COVID-19 Update 14th September 2020

Elman Wall Travel Zoominar – Tue. 6 Oct

Elman Wall will be hosting its 5^th Zoominar for travel industry clients and friends on Tuesday 6^th October at 2pm. It will include updates from – the industry associations and leaders closest to government, tour operators and agents sharing their experiences of how they are getting through this, HR and employment lawyers specialists and a panels of experts, both from inside Elman Wall and from fellow professionals. To join register here. 

New measures and restrictions to take effect 14 September

England

From today 14 September new measures are in effect, including a restriction on social gatherings of more than six people and a requirement for businesses to collect visitor data to support the NHS Test and Trace system.

Review what people can and can’t do, and note that locations impacted by local lockdown measures may be subject to different rules.

The guidance on working safely during COVID-19 has been updated with priority actions for businesses to take, including steps for collecting information for the Test and Trace system and rules on gatherings of more than six people. Sector-specific guidance is available for the following:

• Performing arts
• Restaurants, pubs, bars and takeaway services
• Heritage locations
• Hotels and other guest accommodation
• The visitor economy

Following requests for more detail. Please see the following clarifications from DCMS:

• COVID-19 secure venues will be able to host business events of up to 30 people taking into account Visitor Economy guidance, including social distancing requirements.
• The intention remains to reopen exhibition and conference centres from the 1st October but this will need to be continually assessed in light of the recent spike in cases.
• If it is possible to ensure that groups of more than six do not mingle on a guided tour, it can go ahead. This would potentially be the case for a day trip or shorter tours of a visitor attraction.

Scotland

Scotland has also introduced new lockdown measures effective today 14 September.

• Social gatherings are restricted to a maximum six people from two households. This applies indoors and outdoors, in private and public spaces including homes, gardens, parks, pubs and restaurants. Children under the age of 12 are not counted in the rule of six.
• Face coverings are mandated for customers and staff in indoor hospitality, with exceptions for when customers are eating or drinking, and for non-public facing roles where face coverings may present health and safety issues

Wales

From today 14 September, new measures are in effect to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Wales.

• It is compulsory for people over the age of 11 to wear face coverings in public indoor spaces, with limited exceptions. Face coverings are not required in pubs, although this remains under review.
• No more than six people may gather indoors at any one time, and they must be from the same household or pre-established social bubble, which can be formed from up to four households joining together. Children under the age of 11 are not counted in the rule of six.

Create and display an NHS Test & Trace QR code poster

For venues in England and Wales, an online tool is available to help businesses generate QR codes and create posters to display to assist in the mandatory collection of customer, staff and visitor data to support NHS Test & Trace.

Organisations should display official NHS QR code posters at their venue entrances to help support contact tracing. Visitors should scan the QR code when they arrive using the NHS COVID-19 app. Organisations should still maintain an alternative means to maintain contact details for people who do not have a smartphone or do not want to use the NHS COVID-19 app.

Sector-specific guidance updated for working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)

Guidance on working safely during COVID-19 has been updated with priority actions for businesses to take, including steps for collecting information for the Test and Trace system and rules on gatherings of more than 6 people. Sector-specific guidance is available for the following:

• Performing arts
• Restaurants, pubs, bars and takeaway services
• Heritage locations
• Hotels and other guest accommodation
• The visitor economy

For the aviation sector, the government has also issued updated guidance on safe air travel for passengers and working safely for airports and air travel operators.

Guidance for weddings and civil partnership ceremonies in England

Guidance for small weddings, civil partnerships and receptions has been updated to reflect guidelines on social distancing between different households and mandatory test and trace requirements.

Local lockdown restrictions

New restrictions in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull announced – note we sent this on Friday but the restrictions were extended to include Sandwell and Solihull

New restrictions on meeting other people have been announced in order to push down the coronavirus rate of infection in Birmingham (city council area), Sandwell (metropolitan borough council area), Solihull (metropolitan borough council area). From Tuesday 15 September residents in these areas will not be able to mix with any other households, indoors or in private gardens, except for those in a support bubble. This applies both inside and outside the city boundaries.

Leicester City – reopening of some businesses

From 15 September, the following businesses and venues can reopen or restart in Leicester City

• casinos
• skating rinks
• bowling alleys
• indoor play areas, including soft play areas
• exhibition centres and conference halls for external attendees
• indoor performances
• close contact services, which are any treatments on the face such as eyebrow threading or make-up application
• wedding receptions and celebrations, including for up to 30 people in the form of a sit-down meal

Areas with restrictions

Despite the introduction of new national restrictions in England from Monday 14 September, people in areas with local restrictions should continue to follow the rules in their specific area within private homes and gardens, and in public venues including pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attractions and parks. These areas include Blackburn with Darwen, Oldham and Pendle, Bolton, Leicester City, North of England, Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull.

Calculate how much to claim through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Updated guidance is available to help employers calculate employees’ working and furloughed hours for workers who came off furlough partway through a claim period. Employers using this calculation do not need to amend previous claims.

Guidance and tools are available for employers to check their eligibility to claim through the Job Retention Scheme, calculate how much they can claim for and submit claims online.

Situation update 14 September 2020

• To see the number of cases of COVID-19 in England and the UK visit the UK COVID-19 dashboard.

To see the number of cases globally see the World Health Organisation dashboard