The infection rate in Histon and Impington has been ‘white’ for several days now. Neighbouring villages are also white and the overall rate for South Cambs has gone down enough that on the NHS map it’s now showing as yellow. That’s all round good news which rather suggests that we can enter the next phase of the release of lockdown with some, albeit cautious, confidence.

Next Monday (17 May 21) sees us entering this next phase and the headline changes which are most relevant for us are:

• people will be able to meet indoors in groups of up to six or as two households, or outdoors in groups of up to 30 people;
• pubs, cafes and restaurants will be able to serve people indoors but social distancing rules continue to apply and it’s still table service only. If you do use these businesses please obey their rules. They are there for a purpose!
• adult sport and exercise classes can resume indoors; and
• pupils will no longer be expected to wear face coverings in classrooms. Twice weekly home testing will remain in place.

Note that although the rules on hugging and social distancing have to some extent been relaxed and are left to individual discretion it is still compulsory to wear a face covering when in shops and in many other indoor circumstances.

Our businesses continue to respond. The King Bill is reopening (for outside service this Wednesday, 12 May 21) and the Histon Smokehouse (aka the Urban Shed) will reopen on Tuesday. We will have to wait a little longer for the Indian Ocean which is redecorating although it is still offering a takeaway service.

So it’s all good news then but we do need to be wary. It’s often the case when restrictions are eased that developing problems become manifest. It’s accepted that there’s been a build-up of mental health issues within the population and this will not go away just because lockdown is easing.

The fact that many of us will be so visibly normal and appreciative of the new rules may make it harder for others to cope. They may have suffered under lockdown and see no prospect of improvement. We all need to recognise this phenomenon and be sensitive to the needs of those friends, colleagues and neighbours who might remain ‘in a bad place’.

The Covid response team has not met but continues to monitor the needs of the community. If anyone does need any help for any reason they should contact their street co-ordinator or call the HICOVID19 helpline on 01223 320420.

Click here for a pdf of this digest.