The Prime Minister gave a statement at the coronavirus press conference about new national restrictions which will apply across England from Thursday 5 November.
The new national restrictions: 
* require people to stay at home, except for specific purposes
* prevent gathering with people you do not live with, except for specific purposes
* close certain businesses and venues.
Until Thursday 5 November, the relevant Local COVID Alert Level measures will continue to apply in the area where you live. For Rochford District this remains HIGH. From Thursday the national restrictions replace the local restrictions.
Government is encouraging us to download the NHS Test & Trace App.
You can see the latest data for Rochford district and the other parts of Essex via this link https://www.essex.gov.uk/local-outbreak-control-plan This does not yet include data from Southend and Thurrock but it is expected that this will happen soon.
The new measures will apply nationally for four weeks up to Wednesday 2 December. At the end of the period, the Government will look to return to a regional approach, based on the latest data.
Information on the new national restrictions can be found via the link below, including what they mean for working from home and business closures, why they are being introduced and the financial support available.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november [ https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november?utm_source=7bc5dcb3-89f3-4f85-9727-b8e92a3b168f&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate ]
The new restrictions apply to the following situations:
* Staying at home
* Staying safe outside the home (Social Distancing)
* Meeting with family and friends
* Businesses and venues
* Weddings, civil partnerships, religious services and funerals
* Going to work
* Going to school, college and university
* Childcare and childrens activities
* Protecting people more at risk from coronavirus
* Visiting relatives in care homes
* Travel
Complying with the new measures will help limit the spread of coronavirus, reduce the impact on the NHS and save lives. They will be underpinned by law which will make clear about what you must and must not do from 5 November. The relevant authorities, including the police, will have powers to enforce the law including through fines and dispersing gatherings.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be extended until December, to enable employees to be furloughed and receive 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of 2,500. Under the extended scheme, the cost for employers of retaining workers will be reduced compared to the current scheme, which ended on 31 October. The Job Support Scheme which was to have taken effect from 1 November, has been postponed.
Business premises forced to close in England are to receive grants worth up to 3,000 per month under the Local Restrictions Support Grant and 1.1bn is being given to Local Authorities, distributed on the basis of 20 per head, for one-off payments to enable them to support businesses more broadly. More information about the scheme is expected from Government and the Council will act upon it as soon as it is empowered by Government to do so.
Mortgage holidays will also be extended. Borrowers who have been impacted by coronavirus and have not yet had a mortgage payment holiday will be entitled to a six month holiday, and those that have already started a mortgage payment holiday will be able to top up to six months without this being recorded on their credit file. The Financial Conduct Authority will announce further information today.
*NHS advice*
Everyone is reminded to follow the NHS advice which includes preventative measures about social distancing. Please also remember to keep your hands clean, especially if you have been outside e.g. at the supermarket or using an ATM.
*Please use our website!*
We would like to reassure everyone that we are working closely with our partners from across Essex in the NHS, emergency services, county council and other local authorities, ensuring that well-practiced plans are put into place.
*Updates*
The council is monitoring Government guidance daily and will be issuing communications to staff, members and the public regularly, so please watch our website, sign up for e-mail alerts or go to our social media channels to keep up-to-date with the latest information.