COVID-19 Updates – week commencing 28/09/20
More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance.
Go to date:
28 September 2020 …
Tourism Alliance updates:
Q&A on Curfew, QR Codes, Rule of Six and Face Coverings
Here is an excellent Q&A and that UKHospitality, BBPA and BII have produced that pulls together the various new requirements on Tourism and Hospitality Businesses. Please note that this Q&A is a work in progress as government guidance is constantly changing and is advisory only – but it is a great resource for answering a wide range of questions on these issues
Visors and Face Coverings
DCMS has provided guidance that visors are not acceptable as face coverings. Similarly staff working behind Perspex barriers on counters are still deemed to be in the public space of a business are required to wear face coverings. In addition, theatres have just been added to the list of places where a face covering ins mandatory
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
Self-Employment Scheme Extension Guidance
Guidance on the extension of the Self-Employment Scheme has been published. To be eligible for the grant extension self-employed individuals, including members of partnerships, must:
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- currently be eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (although they do not have to have claimed the previous grants)
- declare that they are currently actively trading and intend to continue to trade
- declare that they are impacted by reduced demand due to coronavirus in the qualifying period (the qualifying period for the grant extension is between 1 November and the date of claim)
The extension will provide two grants and will last for six months, from November 2020 to April 2021. Grants will be paid in two lump sum instalments each covering a three-month period. The first grant will cover a three-month period from the start of November until the end of January. HMRC will provide a taxable grant covering 20 per cent of average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months’ worth of profits, and capped at £1,875 in total.
There is also a video on the extended scheme
Rule of Six in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
England
In England the Rule of Six means that up to six people from any number of different households are able to meet-up indoors and outdoors although the members of each household have to maintain social distancing from the members of other households. If the number of people in a single household (including support bubble) that is larger than six, they are allowed to meet-up.
Scotland
In Scotland, you can meet in groups of up to six from two different households outdoors (children under 12 don’t count towards the total). However, in indoor settings you cannot meet with members of another household unless they are part of your extended household. An extended household is one where two households have joined together to form a single household and can be formed by a person who lives alone – or only with children under 18. They and another household of any size can agree to form an extended household. An extended household can also be formed by a couple who do not live together, and their children.
Wales
In Wales the Rule of Six only applies indoors where up to six people from an extended household can meet. Unlike in England, children under 11 are exempt and will not count towards that total.
Northern Ireland
Like Wales, the Rule of Six only applies indoors but the six people can only be from two households and Children are counted as being part of the six.
Legal Duty to Self-Isolate
Legal duty to self-isolate comes into force today, with fines for those breaking the rules starting at £1,000 and increasing up to £10,000 for repeat offenders. There is also a requirement for businesses to make sure that staff who are meant to be self-isolating do not come in to work. Support is available for people on low incomes who are unable to work while self-isolating through the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-legal-duty-to-self-isolate-comes-into-force-today
Local Lockdown Guidance
The guidance for all local Lockdown areas has been updated regarding university students moving to or relocating within an area of local restrictions. The guidance has also been updated regarding going to work and on childcare bubbles. Guidance updated to reflect regulations affecting businesses selling food and drink having to close at 10pm and the requirement for licensed premises to only serve seated people
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/north-west-england-local-restrictions
Over the weekend new restrictions on household mixing brought in for Wigan, Stockport, Blackpool and Leeds, whereby people will no longer be allowed to mix with others outside their household or bubble in private homes, including gardens. Meanwhile London was added as an area of concern and Teesside was added to the list of areas requiring enhanced support.
Covid App Uploads
The government has announced that NHS COVID-19 app has been downloaded over 10 million times. Meanwhile 460,000 QR code posters have been downloaded and printed and there were 1.5 million venue check-ins on Saturday.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-covid-19-app-has-been-downloaded-over-10-million-times
VAT Deferrals
HMRC has produced new guidance in relation to the Chancellors announcement yesterday that these businesses that deferred VAT payments from 20 March to 30 June 2020 will not now have to pay the full amount by the end of March 2021. Under the arrangements announced yesterday, businesses will have the option to make smaller interest-free payments up to the end of March 2022. To take advantage of this, businesses will have to opt-in to the new arrangements.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/deferral-of-vat-payments-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19
QR Codes and Unstaffed Outdoor Sites
However, DCMS have advised that the requirement to display QR Cades does not apply to outdoor, unstaffed and unticketed heritage sites, or to archaeological and historic sites which are not open to the public.
