C19 BUSINESS NEWS UPDATE

by Rob Stokes

Published on 30th June 2020

There is welcome news for the English hospitality sector and, if they can operate safely, they can reopen from the 4 July.

ENGLAND – PM ANNOUNCES EASING OF LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS

From Saturday 4th July, the Prime Minister has announced that pubs, restaurants and hairdressers will be able to reopen, providing they adhere to COVID Secure guidelines.

From the same date, he has set out that two households will be able to meet up in any setting with social distancing measures, and that people can now enjoy staycations in England with the reopening of accommodation sites.

In order to begin restoring the arts and cultural sector, some leisure facilities and tourist attractions may also reopen, if they can do so safely – this includes outdoor gyms and playgrounds, cinemas, museums, galleries, theme parks and arcades, as well as libraries, social clubs, places of worship and community centres.

Following a review, the Prime Minister has also set out that where it is not possible to stay two metres apart, guidance will allow people to keep a social distance of ‘one metre plus’. This means staying one metre apart, plus mitigations which reduce the risk of transmission.

See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-easing-of-lockdown-restrictions-23-june-2020?utm_source=3c864936-9d34-4ec6-8ea2-32f6b6bb163a&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

ENGLAND – OPENING CERTAIN BUSINESSES AND VENUES FROM 4 JULY 2020

All businesses and venues can reopen from 4 July, except for the list below, which remain closed in law:

• Nightclubs
• Casinos
• Bowling alleys and Indoor skating rinks
• Indoor play areas including soft play
• Spas
• Nail bars, beauty salons and tanning salons
• Massage, tattoo and piercing parlours
• Indoor fitness and dance studios, and indoor gyms and sports venues/facilities
• Swimming pools including water parks

Exhibition or conference centres must remain closed for events such as exhibitions or conferences, other than for those who work for the business or organisation who run the venue.

Cafes, restaurants and shops that are self-contained and can be accessed from the outside, will still be permitted to open.

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/opening-certain-businesses-and-venues-in-england-from-4-july-2020?utm_source=a2bfb513-c2d3-4510-8c4f-8ac34b24537d&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

ENGLAND – WORKING SAFELY DURING CORONAVIRUS

These 10 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. Further guidance will be published as more businesses are able to reopen.

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19?utm_source=46816538-975c-422b-bdb7-20ee0a378642&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate