With Swindon now in Tier 2, help keep yourself and others safe by reading the below 10 things you need to know and do:

1. What should I do if someone in my household has COVID-19, or has symptoms?
   
2. What do I need to do if I have COVID-19 symptoms?
   
3. How and where can I get tested for COVID-19?
   
4. What do I need to do if I receive a negative COVID-19 test result?
   
5. What do I need to do if I receive a positive COVID-19 test result?
   
6. What can I do to look after mine and my families' mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic?
   
7. How can I reduce the spread of COVID-19 in my household?
   
8. What do I need to do if I’m clinically extremely vulnerable?
   
9. What support is available to me if I'm employed but cannot work due to COVID-19?
10. What help is available if I lose my job due to COVID-19?
    

As of today (4 Dec), Swindon's 7-day case rate was 134 cases per 100,000 of the population which remains above the average for the South West region of 87 per 100,000 but below the 149 per 100,000 case rate for England as a whole. In the last seven days (correct as of 4 Dec) there have been 299 new positive cases in Swindon, down from 303 new cases last Friday (27 Nov).

We know that some of you will be keen to get out and do some Christmas shopping this weekend but we need to make sure this is done safely. Many retailers are operating longer opening hours than usual and to help them to welcome people back, we’ve introduced a fixed £1 rate from 4pm onwards at Brunel North, Brunel West and Fleming Way multi-storey car parks. This aims to encourage shoppers to visit throughout the evening to help spread shoppers out and alleviate long queues. Read more here. 

When you do head out, please remember:

• You must not mix with people who aren't part of your household/bubble indoors
• You should not share a car with people who aren't part of your household/bubble
• Keep washing hands regularly, wear a face covering and keep your distance from others

Laura is a Senior Sister in the Intensive Care Unit at the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She has seen first-hand the devastating impact of COVID-19 on people living in Swindon and their families. To protect yourself, your loved ones and our hospital staff, who are working day and night to battle this virus on the frontline, please listen to Laura’s story and follow the latest coronavirus guidance.

Play your part, stop the spread and protect our hospital.

Let’s do it for our GWH.

The holiday season is officially upon us and this year we are dreaming of a low waste Christmas. Did you know over the festive season it is estimated that we create 30 per cent more waste? That’s a huge strain on our natural resources and our environment. This year to help you recycle more, we will be bringing you extra services over the festive period. Find out more.

There will also be some minor changes to waste and recycling collections over Christmas and New Year. If your collection has been affected, Santa’s little helpers will be out shortly tagging your bins to inform you of your revised collection date. You can also find out whether your collections have been affected on our website.

Care home residents have been reunited with their families, thanks to the staff at Fessey House. Staff at the care home have created COVID-safe spaces that allow relatives and residents to catch up through decorated windows and a specially installed intercom system.

For some residents, it was the first visit they’ve had in quite a long time. Whitbourne House in Park South has also created a similar space. A small marquee and intercom system has been installed outside the home’s conservatory so family members can see relatives through a glass window.

Times are tough for a lot of us, none more so than our vulnerable residents. Our Community Health & Wellbeing Team and team of volunteers have been busy helping with shopping, providing advice and supporting people home from hospital to keep our vulnerable residents safe and well. If you or someone you know needs support, head to our website to find out how we can help.

This week, the Council has deployed teams across Swindon to protect the public and provide advice to businesses to help them navigate the Tier 2 rules. Our Licensing department, Trading Standards and Environmental Health teams have been working closely with businesses and licensed premises, offering support and advice where necessary, to ensure they understand the rules.

COVID marshals are still carrying out regular patrols across town with Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) from Wiltshire Police to provide advice and support to those who need it. 

We have already invested over £15m in recent years on low carbon interventions including the construction of solar energy farms, the installation of electric vehicle charging points, the installation of LED street lights and the investment in electric vehicles. 

Let us know what you think about our Carbon Reduction Strategy which sets out our next steps to make council operations carbon neutral by 2030 and influence the wider town to reach net zero before 2050. The consultation is open until Friday, 8 January, visit our website to leave your comments and ideas on our plans.

When complete, the Wichelstowe Southern Access scheme will create an additional route into Wichelstowe via an underpass running underneath the M4. The North section of the underpass, (phase one) is now complete. As work begins on the south section (phase two), from Monday, (7 Dec) to Saturday, 12 December, the M4 will be closed overnight (8pm-6am) between junctions 15 and 16, to allow us to divert traffic onto the newly built section of the underpass.

Work is also ongoing along Hay Lane to connect the new Southern Access road to both Hay Lane and Wharf Road via a new roundabout on the south side of the motorway. From Wednesday, (9 Dec) to Tuesday, 22 December (9.30-15.30), two-way temporary traffic lights will be in place on Wharf Road, to allow cable to be laid.

We’ve teamed up with several local authorities in the region to promote the benefits of fostering with your council. Foster carers make a huge difference to the lives of children and young people, helping to create happy memories, particularly at this time of year. Head to our Facebook page to check out the festive fostering content and visit our website to find out more about becoming a foster carer.

Time is running out. There’s only 28 days to make sure you’re ready for the end of the Brexit transition.

You need to act now if you’re:

• a business who imports or exports goods from the EU or Northern Ireland
• travelling, living and working in the EU
• staying in the UK if you’re an EU citizen

Find out more. 

• Rough sleepers in Swindon are to benefit from a new scheme intended to help them get better access to support services and encourage them to come off the streets.
• We are seeking views on plans to ease Rodbourne congestion. Residents and businesses in Rodbourne have been asked to feedback on plans to improve the local road network.