COVID Business Update
Published on Wednesday, 15 December 2021
The Prime Minister has announced a move to Plan B measures, as outlined in the
COVID-19 Autumn/Winter Plan.
Plan B measures will come into force while more data on
vaccine efficacy is assessed. Moving to Plan B will help to slow the spread of
the Omicron variant and reduce the chances of the NHS coming under
unsustainable pressure, while buying time to deliver more booster jabs.
The overall national communications approach continues to be
to help the public recognise risk and protect themselves from COVID-19,
enabling people to continue their normal lives as much as possible.
In summary, the measures announced are:
From 10 December,
mandatory face covering rules are extended to most indoor settings (but will
not include hospitality settings).
From 13 December,
guidance is for people to work from home if they can. Anyone who cannot work
from home should continue to travel to their workplace.
From 15 December,
introduction of mandatory certification for certain settings. This will mean a
requirement to show vaccination status or a recent negative test to enter
certain high risk settings, ie
·
Nightclubs
·
Indoor unseated venues with more than 500 people
·
Unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000
people
·
Any venue with more than 10,000 people
These measures are in
addition to:
·
A continued promotion of regular testing,
especially testing before people meet others, socialise or go to crowded or
enclosed places.
·
Continued encouragement for people to get their
first, second or booster vaccination - being fully vaccinated is the best way
for people to protect themselves against catching COVID-19.
·
Reminding people of the importance of
ventilation - let in fresh air when meeting indoors.
The Council’s Local Outbreak Management Board, will be
reviewing the local plans to ensure our response continues to reflect the
changing local and national risk.
The full details of
the new guidelines can be found here.
The government guidance
around face coverings detailing where they have to be worn can be found here.
As part of the new rules businesses whose
premises require face coverings to be worn will have to put up signage to alert
members of the public/customers to wear a face covering if they want to enter
the shop or premises.
A poster can be downloaded here.
The latest guidance for business for each sector can be found here.