Coronavirus Information

Vaccinations

Find out more about the vaccination process on the government website.

Ashford Borough Council continues to work closely with Public Health England and other partners to respond to the changing restrictions and aims to support residents and businesses as much as we can through this difficult period.

Coronavirus Lockdown Restriction Easing

Step 1 of the government's roadmap to easing Coronavirus lockdown restrictions has now taken effect. As a result, you are now allowed to do the following.

+ Education

Schools and colleges open for all students.
Practical Higher Education courses.

+ Events

Funerals (30).
Weddings, wakes and receptions (15).
Event pilots.

+ Social Contact

Rule of 6 or two households outdoors.
Household only indoors.

+ Business and Activities

Organised outdoor sport (children and adults).
Outdoor sport and leisure facilities.
All outdoor children's activities.
Outdoor parent and child group (up to 15 parents).
Wraparound care, including sport, for all children.
All retail.
Personal care.
Libraries and community centres.
Most outdoor attractions.
Indoor leisure including gyms (individual use only).
Self-contained accommodation.
All children's activities.
Outdoor hospitality.
Indoor parent and child groups (up to 15 parents).

+ Travel

Domestic overnight stays (household only).
No international holidays.

You can view and download a poster which shows a breakdown of the latest coronavirus restrictions as of 12 April 2021 - view coronavirus 12 April roadmap poster [pdf] 141KB.

Roadmap to Easing Coronavirus Lockdown Restrictions

Step 3 – No earlier than 17 May 2021 (at least 5 weeks after step 2)

+ Social Contact

Maximum 30 people outdoors.
Rule of 6 or two households indoors (subject to review).

+ Business and Activities

Indoor hospitality.
Indoor entertainment and attractions.
Organised indoor sport (adult).
Remaining accommodation.
Remaining outdoor entertainment (including performances).

+ Travel

Domestic overnight stays.
International travel (subject to review).

+ Events

Most significant life events (30).
Indoor events: 1,000 people or 50% capacity.
Outdoor seated events: 10,000 people or 25% capacity.
Other outdoor events: 4,000 people or 50% capacity.

Step 4 – No earlier than 21 June 2021 (at least 5 weeks after step 3)

+ Social Contact

No legal limit.

+ Business and Activities

Remaining businesses, including nightclubs.

+ Travel

Domestic overnight stays.
International travel.

+ Events

No legal limit on life events.
Larger events.

Visit the government website for more information on the roadmap to easing Coronavirus restrictions.

You can keep up to date with the latest information on Coronavirus on the government website or visit NHS UK for advice and information. More information for businesses can be found on our Coronavirus advice for businesses page. We have also prepared information for Council Housing tenants.

Find out how council services are affected.

If you are vulnerable and need urgent support that cannot be met through existing support networks, get in touch with Kent Together or call 03000 419292.

Other guidance and support

There are some things you can do to help stop viruses spreading:

We also have information on how you can help others on our Coronavirus: Help for community groups page. This has information around how to get involved as well as a list of voluntary and community groups in the borough. There are several food banks throughout the borough, and some of these can be viewed on our food bank map.

We also have guidance and practical tips to help you to keep active and protect your mental health in our Coronavirus: Help for families and individuals section.

Our key responsibilities are to protect our communities (especially those who are vulnerable), our staff, to maintain priority service delivery and assist our business community where possible.

If you are a company that is offering to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) please contact us by sending an email to PPE@ashford.gov.uk.

We have produced a document with Coronavirus guidance and advice translated into Nepalese – view Nepalese guidance and advice [pdf] 49KB. You can also translate our website using Google Translate (you just need to select the language you want to translate the website to, and then click the blue hyperlink below it).

How Ashford Borough Council is responding to the situation

Following the Government's announcement of tighter of coronavirus restrictions, we continue to closely monitor the emerging situation and we would like to reassure our residents the council has contingency plans in place which set out how services will operate in the event there is any disruption to normal business.

These plans are being regularly reviewed in light of Coronavirus and ongoing advice from central government. Officers are meeting regularly and working with partners in the Kent Resilience Forum which is continually monitoring the situation across Kent.

Prevent Coronavirus spreading

cover your mouth with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze;
put used tissues in the bin straight away;
wash your hands often with soap and water, or hand sanitiser gel;
try and avoid close contact with people who are unwell;
do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands aren't clean.

If you think you may have symptoms of the virus, use the online NHS 111 Coronavirus service or call 119 to book a test. Do not visit your GP, pharmacy or hospital. You should self-isolate for 10 days or until you get a negative test result.

View the government's latest video on reducing the spread of coronavirus below:

If you spot a business operating when it should be closed, or groups of people gathering and ignoring social distancing measures, you can report incidents to Kent Police.

Page last updated: Monday 12 April 2021