COVID-19 updates

Last updated: 24 February 2022 at 8.30am

On Thursday 24 February 2022, all remaining domestic COVID-19 regulations in England were lifted. This means:

You are no longer legally required to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19, however it is still advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least five full days.
Fully vaccinated adults and those aged under 18 who are identified as close contacts are no longer advised to test daily for seven days and the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate has been removed.
Staff and students in most education and childcare settings are no longer required to undertake twice weekly asymptomatic testing.
Self-isolation support payments, national funding for practical support and the medicine delivery service will no longer be available.
Routine contact tracing has ended, including venue check-ins on the NHS COVID-19 app.

From Friday 1 April, the Government will:

Remove the current guidance on voluntary COVID-status certification in domestic settings and no longer recommend that certain venues use the NHS COVID Pass.
End free universal symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public in England.

The government has published its plan for living with COVID-19. This includes:

Getting vaccinated
Letting in fresh air if you meet indoors
Considering wearing a face covering in crowded or enclosed spaces
Washing hands and following advice to ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’

Our borough has many communities, and residents will have different views, anxieties and personal circumstances. It is important to think of others and use personal judgement to manage your own risk. Please respect each other’s views.

Symptoms of COVID-19

The main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are:

a high temperature
a new, continuous cough
a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. Most people with symptoms have at least one of these.

There is more information and advice on the NHS website.

Testing for COVID-19

Free rapid tests will be available for residents until 1 April 2022. Kits can be collected from participating pharmacies across the borough. You can also order home testing kits for delivery online on the GOV.UK website.

Step-by-step instructions are included with the test kit, or you can find a video demonstration or alternative language versions online.

More information about how residents can access tests after this date is expected from the government shortly.

COVID-19 Community Hub

The Hampshire Coronavirus Support and Helpline provides advice and help from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday and 9am to 4pm on Sunday and bank holidays. You can contact the helpline on 0333 370 4000 and someone will be able to provide you with advice or refer your request for support to the local community hub.

Although the helpline will resolve complex cases, most other enquiries will be passed to Basingstoke Voluntary Action to arrange local support from a community hub, such as deliveries of food.

The Connect to Support Hampshire website features a directory of helpful guidance ranging from helplines to advice on keeping your home warm.

Finding it hard to be at home? Visit our support services webpage to find information on a number of local and national charities continuing to provide support on issues such as mental health, loneliness and domestic abuse.

Hampshire COVID-19 data

Keep up to date on how coronavirus is affecting Hampshire on Hampshire County Council’s website.

Guidance in different languages

View the guidance in different languages for people having to self-isolate with COVID-19 (or suspected) on the GOV.UK website.

British Sign Language

Find out about coronavirus information in British Sign Language.

Risk assessments for staff

As part of our ongoing duty of care to all staff at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council our overarching COVID-19 risk assessments have been updated both for office working and for off site visits or inspections. Following consultation locally with UNISON, these updated assessments are now being made available publicly in addition to being shared with staff.

BDBC COVID-19 Office Risk Assessment - September 2021(PDF) [169 kb]

BDBC COVID-19 Off Site Visits or Inspections Risk Assessment - July 2021(PDF) [179 kb]