Covid-19

It had hoped to "remove all legal limits on social contact" from 21 June. That's been put back until 19 July - although a review will take place in two weeks. The delay is because of concerns over the Delta variant of Covid. Cases are growing by about 64% per week and in the worst affected areas are doubling, However, a few restrictions are being lifted: The number of guests at a wedding will no longer be limited to 30. Care home residents will not necessarily have to self-isolate after leaving their care homes, and they will be able to nominate an "essential care-giver" who can visit, even if they are self-isolating Children can go on overnight trips in groups of 30. large events pilots will continue, including more Euro 2020 games and a number of other sports, arts and music events. Limits on the number of people who can mix indoors and outdoors Pubs, clubs, theatres and cinemas still have to operate within capacity limits Limited numbers of people allowed to attend sports events Nightclubs remain closed .

Washington has now has its own walk-through covid-19 test site for anyone with symptoms. The site is based at Sunderland College Washington on Campus. NE37 2NH This is the city's third Local Testing Site, joining the Commercial Road walk-through test site in Hendon and the Johnson Street walk-through test site on the University of Sunderland's City Campus. All three centres which are walk-through only, offer easy and ready access to testing for people without access to a car or who would rather walk than drive to a test centre and operate from 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week. Appointments for the new test centre must be booked through the National Covid-19 booking system – nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119 .