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Uttlesford remains in Tier 2

The government has confirmed that Uttlesford will remain a Tier 2 area (High Alert) as part of the Covid-19 restrictions.

Under current guidance, anyone living in a Tier 2 area must:

Not mix with other households indoors
Only meet people outdoors in groups of six or less
Work from home if possible
Reduce the number of journeys they make

This is in addition to washing your hands regularly, wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces and staying at least two metres apart from other people – or one metre with a face covering or other precautions.

► See full details of what you can and cannot do in a Tier 2 area

From 23 to 27 December, there are different Christmas rules for meeting friends and family.

► See message from Cllr John Lodge, Leader of Uttlesford District Council

Latest Covid data for Essex

Essex residents are being residents to continue following Covid guidelines as the latest rate for the county has risen to 305.3 per 100,000 – a 79 per cent increase over the last seven days.

Nearly every area of Essex has seen a significant increase in the rate of Covid, with the total number of cases rising to 4,547 in the seven days up to 10 December.

Cases are very high in specific age groups, with the rates for people over 60 now standing at 140 per 100,000 – an increase of 37% in the past week. The 11-18 age group has also seen an especially steep and rapid rise, with the rate now standing at 457 per 100,000.

► Read the latest Covid press release from Essex County Council

► See the week's Covid data for Essex

Vaccination programme

vaccinations GP-led local vaccination centres are beginning to open their doors in the district, with Stansted Surgery being one of the first to administer the vaccination.

To protect those who are the most at risk first, the vaccine is initially being offered in the community to people aged over 80. Getting the vaccine to all those in the priority groups will take a number of months.

We can all play our part to assist the vaccination programme by:

waiting to be contacted by the NHS – you will be invited to an appointment when it is your turn. Remember the NHS will never ask you to pay for a Covid-19 vaccination
attending both of your booked appointments
continuing to follow all the guidance to control the spread of the virus and save lives – this means hand-washing thoroughly and regularly, wearing a face covering in line with guidance and maintaining social distancing

► Find out more about the vaccine and how it works from Public Health England

Holiday opening times and out of hours

UDC ► Check Uttlesford District Council opening and closing times over the Christmas and New Year period. This includes details of the out of hours service which is for repairs to council properties and emergencies only.

Changes to Christmas bin collections in Uttlesford

xmas bins Residents are advised that Uttlesford District Council will not be collecting any bins next week (w/c 21 December).

For the week following Christmas (w/c 28 December), we will be collecting the green-lidded recycling bin and food caddy.

Collections on 29, 30 and 31 December will take place as normal. But collections which would have normally taken place on New Year's Day will take place a day later (Saturday 2 January 2021).

Collections of the black-lidded bin will resume from 5 January.

► Find out when to put your bins out over Christmas and what to recycle

The revised schedule has the benefit of enabling our hard-working collection crews to take a well-deserved break for Christmas.

► Read our press release

New funding to cut fuel bills and help tackle climate change

A government grant has been awarded to Essex County Council and seven of the county's city, district and borough councils – including Uttlesford District Council – to install insulation and energy efficient heating in Essex homes.

The new funding will see even more people who are unable to heat their homes properly get help to keep their homes warm this winter.

► Find out more including how to check if you are eligible for the grant

Your local high street delivered

Click it Local continues to go from strength to strength with 60 independent retailers now on board, including some of our best-loved stores in Saffron Walden and Great Dunmow. Delivery is available across the whole of Uttlesford, Cambridge, Ely and Haverhill.

Click it Local gift vouchers are also available – so if you are stuck for a last minute present idea this could be the perfect way to continue supporting our local shops in January!