UPDATE: North Tyneside Council have their say on Covid-19 travel ban
The Government had published advice due to cases of the Indian strain
Last updated 25th May 2021
UPDATE 16:50
Another statement from North Tyneside's elected Mayor Norma Redfearn states the following:
“After a day of confusion the government have clarified there are no restrictions on travel in or out of North Tyneside.
“The position for North Tyneside is as we were. We are at the same stage of the roadmap as the rest of the country.
“We have seen throughout the pandemic that clear communications are vital and this confusion has caused stress and anxiety for many people in North Tyneside and the region.
“There was no consultation on this advice, which was wrong. With the work we are doing on enhanced testing and additional vaccinations there was never any justification for the suggestion travel should not take place in and out of the borough.
“I am pleased that we have been able to clear up that confusion after meetings with government officials.”
UPDATE 15:23
The Director of Public Health for North Tyneside says there will be no local lockdown and no added coronavirus restrictions placed on the area.
You can read the full statement from the council below:
A meeting took place today between government representatives and other affected local authorities after it became known that the Government had updated its website to include specific advice around North Tyneside and some other areas where the new Covid-19 variant has been identified as spreading.
Wendy Burke, Director of Public Health for North Tyneside said:
“Following the national coverage of recently revised guidance we have met with national officials and confirmed there are no restrictions on travel in or out of North Tyneside. There are no local lockdowns.
“In areas where the new COVID variant is spreading we are all working together to boost testing and vaccination and to support self-isolation. There are sensible public health precautions people can take as individuals in line with the sorts of advice we have all been following throughout the pandemic.
“We will keep sharing that and working with national officials to make sure people understand what they need to think about as they go about their daily lives.”
FROM EARLIER:
The government is advising people to avoid all non-essential travel in and out of North Tyneside due to the spread of the Indian Covid variant.
The borough is one of eight council areas in England that should be avoided “unless it is essential”, according to guidance on the government’s website.
The stricter advice appears to have been published online on Friday without an official announcement being made.
Today (25th May) North Tyneside Council have released a statement,
The guidance applies to North Tyneside, Bedford, Blackburn and Darwen, Bolton, Burnley, Kirklees, Leicester, and Hounslow – all areas that have seen outbreaks of the fast-spreading strain.
It states: “The new Covid-19 variant spreads more easily from person to person. To help stop the spread, you should take particular caution when meeting anyone outside your household or support bubble.
“In the areas listed, wherever possible, you should try to meet outside rather than inside where possible, keep two metres apart from people that you don’t live with (unless you have formed a support bubble with them), this includes friends and family you don’t live with, and avoid travelling in and out of affected areas unless it is essential, for example for work (if you cannot work from home) or education.”
It also advises people in the eight areas to get tested for Covid twice a week, continue to work from home if possible, and get vaccinated when offered the jab.