Coronavirus Local Restrictions Support Grant
The Government has published new guidance on the eligibility criteria for businesses applying for the new Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG), which has been established to support businesses that have been required to close due to temporary COVID-19 local lockdown restrictions. Business may be eligible if it:
- occupies property on which it pays business rates
- is in a local lockdown area and has been required to close because of the formal publication of local restrictions guidance that resulted in a first full day of closure on or after 9 September. This funding is not retrospective
- has been required to close for at least 3 weeks because of the lockdown
- has been unable to provide its usual in-person customer service from its premises
CPT update:
NHS England and NHS Wales released versions of the Test and Trace app on 24 September, joining the NHS Scotland Protect Scotland app released earlier this month.
CONTACT TRACING APPS GUIDANCE
CPT members have expressed some concern about the tracing element of the new Test & Trace apps
Drivers could potentially be contacted and told to self-isolate due to having been in proximity to passengers who test positive
We have asked DfT and DHSC for clarity on the position regarding ‘vertical proximity’ – the concern here is that passengers who are within 2 metres of the driver (or other passengers) but on the other deck of the vehicle could be identified as being ‘in proximity’ when there has actually been little or no contact
We are still awaiting a substantive response on this question
The apps will send an alert if it calculates that the user has been in ‘close contact’ with someone who then tests positive for coronavirus
‘Close contact’ generally means you have been within 2 metres of someone for 15 minutes or more
ENGLAND NHS TEST & TRACE
It is possible for the user to pause contact tracing within the app by moving the contact tracing toggle on the home screen.
There are limited occasions when users are recommended to pause the app but these include when:
- you’re working behind a fixed Perspex (or equivalent) screen and are fully protected from other people – you should be adequately protected
- you store your phone in a locker or communal area
If an individual receives a notification that they have been in close contact with someone but doesn’t believe this applies to them, they should call 111
More information is available from the link below
COVID19 APP SUPPORT – WHAT THE APP DOES
SCOTLAND TEST AND PROTECT
Users are recommended to keep the app active on their phone at all times except in a small number of circumstances but these include:
- If the user is protected from customers and colleagues by a fixed physical barrier such as a Perspex screen for most of the working day.
- If the user keeps their phone in a locker or equivalent facility at work and not on their person
In these circumstances, ideally individuals should turn off their phone as that means the app will automatically continue to work when the phone is turned back on again
If this is not possible, users can choose to disable Bluetooth
It is also possible for users to turn off the Exposure Notification Setting on their mobile phone. This will turn off the ‘contact tracing’ functionality until the Exposure Notification Setting is switched back on
The user will need to remember to turn their Exposure Notification Settings and/or Bluetooth back on.
If a user receives a close contact alert advising them to self-isolate but they believe they meet one of the above scenarios, they can call the NHS 24 COVID-19 helpline (0800 028 2816) for advice about the exposure notification and make an informed decision as to whether to self-isolate.
Further information on the NHS Scotland contact tracing app can be found on the link below
PROTECT SCOTLAND APP – HOW IT WORKS
WALES TEST & TRACE
It is possible for the user to pause contact tracing within the app by moving the contact tracing toggle on the home screen.
