Bradford District prepared for easing of restrictions

The Bradford District has been making preparations for the next Step on the Government’s Roadmap out of Lockdown.

On Monday 10 May the Government announced that Step Three of their roadmap would go ahead as planned

From today Monday, 17 May up to six people or two households, will be able to meet indoors and up to 30 people will be able to gather outdoors.

The Government is updating their guidance on meeting family and friends. With members of the public being able to make informed, personal decisions on close contact, such as hugging.

Pubs, restaurants, cafes and bars are now able to serve customers indoors and indoor entertainment, like museums, cinemas, theatres and play areas are able to reopen. Bradford Council is reminding businesses that are reopening that they should have reviewed their Covid secure procedures so they are as safe as possible for reopening.

Two of the council-run museums in the district, Cliffe Castle and Bolling Hall are planning to reopen on 19 May and staff have been working hard to make sure they comply with the Covid secure guidelines.

Live entertainment can also now return to Bradford Theatres venues, with Yorkshire-born comedian Billy Pearce at St George's Hall, Bradford on Friday 18 June with an adult comedy show - the first of a series of socially distanced shows at the historic venue. King's Hall in Ilkley is also planning to reopen with Dr John Cooper Clarke on 1 July and the Alhambra Theatre is preparing to raise the curtain once again in September with Dolly Parton's feel-good musical 9 to 5.

Organised adult sport and exercise classes can resume indoors and saunas and steam rooms may reopen and Council-run Sports and Leisure Centres across the district are putting plans in place to resume their fitness classes.

International travel can also begin to safely reopen from today, 17 May, allowing people to go on holidays to ‘green’ list countries, but strict border control measures will remain.

In secondary schools and colleges, the Government has said that face coverings will no longer be required in classrooms or for students in communal areas, but twice weekly home testing will remain to control infection rates. However, Bradford Council recommends the continued wearing of face coverings in some educational settings. They recommend that face coverings should be worn by staff and visitors in situations outside of classrooms where social distancing is not possible. They also recommend that pupils in secondary schools, special schools and FE colleges should continue to wear face coverings in corridors and communal areas in schools, but not in classrooms.

The Council has stressed that this is advice and not mandatory and that head teachers may choose to decide otherwise and anyone who is unsure should contact their school or college.

All remaining university students will be able to return to in-person teaching and learning, with twice weekly testing.

Up to 30 people can now attend weddings, receptions, and commemorative events including wakes, as well as standalone life-cycle events. These can take place outdoors or at any indoor Covid secure venue that is permitted to open. The number of people able to attend a funeral will be determined by the number that can be safely accommodated in the venue with social distancing in place. The Council will be working with venues to ensure that these events can happen safely.

Care homes residents will be able to have up to five named visitors, with two visitors able to attend at once provided they are tested and follow infection control measures. Residents will also have greater freedoms to leave their home without having to isolate on their return.

Sarah Muckle Bradford Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “We are all looking forward to the further easing of restrictions, but we need to continue to follow the guidelines around hands, face, space and fresh air. Remember the key behaviours of washing hands, wearing face coverings, making space and meeting in the fresh air to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and help keep our families, friends and communities safe.”

Bradford Council Leader, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, said: “We’re continuing to work with businesses to help them reopen safely, and our teams are working hard to make sure that measures are in place in the venues that we are getting ready to reopen. Infection rates in the district are still relatively high, so it is important that we all continue to do all we can.”

Information about what people can and can’t do from today, Monday 17 May can be found on the Government’s website: www.gov.uk/coronavirus

For information about COVID-19 in the Bradford district visit www.bradford.gov.uk/coronavirus