Coronavirus – service updates

Some of our services are working slightly differently at the moment.

For general guidance, health advice and testing updates, check Coronavirus – what you need to know.

Schools and education
Childcare and family centres
Libraries and archives
Recycling centres (tips)
Adult social care and day services
Register offices
Health and wellbeing services (including walks)
Highways and bus travel
Fire and Rescue
Business advice
Planning

Schools and education

All schools are now open.
Staff at primary schools and both students and staff at secondary schools will be asked to complete rapid testing twice a week.
Your school will update you on how the process will work. Further information about home testing for parents and carers will be provided once we have further information from government.
Schools will inform parents about specific arrangements for their child returning to school.
Staff and students at secondary schools and colleges are advised to wear face coverings in all areas, including classrooms where social distancing can't be maintained. Face coverings in classrooms is a temporary measure until Easter.

Visit the special educational needs and disabilities Local Offer for updates.

Childcare and family centres

Parents and carers can continue to access early years settings as normal.
If your child attends a school-based nursery, check with your school to see what they’re offering.
Find available childcare
If your child goes to a childminder or early years provider, contact them direct for updates.
Family centres are supporting families through bookable appointments in centres and are now running face to face sessions. Future services will be delivered through both face to face and virtual sessions. Keep an eye on the family centre Facebook pages for further updates or Contact the team if you'd like to speak to us.

Libraries and archives

Our 30 bigger libraries are open for browsing and pre-booked computer use - book a computer.

The smaller libraries are currently closed. Check which libraries are open

At home you can still:

check due dates and renew your loans
get stuck in to our ebooks and audiobooks or read magazines and newspapers online.

Read the latest library service updates

Hertfordshire archives

We're open for pre-booked appointments from Tuesday 20 April. Book an appointment at the archives

Archives re-opening - what you need to know

Recycling centres (tips)

All recycling centres are open as usual except Buntingford and Cole Green. Hemel Hempstead is currently closed due to poor weather conditions (8 Feb).

Check recycling centres opening hours
Bin collections are a district and borough council service. Contact your district or borough council.
All reuse centres are currently closed.
Don't put things like DIY waste or recycling into your kerbside general rubbish collection.
Don't leave waste outside recycling centre gates or neighbourhood recycling banks.

What to do with waste that could be contaminated with coronavirus

Adult social care and day services

People with support needs (and their carers)

Carers

Day services

All Hertfordshire County Council in-house day services will remain open during the new national restrictions. However, capacity is reduced due to social distancing measures.

Contact your usual day service if you have any queries.

How we're keeping day services Coronavirus secure

Direct payment users and their personal assistants

Care homes

Email web.team@hertfordshire.gov.uk if you need an accessible version of any easy read documents.

Register offices

All our register offices are open for pre-booked appointments only.

Registering a birth

All of our register offices are still open for pre-booked appointments only.

You must wear a face covering in any register office.
To make an appointment to register a birth please book online.

Registering a death

We are still only registering deaths by phone. Call 0300 123 4045 between 9am and 4.30pm. Our busy period is 12–2pm.

Funerals during the coronavirus pandemic.

The coroner service will be running as normal and inquests will be going ahead.

Copy certificates

You can apply online for copies of death certificates or birth certificates.

You can also apply for current or historical birth, death, marriage or civil partnership certificates.

Weddings and civil partnerships

Weddings and civil partnerships can now take place with restrictions on the number of people that can attend.

Maximum numbers of attendees

From 12 April, up to 15 people can attend
From 17 May, up to 30 people can attend
From 21 June, no restrictions on numbers.

All dates depend on government review of the previous step.

These numbers include the couple, guests and photographer. It doesn't include the Registrars or venue staff.

At Hertfordshire register offices...
During steps 2 and 3, maximum numbers depend room capacity:

Bishop’s Stortford register office - couple and 10 guests
Cheshunt register office - couple and 12 guests
Hatfield register office - couple and 12 guests
Hemel Hempstead register office - couple and 12 guests
Hertford register office - couple and 12 guests
St Albans register office - couple and 12 guests
Stevenage register office - couple and 12 guests
Watford register office - couple and 7 guests.

To book or rearrange a ceremony, email registrars.admin@hertfordshire.gov.uk or call 0300 123 4045.

Citizenship ceremonies

Group citizenship ceremonies will restart on Monday 12 April.

To book a private or group citizenship ceremony, call 0300 123 4045.

Health and wellbeing services (including walks)

Health in Herts – contact your service direct to see if they're currently running.

Some local health and wellbeing services will be disrupted at the moment, including health visitors, school nurses, substance misuse, sexual health, mental health and stop smoking services.

Health Walks are suspended whilst we're in national lockdown. Once restrictions ease in Hertfordshire, safe walks will continue. www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/healthwalks

Highways and bus travel

Roadworks during coronavirus restrictions - how we’re maintaining the roads whilst keeping people safe
Temporary cycle lanes - to encourage more walking and cycling for everyday journeys, we're introducing some temporary routes across Hertfordshire.
Safer town centres - Our priority remains to keep Hertfordshire safe and changes to high streets and town centres will remain in place across the county, whilst social distancing is Public Health priority. In May, we'll be engaging with stakeholders to get their views on the changes to date and to understand if there are aspects which should be considered for the longer term.
Bus travel information (Intalink) – including info about any disruptions.

Fire and Rescue

Herts Fire and Rescue Service is responding to all emergencies.

Safe and Well visits from operational crews, volunteers and other specialist staff have now resumed. Visits will be carried out in a COVID-safe manner and all staff will carry formal identification.

Business advice

Trading Standards and Hertfordshire Growth Hub are both offering tailored advice for businesses.
Advice for businesses to become COVID-secure, trade safely and protect staff and customers.
You can apply for business grants via district councils. We're offering relief to our existing suppliers.

Planning

Our public office at County Hall is closed to visitors until further notice.
We are continuing to work on existing planning applications and permissions. At present the Development Control Committee meetings are held virtually.
New planning applications - email spatial.planning@hertfordshire.gov.uk before submitting applications via the planning portal or making a request for pre-application advice. The process for new applications might change, due to the statutory need for publicity.

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