Support for businesses reopening

The Prime Minister has confirmed the Government’s four tests for easing Covid-19 restrictions have been met and planned easements can go ahead from May 17.

From Monday, May 17:

• Groups of up to 30 can meet outdoors.
• 6 people (or 2 households) can meet indoors.
• Serviced accommodation (hotels and B&Bs) can offer overnight stays.
• Pubs and restaurants can offer indoor dining.
• Museums, theatres, cinemas and more can reopen.

View the full update here.

Do you run an indoor hospitality business? 

Here are some key points to remember:

• Covid-secure rules, including social distancing requirements, continue to apply for businesses and public venues. This includes calculating the number of people that can be accommodated with social distancing in place i.e. 2 metres or 1 metre+ including risk mitigation measures (e.g. barriers between tables) where two metres is not viable. Turn people away if they display Covid symptoms.
• Up to six people or two households will be able to meet indoors and up to 30 people outdoors.
• Table service must be continued for customers ordering food and/or drink at licensed premises.
• Minimise customer self-service of food, cutlery and condiments to reduce risk of transmission. For example, provide cutlery and condiments only when food is served. 
• Ensure you display the QR code so it is available for anyone who wishes to use it. For customers who do not use the NHS App you need to record the names and contact details for every customer (not just the lead person). You also need to keep records for your staff. Click here for more information.
• Increasing ventilation reduces the risk of Covid spread in enclosed spaces, such as indoors. Click here for more information.
• Clean more often - especially surfaces that people touch frequently. Ask your staff and customers to wash their hands frequently and use hand sanitiser.
• Prevent shouting, singing and dancing in the venue by making sure music and broadcasts are played at a low volume.
• Review your Covid risk assessment to ensure it is up to date.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Safe reopening of community facilities 

Community facilities, such as community centres and village halls, are used for a wide range of local activities and services.

If you are intending to re-open your community centre, church hall or village hall etc. please read the recent guidance to help you do this safely. The guidance can be found here.

When venues have been closed for long periods of time, extra checks will be needed, including checks to ensure that the water supply is ready for use. Advice on this can be found here.

Good ventilation of your venue is also very important in controlling the spread of covid-19. Guidance is available here.

Managers of community facilities will decide when they consider it safe to open for any activity permitted by legislation and may decide to remain closed if they are not able to safely follow the advice in the relevant guidance, to make the space COVID-19 secure.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Useful links

• Government Coronavirus guidance.
• Updated Government guidance - business closures.
• Roadmap out of lockdown.

Working safely during Covid-19

Find out how to make your workplace COVID-secure.

These 14 guides cover a range of different types of work. Many businesses operate more than one type of workplace, such as an office, factory and fleet of vehicles. You may need to use more than one of these guides as you think through what you need to do to keep people safe. Priority actions are outlined at the top of each guide.

There is different guidance for:

• schools, further education and childcare providers
• weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions and celebrations
• public transport operators

Infection control

For specific guidance on infection control in relation to Covid-19, visit:

• For guidance for health professionals and other organisations: Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on GOV.UK 
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the NHS website 
• The PHE North West COVID-19 Template Resource Pack for Workplaces is available here. More information is also available on the Cumbria County Council’s website.