District council gives North Kesteven residents guidance on the dos and don’ts of the November lockdown

The new rules require people to stay at home, except for specific purposes such as work if you cannot work from home.

It prevents households gathering with people you do not live with, except for specific purposes and will close certain businesses and venues.

These new measures are designed to help prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed, while ensuring that schools, colleges and universities stay open and as many people as possible can continue to work.

At the end of the period the Government may look to return to a regional approach, based on the latest data and situation at that time.

North Kesteven District Council has said from Thursday its three leisure centre sites - One NK in North Hykeham, Sleaford Leisure Centre and Better Gym Sleaford - will close temporarily.

Members of the facilities will not be charged for the lockdown period.

They invite members to stay tuned to their social media pages for inspiration and ideas to stay fit during lockdown.

The National Centre for Craft and Design in Sleaford will also be closing during the lockdown, but will be still bringing activities and ideas to you via its Facebook page, NCCD Family and Community Facebook group and its website.

Whisby Natural World Centre car park, toilets and the kiosk for takeaway drinks and light snacks will be staying open. The kiosk will be open 9.30am – 3.30pm daily and car parking charges still apply.

As for meeting up with others, NKDC reminds people to consider “hands - face - space” when using these facilities.

You must also stick to the restrictions on meeting others outdoors. While you may travel a short distance locally for exercise, you must not travel outside your area and travel by foot or bike is preferable.

The council will also be promoting details of its Stepping Out walks across the district – you can find your nearest walk HERE.

Tourism venues in the district are to close from Thursday until further notice. That includes Mrs Smith’s Cottage in Navenby, Cogglesford Watermill and Cranwell Aviation Heritage Museum.

The teams behind them will be enhancing their digital visitor experience over the coming days and weeks so you can still enjoy them from home. Look out for more on this by following @heartoflincs

If you need assistance during lockdown, for example, because you cannot leave the house to pick up medication or food, you can call 01522 782189 to request support or go HERE. You will be linked with community assistance in your area.

If you are told by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate, you could qualify for a one-off payment. Find out more HERE.

What are the restrictions?

You must stay at home, unless you need to leave for:

* Childcare or education, where this is not provided online.

* Work purposes, where your place of work remains open and where you cannot work from home (including if your job involves working in other people’s homes).

* Exercise outdoors or visit an outdoor public place - with the people you live with, with your support bubble or, when on your own, with one person from another household (children under school age, as well as those dependent on round-the-clock care, such as those with severe disabilities, who are with their parents will not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside).

* Any medical concerns, reasons, appointments and emergencies, or to avoid or escape risk of injury or harm - such as domestic abuse.

* Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which should be as infrequent as possible.

* Visiting members of your support bubble or provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer.

This list is not exhaustive and further circumstances may be set out in law.

Which businesses will need to close?

* All non-essential retail, including but not limited to, clothing and electronics, vehicle showrooms, travel agents, betting shops, auction houses, tailors, car washes, tobacco and vape shops.

* Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, leisure centres and gyms, sports facilities including swimming pools, golf courses and driving ranges, dance studios, stables and riding centres, soft play facilities, climbing walls and climbing centres, archery and shooting ranges, water and theme parks.

* Entertainment venues such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, casinos, adult gaming centres and arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, concert halls, zoos and animal attractions, botanical gardens.

* Personal care facilities such as hair, beauty and nail salons, tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, body and skin piercing services, non-medical acupuncture, and tanning salons.

- Food shops, supermarkets, garden centres and certain other retailers providing essential goods and services can remain open.

- Non-essential retail can operate for delivery to customers and click-and-collect.

- Restaurants, bars and pubs must close, but can still provide takeaway and delivery services, including takeaway of alcohol if it is pre-ordered and customers do not enter the premises.

The BusinessNK team will share more information, including any update on grant funding, as it is available. For more visit the website HERE.