Guidance that comes into effect when England move to step 4 of the roadmap has been added on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of coronavirus. The guidance includes the following for businesses and venues:
- All remaining closed businesses and venues such as nightclubs, discos, and adult entertainment venues will be able to reopen.
- All capacity limits at sporting, entertainment, or business events will be lifted.
- Hospitality venues such as pubs, restaurants and bars will no longer be required to provide table service or follow other social distancing rules.
- All businesses should follow the principles set out in the working safely guidance.
- Employers will still have a legal duty to manage risks to those affected by their business. The way to do this is to carry out a health and safety risk assessment, including the risk of COVID-19, and to take reasonable steps to mitigate the risks you identify. Working Safely guidance sets out a range of mitigations employers should consider including:
- cleaning surfaces that people touch regularly;
- identifying poorly-ventilated areas in the venue and taking steps to improve air flow;
- ensuring that staff and customers who are unwell do not attend the workplace or venue;
- communicating to staff and customers the measures you have put in place.
- The NHS Covid Pass will be made available on the NHS app as a certification tool if businesses and other organisations choose to use certification on a voluntary basis. Businesses should continue to ensure that they comply with all relevant legal obligations and guidance in doing so.
- Venues are encouraged to continue displaying QR codes for customers wishing to check in using the app, to support NHS Test and Trace, but this will no longer be a legal requirement.
Other Government updates
- Guidance on reopening places of worship in Wales has been updated.
- The Events Research Programme page has been updated to include science board statements regarding evidence from Phase II of the programme; protocols for Phase II; and Science Board requirements for Phase III.
- A recorded webinar on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been published.
Source: BVEP and TIER
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