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201214 | Sanitiser's coming to town! Cornwall says enjoy Christmas and don't forget the "snowcial" distancing | Cornwall Council

In the run up to Christmas and new year it is more important than ever to follow the rules in Cornwall.

There was good news recently – we're in the lowest tier of restrictions and early progress is being made with the vaccine roll-out.

But this is not the time to let our guard down and see everyone’s hard work go to waste.

Cllr Sally Hawken, Cornwall Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children, Wellbeing and Public Health, said: “If anything, now is the time to redouble our efforts to follow the public health guidelines, and to ensure we do not waste the hard work we have already put in.

“This is especially important as we build up towards Christmas and new year – which is traditionally a time for socialising.

“We have all missed the normal human interaction we took for granted before this year, and the temptation to meet for festive drinks is strong.

“Thanks to everyone’s hard work and sacrifice, Cornwall has avoided the worst of this global pandemic so far and protected our vulnerable residents. We want to keep it that way.

“To relax now and to undo all of that effort would cost lives, damage our local economy and would be frankly unforgivable.”

So here it is, Merry Christmas...

There will be specific rules for festive get-togethers from national government between 23 and 27 December:

  • You can form an exclusive ‘Christmas bubble’ composed of people from no more than three households
  • You can only be in one Christmas bubble and you cannot change your Christmas bubble
  • You can travel between tiers and UK nations for the purposes of meeting your Christmas bubble
  • You can only meet your Christmas bubble in private homes or in your garden, places of worship, or public outdoor spaces
  • If you form a Christmas bubble, you should try to avoid meeting socially with friends and family that you do not live with in your home or garden unless they are part of your Christmas bubble

However, residents are being urged to think carefully about their festive plans, as the more people we see, the more likely the virus will spread.

Rachel Wigglesworth, Director of Public Health for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “We know it is incredibly easy to catch and spread coronavirus. You can spread it to others even if you and the people you meet have no symptoms.

“With this in mind, we are simply asking you and the other people in your Christmas bubble to consider these risks carefully before agreeing to form a bubble. You could always celebrate Christmas in other ways, by using technology or meeting outdoors for a walk, without bringing households together or travelling between different parts of the country.”

Have a happy, and Covid-safe, new year!

New Year’s Eve will look and feel very different in Cornwall this year with no official events planned in any towns.

The likes of St Ives, Newquay, Looe, Padstow and Truro, where people traditionally gather to enjoy the new year atmosphere and watch the fireworks, have already made it clear that the usual events are cancelled and would urge people to celebrate at home instead of gathering outdoors to help keep everyone safe.

With the winter pressures compounded by the fight against Covid, concerns are already being raised about the strain on our NHS and emergency services this year.

So, Cornwall Council is saying to residents and visitors alike – help us to protect Cornwall and our NHS by following the rules and enjoy the festive season safely.

Rachel Wigglesworth, Director of Public Health for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “If you live in Cornwall you are allowed to follow the rule of six indoors and outdoors – but with no planned events happening we would urge our own residents not to gather in the usual places and celebrate at home wherever they can.

Malcolm Bell, Chief Executive of Visit Cornwall, said holiday accommodation providers in Cornwall are working hard to make potential visitors aware of the rules in Cornwall.

He said: “If you are visiting Cornwall, whether to enjoy a break or visiting relatives, make sure you have a plan with accommodation booked and you and your party are not showing symptoms before travel.

“Anyone coming to Cornwall also needs to remember to follow the guidance for the tier they are in. So visitors from Tier 2 will follow Tier 2 rules in hospitality and accommodation settings.

“Everyone needs to do their bit and stick to the rules this festive season, whether they’re locals or visitors. People in Cornish bubbles could also be carrying the virus as much as visitors might be and everyone needs to be on their guard against the virus.”

More information about Christmas bubbles, rule of six, visiting other areas and other festive advice is available on our website.

 

 

 

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