keep everyone safe.

Contact Details for the Streatham Safer Neighbourhood Teams

The contact details for the four Streatham Safer Neighbourhood Teams are below:

Team	Telephone	Email	Twitter
Streatham Wells	0750 098 2773	streathamwells.snt@met.police.uk	@MPSStreathamWells
St Leonards	0792 023 3841	stleonards.snt@met.police.uk	@MPSStLeonards
Streatham South	0792 023 3834	streathamsouth.snt@met.police.uk	@MPSStreathamSth
Streatham Hill	0792 023 3842	streathamhill.snt@met.police.uk	@MPSStreathamHill

Hands   →   Face   →   Space

Stay alert   →   Control the Virus   →   Save Lives

Stay safe everyone !

Coronavirus: What you need to know

London is in Tier 2: High alert.

https://www.london.gov.uk/coronavirus/coronavirus-what-you-need-know

These are the Tier 2 rules for London, starting Wednesday 2 December:

Meeting others remains restricted

• You must not socialise with anyone you do not live with in any indoor setting unless they are in your support bubble. This applies both at home and in any indoor public place, including places of worship, pubs and restaurants.
• You must not socialise in a group of more than six people outside (the rule of six).  This includes in gardens and public spaces like parks.
• There are some exemptions on the Tier 2 rules for meeting others.  For example, if you are gathering for work or education, for formal support groups, or for formal childcare, or to provide care for someone vulnerable.  Remember these Tier 2 rules don’t apply if you need to escape from injury or harm. Full list of exemptions.

Many businesses and venues can reopen

• All non-essential retail can open. Remember you must wear a face covering in shops unless you have an exemption.
• Gyms, leisure centres, sports facilities can open. Organised indoor sport and exercise classes can resume, but you must not socially mix with others you do not live who (or are not in your support bubble). 
• Hairdressers, barbers, and beauty services can open. 
• Restaurants and cafes can open.  Pubs and bars can also open, but only if they are operating as restaurants with table service.  All hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals. 
• All hospitality venues must stop taking orders at 10pm and close by 11pm.  Deliveries and takeaways can continue until later. 
• Cinemas, museums, theatres and other entertainment venues can open, but they must close at 11pm. 
• You can attend both indoor and outdoor events like performances and shows, and to watch spectator sport. Capacity will continue to be limited.

Read more on restrictions on businesses and venues in Tier 2 areas

Work and travel

• You should continue working from home if you can.   
• You can travel to venues or amenities which are open, but you should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible.  You should continue to walk or cycle where possible, and plan ahead to avoid busy times and routes.   
• If you travel from a Tier 2 area to a Tier 1 area you must continue to follow the London Tier 2 rules.  You should avoid travel to or overnight stays in Tier 3 areas.

Places of worship and community settings

• Communal worship can now begin again, but you still cannot meet socially with other households in these venues. 
• Public buildings like libraries and community centres can be fully open, but you still cannot meet socially with other households in these venues. 
• Weddings and funerals can take place. 15 people can attend a wedding ceremony and 30 people can attend a funeral service. 

NHS services, including GP services and dentist remain open.

1. Keep a safe distance from others.  Stay two metres apart from people you do not live with as much as possible.   
2. Wherever you cannot keep a safe distance from others wear a face covering. It is mandatory to wear a face covering on public transport and in shops. 
3. Wash your hands frequently and carry hand sanitiser when you are out. 
4. When meeting people you don’t live with do so outdoors where possible.  Make sure indoor venues have good ventilation; open windows and doors when you can to allow fresh air to circulate.  
5. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms (high fever, continuous cough, loss of taste or smell) then self-isolate immediately and request a test as soon as you can. 
6. If you are over 60 or clinically vulnerable you could be at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus. You should therefore be especially careful to follow the London Tier 2 rules and to minimise your contact with others. If you are clinically extremely vulnerable then the Government is advising you to work from home and to stay at home as much as possible. The Government will write to everyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable with detailed advice.

Read the full government guidance pages.

What you need to know for Christmas

This Christmas is still going to be very different to previous years. 

The Government has announced that between Wednesday 23 and Sunday 27 December you can form an exclusive “Christmas bubble”.  These can include people from a maximum of three households and they must be exclusive. If you are travelling to Northern Ireland, you may also travel on the 22 and 28 December in addition to the other days.   

When deciding how you want to spend Christmas you should remember that the more people that mix from different households, the more likely it is that you or someone else will catch or spread coronavirus. This puts yourself, your family, friends and communities at risk, undoing all of our efforts to bring down cases.   

Consider the risks carefully before agreeing to form a Christmas bubble. Especially if you are thinking about meeting up with vulnerable people or would need to travel a long distance.  You should try and keep your Christmas bubble as small as possible.  Do what is best and safest for you and your loved ones.