Government guidance and advice

National lockdown: Stay at Home

• You must stay at home. This is the single most important action we can all take to protect the NHS and save lives.
• You must not leave your home unless necessary.
• Stay 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household or bubble.

Find out what you can and cannot do

UK Government guidance and support

Guidance and support on:

• Local COVID Alert Levels
• Protect yourself and others from coronavirus
• Testing for coronavirus
• Work and financial support
• Businesses and self-employed people
• School openings, education and childcare
• International travel and immigration
• Driving and transport in the UK
• Healthcare workers, carers and care settings
• Health and wellbeing
• Housing and accommodation
• Volunteering and offering help
• When someone dies

NHS Test and Trace

The free NHS COVID-19 app is a vital part of the NHS Test and Trace service.

Information for residents shielding

Advice on shielding changed on 6 July. Essential food parcel deliveries ended on 31 July.

Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19.

Government guidance on face coverings 

Face coverings must be worn on public transport and from the 24 July 2020 in shops and supermarkets.

WhatsApp coronavirus information service

To use the free GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp:

• Add 07860 064422 to your phone contacts
• Message the word hi in a WhatsApp message

Users will get information on topics such as coronavirus prevention and symptoms, advice on staying at home, travel advice and myth busting.

Essex County Council Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Updates on how coronavirus is affecting services, and information, advice and guidance for residents.

Coronavirus Easy Read

Easy Read documents are for people with learning disabilities to help them understand important information. The information is written in short sentences that avoid difficult words or jargon.

Lots of other people use Easy Read information too:

• Older people
• Young people and children
• People who don’t speak english as a first language
• People who don’t have enough time to read long, complex versions of information