COVID-19 Update 2nd December 2021
Various Primary Guidance Documents Updated
A number of the primary guidance documents for various parts of the industry have been updated to incorporate yesterday’s changes. They include:
- Accommodation Providers
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19/hotels-and-guest-accommodation
- Events and Attractions
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19/events-and-attractions
- Outdoor Public Settings
Updated Guidance for Student Entering the Country
The Home Office has updated the guidance pertaining to students entering the UK including
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- Student sponsors
- Students and Child Students (including Tier 4)
- Short-term Student (English Language) migrants (including Short-term Students)
The updates are to incorporate the removal of various Covid-related exemptions that came into effect on 27 September and to state that:
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- Students who are unable to complete their course of study during their current period of permission due to Covid-19 can no longer apply in-country to complete that course. This includes students who need further time to complete an assessment or sit examinations. Students who otherwise need more time to complete a course as a result of Covid-19, or need to make a new application, will no longer be exempt from demonstrating academic progression.
Updated Transport Guidance
DfT have updated the transport operator and transport customer guidance to incorporate the new requirement for the public to wear face coverings when travelling inside a public transport vehicle and when in indoor transport hubs in England, unless they are exempt or have a reasonable excuse.
Transport Operators
Transport Customers
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers
Transport Use
DfT’s weekly transport use survey is out and provides some initial indications on how the announcement of the new Omicron variant has impacted people’s behaviour. While National Rail usage has dropped by 10% (from about 71% last week to 61% this week), there was no real change in tube or bus usage over the last week. Next weeks figures should give a better picture on this.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/transport-use-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic
Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2021 Health in Coastal Communities
As a departure from all things Covid, there is increasing activity within Government on the Levelling-Up Agenda – this is one of the themes that DCMS will be taking forward through the Tourism Industry Council. It therefore seems timely to distribute a copy of the CMO’s report on the health status of coastal communities.
This in-depth document highlights that coastal communities have some of the worst health outcomes in England, with low life expectancy and high rates of many major diseases with an oversupply of guest housing leading to Houses of Multiple Occupation. This, in turn, has lead to concentrations of deprivation and ill health. The central argument of the report is that the health challenges of coastal towns, cities and other communities are serious, and that a national strategy to address the repeated problems of health in coastal communities is needed in addition to local action.
It is an easy step from this to recognise that tourism could play strong role in this agenda through supporting these local economies if the right incentives for investment were put in place.
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