CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYERS BULLETIN – 9 SEPTEMBER 2020

10 September 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Businesses and Employers Bulletin - 9 September 2020

This bulletin is issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and provides the latest information for employers and businesses on coronavirus (COVID-19). All coronavirus business support information can be found at gov.uk/business-support

New measures to suppress the virus and keep the number of infections down

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made a statement on new measures to suppress the virus and keep the number of infections down.

What has changed for businesses in England:

From Monday 14 September, you must not meet with people from other households socially in groups of more than 6. This will apply indoors and outdoors. COVID-19 Secure venues, such as restaurants and hospitality venues, can still host larger numbers in total but groups of up to 6 must not mix or form larger groups. Education and work settings are unaffected, and organised team sports will still be able to proceed, as will weddings and funerals up to 30.
Businesses will have a clear duty to support NHS Test and Trace. From 18 September, it will be mandatory for certain businesses to have a system to collect NHS Test and Trace data, and keep this for 21 days. Core COVID-19 Secure requirements will be mandated for hospitality businesses, and egregious breaches enforced.
The Government will support Local Authorities and police forces to respond to breaches of COVID-19 Secure guidelines. Simplified COVID-19 Secure guidance is available here.
The Government will review plans to pilot larger audiences in venues this month. Planned sports pilot events will be limited to smaller, safer numbers, with strict conditions to ensure social distancing, and will not take place in areas where incidence is high. We will review our intention to return audiences to stadia and conference centres from 1 October.
The Government will restrict the opening hours of premises, initially in local lockdown areas, with the option of national action in the future. This has been introduced in Bolton, following a steep rise in cases, and will seek to restrict activities that may lead to a spread in the virus.

These measures apply to England – but there may be different rules if you operate in an area under local lockdown and you should check those rules here. If you are in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, different rules may apply.

New and Updated Guidance

NEW Guidance

Wedding services: coronavirus cancellations and refunds: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have issued a statement to help consumers understand their rights and to help businesses to treat their customers fairly.

UPDATED Guidance

Kickstart Scheme – support finding a representative: A Kickstart Scheme application must be for a minimum of 30 job placements. If a single employer cannot provide this many job placements, they can: Join a group of other employers, nominating a representative for the group to submit the application or register their interest with existing representatives, such as local authorities, chambers of commerce or trade bodies. You can contact your local or national Kickstart Scheme employer contact for help getting a representative.

Seafarers qualify for travel exemptions: Seafarers have been added to the list of jobs that qualify for exemptions from self-isolation or passenger locator form requirements. Find the full list of exempt jobs here.

Updates to local restrictions and travel corridors in England

Local restrictions

Bolton: New measures have been introduced to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

All venues in the hospitality sector in Bolton – pubs, restaurants, cafes, any premises serving food and drink must restrict to take away only with immediate effect.
Businesses offering a takeaway service can remain open but must close between 10pm and 5am.

More advice for businesses is available from Bolton Council.

Blackburn with Darwen, Oldham, Pendle: Previously restricted businesses and venues can now open or restart in all the affected areas. Find out more here.

Leicester: From 8 September, the following business and venue closures will no longer apply in Leicester City: Indoor gyms; Indoor fitness and dance studios; Indoor sports courts and facilities and Indoor swimming pools, including indoor facilities at water parks. Certain businesses and venues are required to remain closed to members of the public, including after 8 September. Find full details here.

North of England: Business and venues can now open or restart in all the affected areas apart from Bolton, where restrictions continue to apply. Find out more here

A list of areas with additional local restrictions is available here.

Travel corridors

Islands policy introduced to travel corridors: A more targeted approach to travel corridors has been introduced by separating some islands from mainland countries. Find out more here.

Crete, Lesvos, Mykonos, Santorini, Serifos, Tinos and Zakynthos have been removed from the travel corridor list. The FCO advises against all non-essential travel to these islands. If you return from the above islands you will need to self-isolate.

The travel corridor list of countries and territories from where you can travel to England and may not have to self-isolate is available here. Countries and territories can be taken off or added to this travel corridor list at any time.

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