Residents urged to celebrate New Year virtually
With New Year’s Eve fast-approaching, Dudley Council is urging residents to celebrate virtually with friends and family this year.
With cases continuing to rise in the borough, residents are reminded that they should follow the latest guidelines and celebrate New Year’s Eve exclusively with members of their household.
People are encouraged to take exercise, which could be a New Year’s Day walk in the borough’s parks and open spaces with their household, but they must avoid meeting in large groups outdoors and follow social distancing guidelines at all times.
Councillor Nicolas Barlow, cabinet member for health and adult social care, said:
Celebrating virtually is now becoming the new norm and although we would all love to be with our friends and family, now isn’t the time. New Year should not be used as an excuse to break the rules and get together.
I’m sure all of us will be glad to see the back of 2020 and welcome in the new year, which will see the vaccine rolled out across our communities.
Please do the right thing, stay at home and only celebrate with those in your household. People who break these rules, put others at risk and further pressure on our health services.
There will be a time and a place when we can make up for all the missed celebrations.
If people have coronavirus symptoms they should contact the NHS Test and Trace service as soon as possible to book an appointment by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
For the latest information and advice on coronavirus in Dudley borough go to www.dudley.gov.uk/coronavirus