Updated 5 January 2021

National Lockdown

From Thursday 5 January 2021, England will see a national lockdown, whereby people are required to stay at home, groups outside the household cannot meet up and certain businesses will be closed.

To reduce social contact, the Government has ordered certain businesses and venues to close. These include:

• all non-essential retail, including, but not limited to clothing and electronics stores, vehicle showrooms, travel agents, betting shops, auction houses, tailors, car washes, tobacco and vape shops.
• indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, leisure centres and gyms, sports facilities including swimming pools, golf courses and driving ranges, dance studios, stables and riding centres, soft play facilities, climbing walls and climbing centres, archery and shooting ranges, water and theme parks,
• entertainment venues such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, casinos, adult gaming centres and arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, concert halls, zoos and other animal attractions, botanical gardens;
• personal care facilities such as hair, beauty and nail salons, tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, body and skin piercing services, non-medical acupuncture, and tanning salons.

Food shops, supermarkets, garden centres and certain other retailers providing essential goods and services can remain open. Essential retail should follow COVID-secure guidelines to protect customers, visitors and workers.

If you have to head to the shops, follow our top tips for shopping safely

Most shops will have reopened, as long as they are Covid secure. 

Hospitality venues have closed except for takeaways, delivery or click and collect services.

Follow our top tips to help you shop safely over the next few weeks.

Don’t forget, every retailer will have carried out their own COVID-19 risk assessment and made changes to ensure you’re safe. Here’s some things to remember:

• Wear a face covering
• Wash your hands regularly or use hand sanitiser
• Try and shop at less busy times if you can - and only with your household/bubble.
• Be patient and follow the rules – there may be more queues and one-way systems in place, but it’s all done with your safety in mind
• If you have any symptoms of coronavirus – a persistent cough, a high temperature or a loss of smell and taste - stay at home and self-isolate following the Government guidelines

What safety measures have been put in place?

• New signs reminding people to social distance
• Enhanced cleansing regime for the public toilets
• The street cleansing team will be paying particular attention to contact points like bins and seats
• Changes have been made to the city’s car parks
• Shops are required to carry out their own risk assessments and make changes to manage social distancing both inside and outside their premises

Are the public toilets open?

Yes.

What are the changes to parking in Plymouth?

During lockdown from 5 January 2021, 1 hour free parking will be available in the City Market, Guildhall and Marks and Spencer’s Rear Court Yard to support people coming into town to pick up essential shopping or for click and collect services. 

• Plymouth’s car parks and on-street bays will become cash-free:

  • In car parks this means that payment machines will no longer accept cash and instead you will have to pay by credit or debit card

  • On-street parking will be paid for by RingGo, either via the mobile phone app, website or by phone.

• Two-metre safe distancing markers have been placed around all payment facilities
• Clear direction signs have been put up to direct you when you’re walking to and from your car in multi-storey car parks, including separate staircases designated up and down to reduce the likelihood of people getting too close
• Lifts have been signed for safe distancing with only members of the same household to share lifts at any one time        
• An enhanced cleaning regime has been introduced to car parks, with particular attention paid to areas people may touch – such as payment systems, stairwells, handrails, lift areas and doors

What can I do to help?

• If you or anyone in your household has symptoms of coronavirus, please stay at home and self-isolate
• Remember to follow the social distancing guidelines set out by the Government and try to keep two metres away from people who are not from your own household
• Wash your hands regularly, or use hand sanitiser when out and about
• If you can, wear a face covering that covers your nose and mouth in situations when it's hard to stay two metres away from people, such as in shops or on public transport
• Follow social distancing and queueing instructions set out by businesses, and be mindful that you may have to wait to be allowed in to some stores to allow for a safe shopping experience.

You can find out which shops in the city centre are open on the Shop4Plymouth website.

Plymouth Market 

Plymouth Market is open for essential items, 8.30am to 3pm, six days a week. 

Drake Circus Shopping Mall

Only essential stores remain open at Drake Circus. Some non-essential stores may offer a click and collect service and some of the cafes and restaurants are offering takeaway or delivery options.