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Our COVID-19 Guidance and Support

Dear Partner,
 
There has been a lot of rapidly changing guidance for the hospitality sector over the last 10 days, and different guidance applies across different areas of Lancashire with additional restrictions superseding national guidance for some Local Authorities. Here we want to try to bring it together for our partners to help decipher the any variations including:

  • New National Measures from Thursday 24th September
  • The rule of 6 (currently superseded by further restrictions in all areas of Lancashire except Blackpool)
  • Lancashire additional measures (excluding Blackpool which is exempt from additional measures)
  • Local authority additional measures
  • NHS Test and Trace obligations
  • We’re Good to Go National Standard.
New National measures from Thursday 24th September
  • From Thursday 24 September all pubs, bars, and restaurants must operate a table service only (except for takeaways)
  • Also, from Thursday, all hospitality venues must close at 10:00pm. Takeaways should also close, but they can continue to provide delivery services after 10:00pm
  • The requirement to wear face coverings has been extended to include staff in retail, all users of taxis/private hire and to staff and customers in indoor hospitality with the exception of when seated at a table to eat or drink
  • In retail, leisure, tourism and hospitality settings, the Government’s COVID-19 secure guidelines will become legal obligations. Businesses will be fined and can be closed if they breach the rules
  • From Monday 28 September a maximum of 15 people will be able to attend wedding ceremonies and receptions. Up to 30 will still be able to attend funerals.
  • Business events, and large sports events, will not be able to reopen from 1 October as intended.
  • Office workers who can work from home have been asked to do so. In professions where this is not possible, people should continue to go into their workplace.
  • The rule of six will be extended to all adult indoor team sports.
Following requests for more detail, please see the following clarifications from DCMS:
  • COVID-19 secure venues will be able to host business events of up to 30 people taking into account Visitor Economy guidance, including social distancing requirements.
  • If it is possible to ensure that groups of more than six do not mingle on a guided tour, it can go ahead. This would potentially be the case for a day trip or shorter tours of a visitor attraction
The Rule of 6

On September 14th new national measures were implemented including a restriction on social gatherings of more than 6 people. Hospitality venues in England are now legally required to enforce the rule of 6 or face a fine of up to £4,000. This means that pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants in England will now need to take bookings of no more than 6 people, ensure people are not meeting in groups of more than 6 people on their premises, and make sure there is sufficient space between tables.

The regulations will be enforced by Local Authorities, who will have the power to issue fines of up to £1,000 for venues that are failing to comply, or the police as a last resort. Fines will rise to up to £4,000 for repeat offenders.

It will be an offence for a business to fail to adhere to the rule of 6 (respecting all exceptions to this such as single households or support bubbles greater than 6 individuals) when taking a booking, allowing entry to a group of more than 6 people. Once groups are within the premises, businesses also risk offending if they fail to advise groups not to merge in ways that breach the rules. 
Businesses will also need to ensure adequate distance between tables (2m or 1m+) and prevent customers from dancing.

In Lancashire, this measure has been superseded by further measures in all areas with the exception of Blackpool.
Lancashire additional measures

Despite the introduction of new national restrictions in England, people in areas with local restrictions should continue to follow the rules in their specific area within private homes and gardens, and in public venues including pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attractions and parks.

From September 22nd additional measures had been implemented in Lancashire Many of these measures are now reflected in the new measures to be implemented nationally from Thursday 24th
To highlight specifically the additional measures that Lancashire (excluding Blackpool) is subject to, which over-ride the rule of 6:
  • If you live in the affected local areas, you must not meet or host people you do not live with in private homes or gardens unless they are in your support bubble. In addition to these restrictions, we advise that you should not:
    • Socialise with people you do not live with, unless they’re in your support bubble, in any public venue.
    • Visit friends or family in care homes, other than in exceptional circumstances. Care homes should restrict visits to these circumstances
Guests visiting from outside of the area must also abide by the local restrictions in place.

If you operate a business or organise events within the affected areas you should take steps to ensure people do not socialise with people they do not live with, in line with COVID-19 secure guidance.
Local Authority additional measures

Some areas of Lancashire (Blackburn and Darwen, Pendle and Preston) were already under additional measures before the new Lancashire wide and national restrictions came into play and as such these original restrictions remain in place, meaning residents and visitors to these areas are unable to meet with other households in any indoor location. Residents are also advised not to socialise with other people outside of their own household or support bubble in all outdoor public spaces including parks, beer gardens, outside restaurants or pavement cafes
NHS COVID-19 app - Businesses have a clear duty to support NHS Test and Trace

From 18th September, it became mandatory for certain businesses to have a system to collect NHS Test and Trace data, and keep this for 21 days. 
 
Launching on 24 September, the new NHS COVID-19 app will help businesses meet the new legal requirement to record the contact details of customers, visitors and staff on their premises. To highlight the key points:

Venues in hospitality, the tourism and leisure industry, close contact services and local authority facilities must:
  • Ask at least one member of every party of customers or visitors (up to 6 people) to provide their name and contact details
  • Keep a record of all staff working on their premises and shift times on a given day and their contact details
  • Keep these records of customers, visitors and staff for 21 days and provide data to NHS Test and Trace if requested
  • Display an official NHS QR code poster from 24 September 2020, so that customers and visitors can ‘check in’ using this option as an alternative to providing their contact details
  • Adhere to General Data Protection Regulations
Hospitality venues must also refuse entry to those who refuse to participate.

Failure to do any of these requirements will result in fixed penalty fines.
 
The new COVID-19 app, will enable customers and visitors in England to check-in on entry with their phone instead of filling out a check-in book or use a tool specific to a business. This will allow NHS Test and Trace to contact customers with public health advice should there be a COVID-19 outbreak. Businesses who are already using their own QR system are being encouraged to switch to the NHS Test and Trace QR code. An alternative check-in method must be maintained to collect the contact details of those who don’t have the app, for example a handwritten register.

You should create and display a QR code if you are:
  • A business, place of worship or community organisation with a physical location that is open to the public
  • An event which is taking place in a physical location

Once you have registered for your QR code you are being encouraged to display the NHS QR code posters in a place that is visible on entry to the business. Find out more 

We’re Good To Go
The national standard continues to see more and more businesses sign up and an increasing media presence.  A social media campaign went live on Monday, 21 September to support and raise consumer awareness of We're Good To Go, please see the video here.

If you haven’t already done so we would urge you to apply for this free standard and once you are approved please display the mark online and on site – we all need to work together to amplify the message to the public that We’re Good to Go shows you have taken the required action to welcome your visitors in line with Government and Public Health England guidelines.
Partner Information Hub
  • For general information and business advice regarding COVID-19 please click here
  • Get involved with our FREE #RedefiningLancashire campaign here
  • VisitBritain/VisitEngland have launched their 'We're Good to Go' scheme, a COVID-19 industry standard and consumer mark.
  • Take a look at our archive of communications from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Boost have launched an #AskForHelp campaign will include a dedicated helpline to advise companies in Lancashire about key business-related issues and connect them with experts from the public and private sector.
  • Don't forget to get in touch via twitter if you have any questions @MarketingLancs
Copyright © 2020 Visit Lancashire, All rights reserved.


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