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UK Hospitality Update
dunoonhotel • Jul 21, 2020
Latest news at 20th July 2020
Political Update
* Further to our update on Friday, here is the official announcement
that Business events and conferences [1] will be permitted to resume
from 1 October, provided rates of infection remain at current levels.
The government will hold a number of pilots at event venues around the
country to plan for the return of large-scale events and test how to
implement social distancing practises. Details of these pilots will be
finalised in the coming weeks.
* Ahead of that, from 1 August, weddings and small meetings of up to 30
people can be held. Guidance on working safely in the visitor economy
has been updated to include business events [2] and consumer shows.
* The government has also laid out a new framework [3] giving national
and local authorities additional powers to slow the spread of COVID-19.
If local Directors of Public Health have evidence of a serious,
sustained and imminent threat to public health, a spike in the level of
infection and rate of transmission and where the controls are a
necessary and proportionate response to the incidence or spread of
infection. You can read our briefing note here [4].
* The following guidance has been updated for England to reflect the
upcoming changes and timeline the Prime Minister announced [5] last
week. Coronavirus FAQs on what you can and can’t do [6]. Safer travel
guidance for transport operators [7] and passengers [8]; Guidance for
small marriages and civil partnerships [9]; Guidance for the safe use of
places of worship [10]; Guidance for the safe use of multi-purpose
community facilities [11]. Guidance [12] on playgrounds and outdoor gyms
has been updated to reflect additional requirements on face coverings.
Tourism & Travel Update
* The Government has moved to protect refund credit notes [13] if
holiday packages are cancelled due to COVID-19 if they are ATOL
protected. The change will mean passengers who accept refund credit
notes for cancelled holidays as a result of COVID-19 will be protected
by the ATOL scheme if necessary, even if the company they have booked
with later collapses.
* VisitScotland [14] and Visit Wales [15] have published visitor
charters asking visitors to pledge to respect safety guidelines, the
environment and local communities when they return to visit.
* Exposure to the sea and coastal areas can play a significant role in
boosting human health and well-being, according to a recent government
study [16].
Other Government Updates
* Public Health England has published the Customer Logging Toolkit
[17] for track and trace. This contains a variety of template materials
for businesses to display, as well as guidance on how it works. If a
customer tells you they have tested positive for coronavirus, businesses
should register their contacts with NHS Test and Trace and leave any
follow up work with other customers to the local NHS Test and Trace
team. If they assess that the customer was on your premises while
potentially infectious, they will contact you to provide support and to
obtain the details of anyone who may have been exposed to the virus.
* The Government has published new guidance on face coverings, their
role in reducing the transmission of coronavirus, the settings in which
they are recommended, and how they should be safely used and stored is
available here [18]. There is no universal face coverings guidance for
workplaces because of the variety of work environments in different
industries. Employers should continue to follow COVID-19 secure
guidelines [19].
* HMRC have set up a new helpline for queries about the reduced rate of
VAT: tel 0300 200 3700 or email: VATtourismandhospitality@hmrc.gov.uk
* The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme [20] guidance has been updated
to clarify that notice periods being served by furloughed employees
include contractual notice periods.
* The Government has tabled an amendment to the Bill on outdoor spaces
requiring pubs, cafés and restaurants to offer separate outdoor spaces
[21] for smokers and non-smokers.
* The government has moved to make large and accessible Changing Places
toilets compulsory [22] in new buildings from next year.
Situation update 20 July 2020
* To see the number of cases of COVID-19 in England and the UK visit
the UK COVID-19 dashboard [23].
* To see the number of cases globally see the World Health Organisation
dashboard [24].
Links:
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[16]
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/marine-and-coastal-areas-linked-with-better-health-and-well-being
[17]
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[19]
[20]
[21]
[22]
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