Residents of Cornwall and those thinking of travelling to the area are being urged to make sure they know and follow the new Government rules which come into from today.

Cornwall Council’s Public Health team is warning that those who break or bend the ‘roadmap’ rules risk allowing Covid-19 to creep back into our communities.

They say: “This would not only put the lives of our most vulnerable residents at risk, it would also jeopardise our route out of lockdown and back to doing the things we love.”

In brief, the rule changes from today (Monday, March 29) are:

• People can meet outside, including in private gardens, either with one other household or as a group of six.

• The ‘stay at home’ rule will end, but people are encouraged to ‘stay local’ and to keep travel to a minimum.

• Outdoor sports facilities such as golf courses and tennis courts can reopen, and organised outdoor sport can take place.

• Outdoor parent and child groups are allowed with up to 15 parents.

It is important to note that the rules do not allow people to mix indoors, and there should be no long-distance travelling or overnight stays, which includes single households staying in a second home.

People are also being reminded that although the vaccine programme in Cornwall is on track and working well, having the jab does not give people a green light to ignore the rules.

The new rules are part of the first step in the Government’s roadmap for reopening the country after lockdown. Rachel Wigglesworth, Director of Public Health for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “I would urge everyone to make sure they know what the new rules are and not to break them.

“With the vaccine rollout going well and Covid cases having reduced due to the lockdown, it is easy to see how people might drop their guard and bend the rules in order to get that much-missed normality back in their lives. But this would be a huge mistake.

“It wouldn’t take much for the virus to creep back into our lives and communities and if that happens we could end up spending much longer living with these restrictions. No one wants another lockdown. So if you want to get back to doing the things you love, make sure you follow the rules, remember ‘hands, face and space’ and get your vaccine as soon as it is offered to you.”

Cornwall Council will be running an advertising campaign from next week to remind people of the rules that will be aired on local radio stations and posters.

For more information on the roadmap rules visit www.cornwall.gov.uk/letskeepgoing or www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Tourism

In the meantime, the South West’s tourist industry and the emergency services are warning visitors against travelling to the region before lockdown measures are due to be relaxed next month on Monday, April 12.

There are fears a minority of tourists might be tempted to travel early, before facilities are ready or attractions are open. Apart from the risk of catching or spreading COVID-19, a dangerous “false start” to the tourist season will put unnecessary extra strain on the emergency services.

Under the Government’s roadmap for reopening after the lockdown, April 12 is the earliest date outdoor attractions are allowed to open. Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, are also due to reopen on that date. Until then, many car parks and toilet facilities will not be fully open and, of course, food and drink are only available from essential shops or takeaways.

Visitors are being warned it is illegal and could be dangerous to travel before April 12 – assuming that the Government confirms that date.

Malcolm Bell, chair of Visit Cornwall, said: “The hospitality sector in Cornwall is working hard to get ready for visitors when the time is right – and no one wants to experience another lockdown.

“We want visitors to hear this message, plan ahead, book now and visit later when the rules allow and we look forward to welcoming you back to our beautiful part of the world.”

For more information visit http://www.visitcornwall.com