Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Updated 16 June 2021

Some of the rules on what you can and cannot do changed on 17 May as part of the ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021'.

From 17 May:

• gathering limits have been eased. Outdoor gatherings are limited to 30 people and indoor gatherings are limited to 6 people or 2 households - each household can include a support bubble, if eligible
• indoor entertainment and attractions are permitted to open with COVID-secure measures in place. These include:
  • cinemas
  • theatres
  • concert halls
  • bowling alleys
  • casinos
  • amusement arcades
  • museums
  • children’s indoor play areas 
• people can go to indoor and outdoor events, including live performances, sporting events and business events. Attendance at these events is capped according to venue type, and attendees should follow the COVID-secure measures set out by those venues
• indoor hospitality venues such as restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes can reopen
• organised indoor sport can take place for all. This includes gym classes. It must be organised by a business, charity or public body and the organiser must take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of transmission
• all holiday accommodation can open, including hotels and B&Bs. This can be used by groups of up to 6 or 2 households - each household can include a support bubble, if eligible
• funeral attendance is no longer be limited to 30 people, but will be determined by how many people the COVID-secure venue can safely accommodate with social distancing. Limits at weddings, wakes and other commemorative events have been increased to 30 people. Other significant life events, such as bar/bat mitzvahs and christenings, will also be able to take place with 30 people
• the rules for care home residents visiting out and receiving visitors have changed, allowing up to 5 named visitors - 2 at any one time, provided visitors test negative for COVID-19
• all higher education students are able to access in-person teaching
• support groups and parent and child group gathering limits have been increased to 30 people - not including under 5s
• there is no longer a legal restriction or permitted reason needed to travel internationally. A traffic light system for international travel has been introduced, and you must follow the rules when returning to England depending on whether you return from a red, amber or green list country

Find full details can be found on GOV.UK.

Clinically extremely vulnerable people are no longer advised to stay at home, but you must continue to follow the national rules. 

We've updated our website with changes to our services following the new restrictions.

Covid-19 testing if you have symptoms (PCR tests)

If you have any symptoms of coronavirus you should immediately self-isolate and book a test. You will be given a list of the current sites and appointments in your local area on the day you need it. You can also chose to order a home test to be sent to you.

Symptom-free (LFD) testing in Brighton & Hove

• Order tests packs online or call 119 for them to be delivered to you
• Drop-in and collect packs from most pharmacies and a few other sites across the city
• Book a supervised test at a pharmacy near you
• Tests are also available through some workplaces

Anyone who gets a positive result from a symptom-free (LFD) test must take a follow-up PCR test within 2 days.

Find out more about symptom-free testing in Brighton & Hove.

Service changes

We are working hard to keep council services operating during the pandemic. Many face to face services are currently suspended, however you can contact services by phone, email and via the website.

Council customer service centres

• Customer service centres are closed. 
• Hove Town Hall civic reception is closed
• Brighton Town Hall is only open to registrars and the Local Land Charges Personal Search Terminal

Our switchboard is operating a reduced service.

See our service updates page for more information.

Business advice

If you would like further information and advice around Covid safety for your business, please send an email to Covid.Information@brighton-hove.gov.uk to speak to the Covid Information Team.

Report a business

If you think that a business is a serious risk to public health because they are not following current government guidelines, you can send an email to Covid.Information@brighton-hove.gov.uk to report it to the Covid Information Team.

If a business is trading when it should be closed under the current restrictions, you can send an email to trading.standards@brighton-hove.gov.uk to report it to Trading Standards.

Report an individual

If you think that a person is not following government guidelines, you can report it to Sussex Police.

Contact Sussex Police

You should only report something if you think there is a serious breach of the rules like a large gathering of people obviously from lots of different households.