(COVID-19) Coronavirus – new variant

If you’re in an area where the new COVID-19 variant is spreading

This new variant is sometimes referred to as the variant first identified in India. It is spreading fastest in:

• 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

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
• 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

Further information:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do