6. How you can help

To date, the people of the United Kingdom have adapted with creativity and compassion to the demands COVID-19 has placed on us all. The UK now needs to prepare for an extended period of living with and managing the threat from the virus; this will continue to require everyone's support and adherence.

A collective effort

The threat is a collective one; the responsibility to keep everyone safe is one everyone shares.

If the Government is to begin to adjust the social restrictions, it will require everyone to act thoughtfully and responsibly to keep R down, and the Government has little room for error.

If, as restrictions are lifted, everyone chooses to act cautiously and in line with the revised guidance, R will remain low, the rate of transmission will decline further, and the Government can lift more restrictions.

This effort must, however, be a shared and collective one; only a small number of new outbreaks would cause R to tip back above one and require the re-imposition of some restrictions.

In judging when to adjust each restriction, the Government will be guided by the best possible evidence and will be, as in this document, transparent about the basis for the decision.

Lending a hand

The response of individuals, communities, charities and businesses across the United Kingdom - to step in and lend a hand to support the national effort - has been tremendous. There are still opportunities to support the COVID-19 effort even more directly.

To find opportunities to volunteer with charities or the NHS, please see: https://www.gov.uk/volunteering/coronavirus-volunteering

To offer business support, such as equipment, services or expertise, please see: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-support-from-business

To apply for grant funding for short-term projects addressing the impact of COVID-19, please see: https://www.ukri.org/funding/funding-opportunities/ukri-open-call-for-research-and-innovationideas-to-address-covid-19/

If you are clinician considering a return to the NHS in England, Scotland and Wales or the HSC in Northern Ireland, please see:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/returning-clinicians/ (In England)

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guide-for-health-professions-considering-areturn-to-the-nhs-scotland/ (In Scotland)

https://gov.wales/health-professionals-coronavirus (In Wales)

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/Covid-19-returning-professionals (In Northern Ireland)