COVID-19 Updates – week commencing 24/01/22
More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance.
Go to date:
26 January 2022 …
Tourism Alliance update:
- £10m Marketing Campaign
With the forthcoming removal of most restrictions on International Travel, The Government and VisitBritain has announced a new £10m marketing campaign in Europe and the USA. The campaign will be based around events such as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and Unboxed: Creativity in the UK (formerly Festival UK 2022). It’s worth noting that this funding is part of the existing allocation to VB as the final CSR settlement has yet to be confirmed.
- Covid Pass and Travel Guidance Updated
The Covid Pass guidance has been updated to reflect the announcement yesterday that, from 3 February, children aged 12 and over will be able to get a digital NHS COVID Pass for international travel.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-covid-pass
Similarly, the guidance on the need to quarantine has been updated to reflect the removal of the need for fully vaccinated people to test on arrival into the England on 11th February
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england
- Statutory Sick Pay Seminar
HMRC is holding two one hour online seminars for businesses to explain the new Statutory Sick Pay Scheme. The dates are 27th January and 2nd February and you can sign up for these on the following link
https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/9167065367434093067?source=January-HMRC-GOV
- Hybrid Working In Scotland
The Scottish Government has advised businesses that they can prepare to resume hybrid working from Monday 31 January in order to enable people to have a flexible return to working between home and the office.
https://www.gov.scot/news/changes-to-working-from-home-advice/
24 January 2022 …
Tourism Alliance update:
- Removal of Travel Restrictions
The headline item today is, of course, the Government announcement of the relaxation of travel restriction on people arriving into England.
From 3rd February
-
-
- 12 to 15-year-olds in England will be able to prove their vaccination status via the digital NHS pass for international outbound travel.
-
From 11th February
-
-
- People who are fully vaccinated will be able to enter the country without undertaking a pre-departure test or a Day 2 test once in England
- People who are not vaccinated will be able to enter England provided that they have a pre-departure test and have a Day 2 PCR test. They will still need to fill out a passenger locator form to be able to prove that they have done this.
- People under the age of 18 will be treated as being fully vaccinated.
-
The guidance on this has not yet been published but I will send it out when in comes through.
- Letter From Business Secretary to Local Authorities
The Business Secretary has written to Local Authorities regarding the distribution of the Omicron and Additional Restrictions Grant that were announced to support businesses impacted when the move was made to Plan B. One point of interest is that the Business Secretary has instructed councils that still have more than 5% of their existing ARG funding to distribute the money to businesses that need it.
- Omicron Impacts Over Xmas
ONS has released the results of a survey on how Omicron impacted people’s behaviour over Xmas. Some of the key findings are:
-
- The proportion of people who felt it will take more than a year for life to return to normal was 35% compared with 20% at the end of 2020
- In London, seated diners were 85% of the level seen in the equivalent week of 2019 in November 2021 but this reduced to 57% of 2019 levels in the week before Christmas.
- In Manchester, diners exceeded 2019 levels throughout, remaining at 104% of 2019 levels in the week before Christmas.
- Just over half of people said they planned to have (or had already had) family and friends visit their home over Christmas.
Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance update:
Phase 2 of the easing of restrictions will take place from noon tomorrow (listed below for information).
There is further good news with the Department of Health confirming that NI will be easing international travel restrictions in line with the announcement in England yesterday. This means that from 4am on Friday 11th February, fully vaccinated travellers coming into NI will not be required to take a day 2 PCR/LFT. A UK passenger locator form will still need to be completed in the 48 hours prior to travel into NI.
This is great news and something that we have been calling for, especially in regard to tour groups. The details are at https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travelling-northern-ireland-non-red-list-country#toc-0 and http://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/travel-update-rules-uk-arrivals
In addition, from 4am on 11 February, 16 further countries will be added to the eligible vaccination arrivals policy. Vaccine certificates will now be accepted from Algeria, Cape Verde, China, El Salvador, Guatemala, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macao SAR [Special Administrative Region], Mexico, Sao Tome & Principe, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, and Turkmenistan.
NOTE: For non-vaccinated travellers, a pre-departure test is required and you must self-isolate until your day 2 test which must be pre-booked and paid for. If this is negative self-isolation ends and there is no requirement for any further testing.
Phase 2 Easing of Restrictions Effective Noon 26th January
- The prohibition of dancing in all settings will be removed
- Nightclubs can reopen – vaccination certification checks will remain a legal requirement
- Vaccination certification will be removed from a legal requirement in all settings apart from nightclubs, indoor events of more than 500 people standing/partially standing. This means that the requirement for all seated events, theatres, cinemas, restaurants, hotels will only be guidance. However, it is strongly encouraged for large events but it is not a legal requirement
- Note: Proof of medical exemption from vaccination/testing is still required.
- Working from Home message will revert to that within the Winter plan – ‘You should work from home where you can and employers are encouraged to facilitate working from home/hybrid working where possible’
