Latest Covid-19 lockdown to last until mid-February

While the first national lockdown in England ran from March 23 to May 10, 2020 and started with uncertainty as to what businesses could stay open, the UK timber industry is much better informed and prepared this time around.

Last year many building supplies merchants and housebuilding sites shut for weeks to digest the news and make their workplace and processes sage. This time around, they are already operating Covid safe working practices and know they are classed as essential business operations and allowed to stay open.

The latest Government lockdown announcements lists the construction sector, factories, builders merchants, storage and distribution businesses, DIY stores, garden centres and agricultural supplies centres as essential businesses allowed to stay open. Tradespeople are also allowed to work in people’s homes.

“Where people cannot work from home - including, but not limited to, people who work in critical national infrastructure, construction, or manufacturing - they should continue to travel to their workplace,” the Government said.

“This is essential to keeping the country operating and supporting sectors and employers.”

The England lockdown looks set to run until at least the February 19 school half term holidays, when it will be reviewed.

The government aims to have over-70s, frontline health staff, social care workers and the clinically vulnerable vaccinated by this time. To view more on the new lockdown guidance visit here.