THURROCK Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill has called on borough residents to back Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the government after this evening's (Monday, 4 January) announcement that the country is going into a third national lockdown.

Mr Johnson made his announcement earlier this evening and included the news that students will not have to face exams this coming year.

Cllr Gledhill, made his own announcement soon after Mr Johnson spoke, saying: "Tonight's announcement means that everyone must stay at home, which means only leaving your house or being outside of your home when absolutely necessary, such as when shopping for essential necessities or exercising. School children in Thurrock will continue to receive their education online over the coming weeks.

"This will be a challenging time for many parents who will have to balance working from home and assisting their children with online learning, but it is unfortunately the only course of action available to help to halt the spread of this highly infectious new variant of COVID-19. I welcome the news that those eligible for free school meals will continue to receive this provision whilst children are unable to attend school face-to-face.

"The lockdown will of course also be yet another setback to our local business community, many of whose premises will now remain closed until at least mid-February, and I urge all those eligible to apply for grants or funding available to them during this time.

"I know the lockdown will come as a big disappointment to people who hoped that the arrival of 2021 would see the virus banished, but with the roll out of the vaccine programme there is light at the end of the tunnel. We must work together to protect the most vulnerable in society, including those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and who once more return to shielding.

"As the Prime Minister said, this is a tough and frustrating time and the weeks ahead will be the hardest yet but now, more than ever, we must pull together."

Here's an outline of what this third lockdown for England means:

Like the first UK lockdown in March, all residents in England must stay at home, only leaving home for work if it is impossible to work from home such as construction, manufacture or critical workers. People can also leave home to provide voluntary or charitable services.

People can leave their homes to shop for necessities - for themselves or others - or to exercise locally once a day.

Exercise is permitted with one person from outside a household or support bubble. Social distancing must be maintained.

Overnight stays away from home are not permitted unless it is a person within a support bubble or you have a reasonable excuse. This means that holidays in the UK and abroad are not allowed, including staying in a second home or caravan.

Those extremely clinically vulnerable should stay at home as much as possible.

Other reasons permitting you to leave home include:

• to provide care or help to a vulnerable person
• medical appointments or care
• fleeing harm
• Animal welfare (eg veterinary appointments)

People should not travel outside of their local area.

From midnight tonight (Monday, 4 January) all schools will be closed and learning will be carried out remotely except for children of key workers or those that are vulnerable. Special schools will remain open. This was already in place in Thurrock.

University and college students will be expected to stay where they are and not return until at least mid-February. Nurseries will remain open.

BTEC exams scheduled for the next few days will go ahead as planned. As for GCSE and A levels, the government says there will be a discussion between the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) and the Department for Education about next steps.

However, it is expected that exams will not take place as normal this academic year. In his address, Mr Johnson warned it would "not be possible or fair for all exams to go ahead as planned this summer".

Residents can leave home to visit someone within their support bubble or to provide informal childcare for children under 14 as part of a childcare bubble.

People are also permitted to attend a support group of up to 15 people for respite care where that care is being provided to a vulnerable person or a person with a disability.

Non-essential shops will have to close. All non-essential retail, hospitality and personal care businesses must close.

Restaurants can offer takeaway and delivery but are not allowed to serve alcohol.

Essential shops, that can remain open include:

• Supermarkets
• Pharmacies
• Off-licences
• Builders' merchants
• Garden centres
• Launderettes
• Car repair shops
• Car washes
• Banks
• Market stalls selling essentials
• Bike shops

Non-essential shops, that are required to close, include:

Other venues including zoos, golf and tennis clubs and outdoor gyms must close and team sports are not permitted.

However, elite sports will continue as will PE lessons and clubs for those children at school.

Places of worship will be permitted to open for socially distanced services and playgrounds will remain open.

• Hairdressers
• Personal care salons such as tanning shops and tattoo parlours
• Entertainment venues such as cinemas, skating rinks and bowling alleys
• Restaurants and other hospitality venues can continue with delivery or takeaway only, but people will not be able to add alcohol to any orders they collect.
• Sports, leisure and worship

Weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and funerals are allowed to take place with strict limits on attendance.

A maximum of 30 people can attend funerals in Covid-secure venues. Other events such as commemorative events such as ash scattering can continue with up to six people in attendance. People working in the services are not counted in these limits.

Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies can only take place with up to six people in attendance. Government guidelines say that weddings should only take place in exceptional circumstances, such as an urgent marriage where one of those getting married is seriously ill and not expected to recover, or is to undergo debilitating treatment or life-changing surgery.

The Government guidance says visits to care homes can take place only with "substantial screens, visiting pods, or behind windows".

Close-contact indoor visits are not allowed and no visits will be permitted in the event of a Covid outbreak at a home.

International travel is only permitted for essential reasons only. Only essential journeys abroad are permitted. Holidays abroad or in the UK are not allowed. People already on holiday should return as soon as possible.

As per Tier 4 rules and similar to the first lockdown, people are permitted to move house.

People outside your household or support bubble should not help with moving house unless absolutely necessary. Estate and letting agents and removals firms can continue to work. Property viewings are permitted.

As per previous rules, cleaners and tradespeople can enter your home.

There is no extra financial support offered but the furlough scheme remains in operation until April.

Police can issue fixed penalty notices.

Everyone in England, regardless of the Tier their area was in, and even if they have been vaccinated, must adhere to the new rules. The lockdown is being enshrined in law and police cantake action if people leave home without a reasonable excuse.

The police can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.