- England has entered into another national lockdown, the Prime Minister has announced.
- This means you must now stay at home and follow the new guidance immediately.
- Fines of £200 can be given for those breaking the rules without a reasonable excuse.
- Schools will now be closed until after the February half term, though they remain open for key workers and vulnerable children.
KCC Leader Roger Gough
Kent County Council Leader Roger Gough said: “The latest Coronavirus figures clearly show the virus is surging and this third national lockdown is, however regrettably, undoubtedly necessary to get the number of infections down.
“We will continue to support our residents with our local testing and tracing programme and engaging and enforcing with residents and businesses to ensure we can get infection rates down.
“We have launched new rapid symptom-free testing today for people who don’t have symptoms but may be unknowingly spreading the virus.
“KCC will continue to work closely with partners in central Government the 12 district and borough councils, local councils and communities, building on the experience of the last nine months of the pandemic.
“With the continued vaccination programme and all of us playing our part, we will get through this together.
“I know how hard another lockdown will be – not being able to see loved ones, being stuck indoors yet again, a huge impact on businesses and livelihoods – but this is a moment in which we can save lives and prepare for a post-Covid future.
“Thank you to everyone across Kent for all you have done during this time, and we appeal to you now to continue to follow the new national rules.”
The full National Lockdown Guidance is available here.