There are limited occasions when users are recommended to pause the app but these include when:
- you’re working behind a fixed Perspex (or equivalent) screen and are fully protected from other people – you should be adequately protected
- you store your phone in a locker or communal area
If an individual receives a notification that they have been in close contact with someone but doesn’t believe this applies to them, they should call 111
More information is available from the link below
COVID19 APP SUPPORT-WHAT THE APP DOES (Gymraeg)
1 October 2020 …
Tourism Alliance updates:
Welsh Lockdowns
If you are trying to keep tabs on the lockdown restrictions in Wales, here’s a link to Q&As on the rules in all the Welsh lockdown areas. I’ve been through the rules for the different lockdown areas and they seem pretty much the same (there could be some minor differences I haven’t spotted so please check the individual lockdown area that you are interested in). The main restrictions are:
- people will not be allowed to enter or leave the area without a reasonable excuse*
- people will no longer be able to form, or be in, an extended household (sometimes called a “bubble”)
- this means meeting indoors with anyone who is not part of your household (people you live with) is not allowed at the moment, unless you have a good reason, such as providing care to a vulnerable person
- all licensed premises have to stop serving alcohol at 10pm
- people must work from home wherever possible
*(going on holiday is not a reasonable excuse)
The Q&A explains that travelling to holiday homes inside the area, or travelling out of the area to a holiday home is not allowed . In addition
https://gov.wales/local-lockdown
Local Lockdown Updates
North East Lockdown Area
The Guidance for the North East Lockdown Area has been updated including advising people that they should only travel into, within and out of the area for essential reasons. Examples of essential travel include:
- to get to and from work
- to get essential food or medical supplies including click and collect services
- to support someone who is vulnerable, if no one else can do so
- to travel to and from the homes of others in your support bubble
- to attend an early years setting, school or college, or to accompany a child who is attending an early years setting, school, college or university where necessary
- to fulfil legal obligations
- to seek medical care, or avoid illness, injury or harm
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/north-east-of-england-local-restrictions
North East – Indoor Inter-Household Mixing Restricted in Parts of the NE
The Government has announced that from tomorrow it will be illegal for people from one household to meet with people from another household in indoor settings such as pubs, restaurants and visitor attractions in the following areas:
· Durham
· Gateshead
· Newcastle
· North Tyneside
· South Tyneside
· Northumberland
· Sunderland
North West
Blackpool has been added to the North West Lockdown Zone. It is also worth noting that, in comparison to the new legal requirement on household mixing in the NE mentioned above, the guidance for the NW lockdown zone is that:
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. This applies to inside and outside of the affected areas. Examples of public venues include pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attractions and parks
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/north-west-england-local-restrictions
Screens
At the TIER meeting today DCMS clarified that after discussion with the Cabinet Office, staff behind counters were there is a screen do not have to wear face coverings. I’m waiting to find out if there is any further information of what constitutes a suitable screen and will pass this on if there is.
Updated Working Safely With Coronavirus Guidance
The government’s primary guidance for various parts of the tourism industry has been updated. The various updates are as follows
The updated sections are on thinking about risk (section 1), keeping your customers, visitors and contractors safe (section 2), who should go to work (section 3) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and face coverings (section 6).
Hotels and other guest accommodation
The updated sections are on managing risk (section 1.1), keeping your customers, visitors and contractors safe (section 2), who should go to work (section 3) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and face coverings (section 6).
The updated sectors are on thinking about risk (section 1), who should return to training, rehearsal and performance (section 2), managing performances (section 3), hair and makeup (section 4.16) and face coverings (section 6.2).
The updated sections are on managing risk (section 1.1), managing your customers, visitors and contractors (section 2), who should go to work (section 3) and face coverings (section 6).
Northern Ireland Closing Time
The First Minister has just made a statement to the NI Assembly announcing that a closing time of 11pm will be implemented in Northern Ireland from Wednesday 30th September for establishments serving alcohol and food. This means that last orders for food and drink will be 10.30pm, allowing people 30mins to finish-up. There will be no late licences. By contrast:
England
-
- Premises must close and customers must be out the door by 10pm
Wales
-
- Premises must stop serving by 10pm and customers are allowed 20mins to finish and leave the premises
Scotland
-
- Premises must close and customers must be out the door by 10pm (although the Rule of Six in Scotland means that only people from two different households can be together)
- Local Lockdown Update
Liverpool, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough
The Government has announced that, from Saturday, the lockdown measures introduced in the North East are being extended to cover the Liverpool City region, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough with legislation being introduced to prevent social mixing between people in different households in all settings except outdoor public spaces and outdoor hospitality. In addition to these legal requirements, guidance will be produced recommending that people should not attend professional or amateur sporting events as spectators and stop all but essential travel into and out from the lockdown area.
Bolton
The Government has also announced that it is aligning the measures in Bolton with the rest of Greater Manchester. This implies that pubs will be allowed to reopen in Bolton
The Guidance for the NW, when it is published, will appear here:
