New coronavirus restrictions announced

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a series of new restrictions in England which will impact many businesses.

Boris Johnson has announced these new restrictions to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus, whilst trying to protect the economy, as the number of COVID-19 cases increase.

The Prime Minister said the latest restrictions are likely to remain in place until March 2021.

The latest changes in England...

Businesses

• Cafes, bars, pubs, restaurants, social clubs, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement arcades (and other indoor leisure venues), funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and bingo halls, must be closed between 10pm and 5am. This will include takeaways but delivery services can continue after 10pm (from 24th September).
• In licensed premises, food and drink must be ordered from, and served at, a table.
• Customers must eat and drink at a table in any premises selling food and drink to consume indoors, on site.
• Businesses must enforce the rule of 6. Table bookings of more than 6 should not be taken and there should be sufficient space between each table.
• Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions will be restricted to a maximum of 15 people (down from 30).
• Businesses will need to display the official NHS QR code posters so that customers can ‘check-in’ at different premises using this option as an alternative to providing their contact details once the app is rolled out nationally (from 24th September).
• Businesses and organisations will face stricter rules to make their premises COVID Secure (from 28 September):
  • • A wider range of leisure and entertainment venues, services provided in community centres, and close contact services will be subject to the COVID-19 Secure requirements by law (with fines of up to £10,000).
    • Employers must not knowingly require or encourage someone who is being required to self-isolate to come to work.
    • Businesses must remind people to wear face coverings where mandated.

Work from home if you can

• Office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter.
• Where an employer, in consultation with their employee, judges an employee can carry out their normal duties from home they should do so.
• Public sector employees working in essential services, including education settings, should continue to go into work where necessary.
• Anyone else who cannot work from home should go to their place of work.

Face coverings

• Customers in private hire vehicles and taxis must wear face coverings.
• Customers in hospitality venues must wear face coverings, except when seated at a table to eat or drink. Staff in hospitality and retail will now also be required to wear face coverings.
• People who are already exempt from the existing face covering obligations, such as because of an underlying health condition, will continue to be exempt from these new obligations.
• Guidance stating that face coverings and visors should be worn in close contact services will now become law.
• Staff working on public transport and taxi drivers will continue to be advised to wear face coverings.

Read the full government guidance for businesses here.

It is critical that everybody observes the following key behaviours:

• HANDS - Wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds.
• FACE - Cover your face in enclosed spaces, especially where social distancing may be difficult and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
• SPACE - Stay 2 metres apart where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place.