COVID-19 Support for individuals
Coronavirus rules for Pendle
Current guidance
Coronavirus remains a serious health risk. It’s important to stay cautious and help protect yourself and others.
In September the Government outlined its COVID-19 plan for autumn and winter.
It has replaced rules and regulations with practical steps on how you can manage the risk to yourself and others:
- Meeting outdoors is safer. If you are meeting indoors let fresh air in. Opening your window for just 10 minutes, or a small amount of time continuously where you can, makes a huge difference
- Wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed settings where you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet
- If you’re not feeling well and have COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolate and take a full PCR test
- Try to stay at home if you’re feeling unwell, for example if you have cold or flu symptoms
- Take a lateral flow test twice a week in case you have the virus and don’t have symptoms
- Wash your hands regularly to help limit the spread
- Download and use the NHS Covid-19 app on your smartphone
The best way to protect yourself and others from the virus is to get vaccinated. If you are fully vaccinated or under 18, you don't have to self-isolate if you have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19. You should still take a PCR test and self-isolate if it’s positive, or if you have symptoms.
Enhanced Support Area
Pendle, along with all parts of Lancashire, has been designated an Enhanced Support Area and will receive more Government support. The support will improve access to testing and vaccination sites to try and stop the virus from spreading and local restrictions being imposed.
To help stop the spread, you should take particular caution when meeting anyone outside your household.
According to Government guidance, you should try to:
- meet outside rather than inside where possible
- minimise travel in and out of Lancashire
You should also:
- get tested twice a week for free and isolate if you are positive
- continue to work from home if you can
- get vaccinated when you are offered it, and encourage others to do so as well
You should get tested for COVID-19. This includes:
- arranging to have a PCR test if you have COVID-19 symptoms
- getting regular rapid lateral flow tests if you do not have COVID-19 symptoms
- arranging a testing or managed quarantine package if you plan to travel to red or amber list countries.
You should self-isolate immediately if you have symptoms or a positive test result for COVID-19. There is financial support if you’re off work because of coronavirus.
Please take care and remember it’s as important as ever to wash your hands, wear a face mask in enclosed spaces.
Information about how to get your vaccination is on our COVID-19 Vaccinations page.
Getting tested for Coronavirus
It's important to get a COVID-19 test if you have any of the following main symptoms of coronavirus:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
When to self-isolate
If you are under 18 or have had both vaccinations you don't have to self-isolate if you come into contact with someone who has tested positive.
Instead, you are advised to take a PCR test. If you test positive you must self-isolate for 10 days.
If you have not had both vaccinations, you must self-isolate as before.