Covid Restrictions Guidance
England:
The Government has updated the Primary Guidance for businesses in various tourism-related sectors. They have also added a preamble that applies to all the sectors which states:
From Step 4, 19 July, legal restrictions are lifted, all businesses can open and the government is no longer instructing people to work from home. To support businesses through this next phase, the ‘Working Safely’ guidance (here) will continue to provide advice on sensible precautions employers can take to manage risk and support their staff and customers.
Businesses still have a legal duty to manage risks to those affected by their business. The way to do this is to carry out a health and safety risk assessment (guidance here), including the risk of COVID-19, and to take reasonable steps to mitigate the risks you identify.
You should use the guidance to consider the risk within your premises and decide which mitigations are appropriate to adopt. In the long term, we expect that businesses will need to take fewer precautions to manage the risk of COVID-19. We will continue to keep our guidance under review and will remove advice once it’s safe to do so.
The Dept. of Education has also issued guidance for Out of School Settings here.
Here are the links to the Primary Guidance documents (please note that the previous ‘Visitor Economy’, ‘Organised Events’ and ‘Heritage Sites’ guidance has been consolidated into the new ‘Events and Attractions’ guidance).
Hotel and Other Guest Accommodation
Youth activities guidance by the NYA is here and webinar here
Scotland:
Scotland has moved to level 0 from 19 July. From Monday 19 July:
Physical distancing in Level 0 reduces to 1 metre in all indoor public settings and outdoors.
Informal social gatherings of up to 15 people from 15 households are permitted outdoors without physical distancing.
Gatherings of up to 10 people from four households are permitted in all indoor public settings with 1 metre physical distancing.
Under-12s no longer count towards the number of households that can gather indoors in public spaces and homes.
Hospitality settings can open till midnight, if their current licence permits that, and customers will no longer be required to pre-book a two-hour slot to go to a pub or restaurant but will still be required to provide contact details to assist Test & Protect.
Up to 200 people will be able to gather at weddings and funerals.
Employers are asked to continue to support home working where possible until Scotland moves beyond Level 0.
From Monday 19 July, travellers who are fully vaccinated through a UK vaccination programme and children arriving into Scotland from Amber List countries are no longer be required to self-isolate and take a day eight test. Adults and children over 12 will still take tests before travelling and on day two after arrival. Anyone testing positive for or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 will still be required to isolate for 10 days.
Some measures will be kept in place including the requirement to wear face coverings, co-operate with test and protect teams, and comply with advice on good hygiene and ventilation.
The First Minister will provide a further update in the week before the next review date on 9 August.
Covid and Scottish Youthwork Residentials
Updated Guidance in Scotland for youthwork residentials has been published that outlines capacities in rooms/dorms, etc. at different alert levels, but also notes that there is no physical distancing required during youthwork activity. In most other contexts it is currently 1m in Scotland at level 0.
You can find the updated details here.
Wales:
Wales Moved To Alert Level One on 17 July - This means that:
Up to six people can meet indoors in private homes and holiday accommodation.
Organised indoor events can take place for up to 1,000 seated and up to 200 standing.
Ice rinks can reopen.
Limits on the numbers of people who can meet in public places or at events will be removed
Outdoor premises and events will also have greater flexibility around physical distancing.
Other changes coming into effect on the 17 July are:
A specific requirement for employees to provide comprehensive information on the risks and mitigations identified in the COVID risk assessment with their employees.
New rules for children’s residential activity centres so children in groups of up to 30 can visit.
The Welsh Government also published an updated Coronavirus Control Plan for Alert Level Zero which, subject to confirmation, should come into effect on 7 August 2021. The key features of Alert Level Zero are below:
There will be no legal limits on the number of people who can meet others, including in private homes, public places or at events.
All businesses and premises will be able to reopen.
Carrying out a coronavirus risk assessment will continue to be a legal requirement for businesses, employers and event organisers.
Businesses, employers and other organisations will still be required to take reasonable measures to manage the risk of coronavirus at their premises.
The reasonable measures to be taken, such as physical distancing and other controls, will be for each organisation to consider depending on the nature of the premises and the risks of exposure to coronavirus identified.
People should continue to work from home wherever possible. If you are unwell you should self-isolate and get tested.
Face coverings will remain a legal requirement indoors in public places, such as on public transport, in shops and when accessing healthcare. The use of face coverings in the workplace should also be considered by businesses and employers as part of their coronavirus assessment
Current restrictions and further guidance for tourism and hospitality can be found here, with an explanatory video here.
Northern Ireland:
Current restrictions, found here, remain in force, with an indicative date of 26th July for the next easing.
Specific guidance for accommodation, both hotels and other, can be found here, including videos.
Specific guidance for working with young people can be found here.