The National Autistic Society has coronavirus support for autistic people and their families and an autism helpline.The following resources may be helpful for those with disabilities or autism: If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can find an urgent local NHS mental health helpline to call for 24-hour advice and support, or visit our urgent support page. Talking therapies are also available to older people, and translation or multi-lingual services might be available for those whose first language is not English. You can refer yourself for free, non-urgent NHS talking therapies for support with common mental health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression. If you or one of your loved ones needs more support, the NHS is here to help. However, during the second national lockdown in November, those in England under the restrictions were encouraged to still go to school, college and university, while there were no restrictions on exercise.Our pages on common mental health issues and COVID-19 have lots more tips and advice, as well as support if you're a parent or caregiver for a child or young person or helping others with mental health problems. In both tier 4 and a national lockdown, the general order is to 'stay at home' where possible. However, in tier 4 there have been allowances, including keeping golf courses and outdoor swimming pools open. There was even a point back in 2020 when people weren't allowed to leave their homes at all apart from for essential purposes. In lockdown, outdoors sports such as golf and outdoor swimming were strictly off the cards.

While in tier 4, schools, colleges and universities have remained open and the government has urged people to still send their children into schools. This was the case for all students from primary school children to those at university. The difference between tier 4 and a national lockdown is mainly whether schools can open and certain activities, including outdoor exercise, can take place.ĭuring the first national lockdown, all schools closed their doors to pupils and online learning became the norm. By taking on this approach, which England has also taken in the re-emergence of the tier system (opens in new tab) post-November lockdown, some areas that have lower numbers of cases have been able to retain some freedoms. Scotland has their own lockdown rules as does Wales and Northern Ireland, as localised lockdowns (opens in new tab) have become the norm in many parts of the UK instead of a whole national lockdown. In fact, none of the governments have issued a united response to coronavirus since early 2020 (and briefly, in the Christmas rules (opens in new tab)) so it's thought that this approach will continue into next year.Įight in ten people living in the UK were under the highest tier 4 level restrictions as of New Year's Eve before the general lockdown was announced. However, largely each of the UK governments are taking their own approach to another potential national lockdown after the emergence of the new Covid-19 variant (opens in new tab). Northern Ireland also took on harsh restrictions in December, where from Boxing Day people were told to 'stay at home'. While Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is was set to make an announcement on stronger measures this week and Wales, which has been in a national lockdown since December 20, isn't currently set to relax any rules until the end of the month. I think the whole country is fully reconciled to that.' He said, 'It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that may be tougher. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had already said earlier in the week that harsher national restrictions could be coming in the next few days, after cases around the country have reached new and alarming levels. It includes schools closing, school exams for 2021 cancelled (opens in new tab) and a general 'stay at home' order issued to everyone.

See all weight loss and exercise featuresĮngland is now in a third, January lockdown (opens in new tab) with new rules and restrictions in place from January 6 until mid-February at the earliest.

Child development stages: Ages 0-16 years.

See all conception & fertility features.Fines for taking children out of school.

Are we going to have another lockdown