Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Updated 21 January 2021

National lockdown: stay at home

On Monday 4 January the UK government announced a new nationwide lockdown in England. 

You must stay at home. This is the single most important action we can all take to protect the NHS and save lives.

You must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary. You may leave the home to:

• shop for essentials, for you or for a vulnerable or self-isolating person
• go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot do this from home
• exercise once a day with your household or support bubble (or with one other person, with social distancing)
• meet your support or childcare bubble where necessary
• seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
• attend education or childcare - for those eligible

Find full details of the national lockdown on GOV.UK.

Clinically extremely vulnerable people should be shielding and will receive a letter about what this means for them. Find guidance for clinically extremely vulnerable people on GOV.UK.

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

COVID-19 testing for residents

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 operating in your local area on the day you need it. All tests must be pre-booked.

We have local testing sites in in Portslade, Preston Park and East Brighton. You can walk or cycle there, but please don’t use public transport.

Mobile testing units may also be available at different sites in the city and there is a large testing site you can drive to at Plumpton Racecourse.

COVID-19 testing for frontline key workers

You can book a test using the government self-referral portal.

The government has also published a guide for using the self-referral portal.

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.

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 report it to Trading Standards.

Email 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.