As you will have seen on the news, the Government has taken urgent action in the face of rapid rises in COVID-19 cases across the South East.

The Borough of Epsom and Ewell, and most of Surrey, will be in the new Tier 4 from Sunday 20 December. This is a stricter range of restrictions and impacts on us all as individuals, families and businesses.

It also means that Christmas, which was already going to be different, is going to be significantly impacted, as different households in Tier 4 are no longer permitted to spend time together during Christmas as the Government had previously planned.

Here’s what you need to know about Tier 4 right now:

• You can only spend Christmas with your household and support bubble if you have one - Christmas bubbles of up to three households are no longer allowed in Tier 4 areas
• Stay at home as much as possible
• Do not leave Tier 4 - you should not travel beyond your local area unless for a permitted reason such as for work if you cannot work from home, a medical need or to care for someone vulnerable
• Non-essential retail, gyms, leisure centres, and personal care outlets like hairdressers will close - shops like supermarkets and pharmacies will remain open
• No household mixing indoors or in private gardens
• You can only meet one person from another household in an outdoor public place
• Work from home if you can
• Communal worship can still take place
• International travel is not allowed except for certain business reasons

If you have a medical appointment, including to have the vaccine, please ensure you turn up for it.

Please follow the new restrictions very closely, so that we can protect our NHS and prevent more deaths.

Christmas is going to be very different this year, but we will get through this.

Stay safe.

Clive Smitheram
Chair of the Residents Associations
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council

Information on Tier 4 can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-4-stay-at-home