Coronavirus (COVID-19)

This page gives you the latest information about services affected by the coronavirus outbreak, and the support available to residents and businesses in Portsmouth.

The current alert level in Portsmouth is: Medium (Tier 1). Find out what this means for you.

We will be reviewing updates from government as they are published and working out what they mean for council services. We’ll publish information on these pages, or you can sign up for email updates to be the first to know. For the time being, we’re encouraging people to follow the Government’s latest advice.

Following Government instructions designed to help reduce the spread of coronavirus, the council has taken a number of steps to help ensure the wellbeing of customers, staff and the wider community.

This means some of the services you usually use will be closed, or will be operating in a different way. We understand the changes to our services may be frustrating, but the Government advice is clear that we all need to do what we can to stop coronavirus from spreading, helping to save lives and protect the NHS.

We are working hard to make sure the services you rely on are available wherever possible. We are putting additional measures in place to make sure that people who are more likely to be affected by the social distancing measures get the support they need.

If you need to contact us, our phone lines and customer service emails are available and we are keeping the website updated with information about affected services, and alternatives wherever we have them.

Key services

• Civic Offices – open for cash payments only.
• Adult social care – services running as normal.
• Council Tax – can be paid online or by phone. View further advice on Council Tax.
• Housing services – running, and can be contacted by phone or email.
• Housing offices – open for cash payments. View housing office contact information.
• Libraries – some branches have re-opened. View full details of library services that have re-opened.
• Planning applications – are now being processed. View information on temporary changes.
• Port Solent Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) – open 9am-4pm, you must book an appointment
• Recycling and rubbish collections – running as normal. View details on the full list of services.
• Register office – open by appointment. View further information.
• Schools – open

Services that are not running

• Advice Portsmouth – the drop-in centre is closed.
• Carers Centre – closed to the public.
• Community centres – some community centres are closed.
• Dog kennels – closed.
• Events – event applications aren’t being processed. Read the updated guidance on temporary event notices.
• Licensing – the licensing office is closed to the public.
• Young carers – closed.

All services not listed are operating.

We recognise that calling a helpline is not easy for people who have difficulty in using the telephone to access support due to being autistic, having a communication difficulty or a disability, such as hearing loss. As a result we have created a text message option.

Simply text your name and a brief description of the support you need as well as whether you would like us to respond with a phone call or email – if you choose email make sure you tell us your email address.

The number to text is 07860 027785, this number is monitored during the times our phone line operates, 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, we will get back to people as soon as we can.

Please only use this number if you have difficulties making phone calls so we can use the service to support those who really need it.

• Sharing of information for the COVID-19 extremely vulnerable persons’ service
• Public health COVID-19 testing data privacy notice