COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 20/09/21

COVID-19 Updates – week commencing 20/09/21

More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance.

Go to date:

6 Sep 2021

20 September 2021 …

Tourism Alliance update

New Traffic Light System

The Government has announced that the current traffic light system will be replaced by a single red list of countries and territories from Monday 4 October at 4am. .Testing requirements will also be reduced for eligible fully vaccinated travellers, who will no longer need to take a PDT when travelling to England

From the end of October, eligible fully vaccinated passengers and those with an approved vaccine from a select group of non-red countries will be able to replace their day 2 test with a cheaper lateral flow test, reducing the cost of tests on arrival into England. The government wants to introduce this by the end of October, aiming to have it in place for when people return from half-term breaks.

Anyone testing positive will need to isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test, at no additional cost to the traveller, which would be genomically sequenced to help identify new variants. Testing for unvaccinated passengers from non-red countries will include pre-departure tests, day 2 and day 8 PCR tests. Test to release remains an option to reduce self-isolation period.

From 4 October, England will allow fully vaccinated travellers from 17 countries and territories such as Japan and Singapore.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england

Business And Industry Challenges In Filling Vacancies

ONS has produced a report that highlights the problems faced by businesses in filling vacancies. Unsurprisingly, the report highlights that the hospitality industry is struggling the most to fill vacancies. Some of the key findings from the report are:

- 30% of hospitality businesses said that vacancies were more difficult to fill than normal compared to 13% across all sectors
- 41% of businesses across all industries were struggling to fill vacancies in late August, up from 32% earlier in the month (businesses with over 10 employees)
- 25% of businesses said that a reduced number of EU applicants was a factor
- In the hospitality sector vacancies are up job openings up by 59.1% compared with pre-pandemic (January to March 2020).
- London has also seen a slower recovery in payrolled employment than other regions and remains 1.8% lower than February 2020

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/articles/hospitalitybusinessesaremostlikelytobestrugglingtofillvacancies/2021-09-16

Wales Announces Vaccine Passports

The Welsh First Minister has announced that people will have to show a NHS COVID Pass to enter nightclubs and attend events in Wales from next month. The measure is being introduced to help control the spread of coronavirus – cases are currently very high in Wales but the alert level will remain at zero for the next 3 weeks. Announcing the outcome of the latest 3-week review of the coronavirus regulations, he encouraged everyone to work from home whenever possible and to make sure they are fully vaccinated.

The requirement to show an NHS COVID Pass will come into force from 11 October. It will mean all over-18s will need to have a NHS COVID Pass to enter:

- Nightclubs
- Indoor, non-seated events for more than 500 people, such as concerts or conventions
- Outdoor non-seated events for more than 4,000 people
- Any setting or event with more than 10,000 people in attendance

https://gov.wales/covid-pass-for-events-and-nightclubs-announced

Volunteering Futures Fund

DCMS had added new guidance to the application forms for the £1.7m Volunteering Futures Fund. The object of the fund is to create better and more volunteering opportunities in DCMS sectors with the most demand for new and young volunteers (art, culture, heritage, sport and youth) for people: