> 'At-a-glance' Covid-19 useful links
COVID 19 - Latest News
July 2020 Updates
MHCLG has published details of the £20m of funding for SMEs that builds on the £10m fund announced previously to help tourism SMEs. Like the tourism kick-start funding, the new scheme is being allocated through the Growth Hubs to LEPs for distribution. I have attached an copy of a paper that provides a breakdown of how much has been allocated to each LEP.
The funding must be to directly respond to the impact of COVID-19 and can include:
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one-to-many events providing guidance to respond to coronavirus
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small grants (£1,000 - £5,000) to either:
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help visitor economy businesses access specialist professional advice e.g. human resources, accountants, legal, financial, IT / digital
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purchase minor equipment to adapt or adopt new technology in order to continue to deliver business activity or diversify The funding is being provided to address immediate needs and all grants must be awarded by 28 February 2021 and all activity fully completed by 31 March 2021.
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Here’s link to the prime minister’s speech at lunchtime where he delayed the lifting of restrictions planned for tomorrow until at least the 15th August and announced that facemasks would be required for more indoor venues. We are still trying to find out the full list of venues that facemask wearing will be mandatory and will get back to you as soon as possible on this. It is also worth noting that he stated that he has asked the Home Secretary to work with the police to ensure existing rules are being properly enforced and that local authorities close down premises and cancel events which are not following
Attached is some pretty horrific figures that DCMS have just published on the impact the Coronavirus and social distancing are having on visitor numbers at the national Museums. At the moment only four of the Museums are open – the National Gallery, National Museums Liverpool, The Wallace Collection and Royal Museums Greenwich. The figures show that footfall at these museums is averaging just 8.5% of what it was compared to the average of the comparative period over the last three years.
ONS have produced their latest Social Impacts research update which has some relevant findings for tourism businesses.
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While 34% of people say that they are comfortable eating inside at a restaurant, 42% of people say that they are not comfortable with doing this
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Only 12% of people are comfortable using an indoor gym, 13% are comfortable using an indoor swimming pool and 19% feel comfortable using an outdoor swimming pool.
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Job Retention Bonus Scheme
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employers will receive a one-off payment of £1,000 for every employee who has previously been furloughed if they remain continuously employed to the end of January 2021
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employees must earn at least £520 (the National Insurance lower earnings limit) a month on average between the beginning of November and the end of January
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those who were furloughed and had a claim submitted after the 10 June (when the CJRS closed to new entrants), because they were returning from paternal leave or time serving as a military reservist will also be eligible for the bonus as long as they meet the other eligibility criteria
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employers will also be eligible for employee transfers protected under TUPE legislation, provided they have been continuously employed and meet the other eligibility criteria and the new employer has also submitted a CJRS claim for that employee
View full details of the job retention bonus scheme
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Guidance on how HMRC works out trading profits and non-trading income has been updated to include that losses are not included in your non-trading calculation. -
Guidance on how different circumstances affect the scheme has been updated to include what supporting evidence you may be asked for if having a new child affected the trading profits you reported for the tax year 2018 to 2019. -
New guidance has been published on how to pay back some of the SEISS grant if you’ve been overpaid, made a claim in error and were not eligible for the grant or would like to make a voluntary repayment
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New guidance has been published on claiming for individuals who are paid through PAYE but not necessarily employees in employment law. -
Guidance on calculating how much you can claim has been updated with information on claim periods ending on or before 31 August 2020.
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Weekly data (up to end of Sunday 12 July) for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme is now available. -
HMT management information about the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) and Future Fund Scheme has been updated with the new weekly stats up to 12 July -
Updated data is available (up until 12 July) on how local authorities have received and distributed funding to support small and medium businesses in England during coronavirus. -
New statistics analysing the monthly growth for the production and services industries between April 2020 and May 2020, highlighting the impact from the coronavirus (COVID-19) have been published.
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Information about how spoilt beer can be re-purposed has been updated.
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Meetings of up to 30 people indoors are now allowed in permitted venues if social distancing can be maintained and the venue can demonstrate it has followed COVID-19 secure guidelines. -
Anyone may now use public transport but will still be encouraged to use alternative means of transport where possible.
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Guidance on returning to work will be updated. Businesses will have more discretion on how they ensure employees can work safely, including working from home or by following COVID-19 secure guidelines
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Most remaining leisure settings – bowling, skating rinks, casinos – as well as close-contact beauty services will be allowed to reopen in line with COVID-19 secure guidelines. Particularly high risk activities and settings such as nightclubs and soft play will remain closed.
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Indoor live performances will restart in line with COVID-19 secure guidelines, subject to the success of pilots taking place this month.
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Pilots will be conducted for larger gatherings such as business events and events in sports stadia in late July. These will be carefully monitored and evaluated to inform future decisions on any further relaxation of the rules, with a view to building up to and preparing for a full, socially distanced return in the autumn.
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Wedding receptions with sit-down meals for up to 30 people will be allowed, subject to COVID-19 secure guidelines.
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Exhibition and conference centres will be allowed to show their facilities to socially distanced groups of up to 30 people for the planning of future events. They should not be open fully to open events more widely.
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Schools, nurseries and colleges to open on a full time basis
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All types of events, e.g. trade shows, consumer shows, exhibitions and conferences will be allowed (at a capacity that can allow for compliance with social distancing of 2m, or 1m with mitigation). Where such events involve people speaking loudly for prolonged periods of time, any mitigation must include particular attention to the ventilation of the spaces. This will also be subject to the latest public health advice.
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Close businesses and venues in whole sectors (such as food production or non-essential retail), or within a defined geographical area such as towns or counties -
Impose general restrictions on movement of people - including requirements to stay at home or to prevent people staying away from home overnight, or restrictions on entering or leaving a defined area -
Impose restrictions on gatherings by limiting how many people can meet and whether they can travel in and out of an area to do so -
Restrict local or national transport systems by closing them entirely, or introducing capacity limits or geographical restrictions -
Mandate use of face coverings in a wider range of public places
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Against a challenging backdrop of decreasing general optimism around COVID-19 in the UK, there has been some growth in confidence in visiting attractions -
Those previously claiming that they would revisit ‘as soon as the opportunity arises’ appear to be true to their word, with 21% of the market (around 8.5m adults) claiming to have already visited since reopening -
Among those visiting attractions since reopening, the reaction to safety measures has been fairy good although nervousness among visitors to attractions which were only allowed to open recently is apparent -
However, around half the attractions-visiting market remains stubbornly cautious about visiting. Main visit barrier is lack of confidence in attractions’ ability to control distancing, led by concerns over fellow visitors’ compliance -
Early returning is much less likely among the older generation and those who are not working -
There is strong evidence that the ‘We’re Good To Go’ mark will have a much-needed, major positive impact upon visit confidence and almost a quarter of the market already claim to have seen this mark -
There is clear and increasing demand for a full visit experience to be available on reopening, with significant proportions not visiting if services and facilities were to be closed. Opening with mitigation measures is better than remaining closed -
As indoor attractions reopen, high anxiety in the market remains around indoor facilities – especially toilets, catering outlets, interactive visit elements and events. Demonstrating and communicating safety measures pre-visit will be even more critical than for outdoor attractions -
Two-thirds of the market would feel more comfortable about visiting an attraction if face coverings were compulsory. This is a significant growth since June and reflects wider public opinion and growth in use in recent weeks. Is now the time to take the socially responsible line and embrace their use in attractions?
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Restaurants and pubs can open. Indoor hospitality is limited to table services and contact details will need to be collected from customers. -
People will be free to stay in self-contained accommodation including hotels, B&Bs, and campsites – so long as shared facilities can be kept clean. -
Tourist attractions will be able to reopen if they can do so safely, outside gyms and playgrounds can also open. -
Places of worship will be able to reopen, weddings can take place with up to 30 guests. -
Close proximity venues such as nightclubs, soft play, indoor gyms, swimming pools and spas will remain closed. Taskforces will be established to help them become COVID secure. -
Indoor facilities for sports will remain closed, and close contact sports should only happen with people from the same household. -
Two households of any size will be able to meet in any setting (inside or outside), they do not have to be the same household each time. They are not recommending multiple households meet indoors. -
Outside, the guidance remains that people from several households of up to six, or two households can meet regardless of size. -
Hairdressers will be able to open with visors, nail bars will be able to follow when they are confident they can open in a COVID secure way.
As of 3rd July
Guidance on maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace
The following businesses providing an on-site service are required to collect and maintain data of staff, customers and visitors upon re-opening:
- Hospitality, including pubs, bars and restaurants (it does not apply to businesses operating a takeaway/delivery only basis).
- Tourism and leisure, including hotels, museums, cinemas, zoos and theme parks
- Facilities provided by local authorities including town halls and civic centres for events, community centres, libraries and children’s centres.
- Places of worship including use for events and other community activities.
The information businesses should collect:
Staff:
- The names of staff who work at the premises
- A contact phone number for each member of staff
- The dates and times that staff are at work
Customers and visitors:
- The name of the customer or visitor. If there is more than one person, then you can record the name of the ‘lead member’ of the group and the number of people in the group.
- A contact phone number for each customer or visitor, or for the lead member of a group of people.
- Date of visit and arrival and, where possible, departure time.
- If a customer will interact with only one member of staff (e.g. a hairdresser), the name of the assigned staff member should be recorded alongside the name of the customer.
This data needs to be kept for 21 days. You should collect this information in a way that is manageable for your establishment.
Guidance on collection and maintenance of data from Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The ICO has also published a statement and a short data protection checklist for protecting customer data:
- Ask for only what’s needed
- Be transparent with customers and what the information is being used for
- Store the data carefully
- Don’t use it for other purposes
- Erase the data in line with the government guidelines
Coronavirus Travel Corridors
The Government has today announced that passengers returning or visiting from around 60 destinations including France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Australia, will no longer need to self-isolate when arriving in England from 10 July 2020. All passengers, except those on a small list of exemptions, will still be required to provide contact information on arrival in the UK, including details of countries or territories they have been in or through during the previous 14 days. Existing public health advice on hand hygiene, face coverings and social distancing must also be followed.
The Devolved Administrations will set out their own approach to exemptions, and so passengers returning to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should ensure they follow the laws and guidance which applies there.
£10 million Kick-starting Tourism Package announced
The Government has today announced a new package to support small businesses in tourist destinations. Grants of up to £5,000 will be available to help adapt businesses following the coronavirus pandemic.
The funding will be able to be used to pay for specialist professional advice, to adopt new technology and online systems, or to purchase new equipment.
Funding will be allocated to each Local Growth Hub based on how much of their employment base is linked to tourism and hospitality businesses. We will share more information when available.
Other Government updates
- Businesses will have the flexibility to bring furloughed employees back to work on a part-time basis time from 1 July. The flexibility includes hours and shift patterns of employees.
- The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme page has also been updated with new information including employees being able to be recorded as on furlough during time spent on holiday, how to calculate furloughed hours for different sets of circumstances and how to treat statutory payments received in the claim period.
New examples for how a business could be adversely affected by coronavirus have been added to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) claim page.
June Updates 2020
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday regarding the re-opening plans for a number of tourism businesses in England from 4 July, the visitor economy guidance has been published.
The guidance is aimed at business owners, operators and workers in the following areas:
- hotels and other guest accommodation (including self-catering accommodation, B&Bs, hostels, camping, holiday homes, caravan parks, boats and other types of accommodation including short-term letting). This guidance should be read in conjunction with the working safely in hotels and other accommodation guidance.
- indoor and outdoor attractions (e.g. arcades, walking tours, theme parks, family entertainment centres, static funfairs, zoos, and aquariums). The events and entertainment guidance may also be useful for attractions that move around (e.g. roving funfair)s to be published shortly.
- business events and consumer shows (e.g. events taking place in meetings, conference, convention and exhibition centres). Business conferences, events, exhibitions and trade fairs are not currently allowed to take place in England.
The guidance should also be read in conjunction with the working safely guidance, the safer travel guidance and other available sector guidance.
New social distancing guidance, a list of businesses that can open from 4 July and updated guidance for restaurants, pubs and bars has also been made available.
23 June:
The Prime Minister has announced today the re-opening plans for a number of tourism businesses in England from 4 July, providing the conditions laid out in the Government’s roadmap are met.
In the announcement, it was outlined that from 4 July in England:
- The two metre social distancing rule will be relaxed to one metre plus. Where it is possible to remain two metres you should continue to do so, but where this is not possible it should be a ‘one metre plus’ policy. New guidance will be published to support businesses – including changing office layouts, protective screens, closing non-essential communal areas etc.
- Restaurants and pubs can open. Indoor hospitality is limited to table services and contact details will need to be collected from customers.
- People will be free to stay in self-contained accommodation including hotels, B&Bs and campsites – so long as shared facilities can be kept clean.
- Tourist attractions will be able to reopen if they can do so safely, outside gyms and playgrounds can also open.
- Places of worship will be able to reopen, weddings can take place with up to 30 guests.
- Close proximity venues such as nightclubs, soft play, indoor gyms, swimming pools and spas will remain closed. Taskforces will be established to help them become COVID secure.
- Indoor facilities for sports will remain closed, and close contact sports should only happen with people from the same household.
- Two households of any size will be able to meet in any setting (inside or outside), they do not have to be the same household each time. They are not recommending multiple households meet indoors.
- Outside, the guidance remains that people from several households of up to six, or two households can meet regardless of size.
Guidelines will be published for these reopening sectors. We will share these as soon as they are available.
Round-up of other recent updates
Updated guidance for accommodation providers if a guest displays symptoms of COVID-19
If a guest is displaying signs of the COVID-19 virus while staying in overnight accommodation for a permitted reason, they should inform the accommodation provider, immediately self-isolate where they are to minimise any risk of transmission, and request a test. If they are confirmed to have COVID-19, they should return home if they reasonably can. If a guest cannot reasonably return home (for example because they are not well enough to travel or do not have the means to arrange transport), their circumstances should be discussed with an appropriate health care professional and, if necessary, the local authority. Guests should follow Government guidance on dealing with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme template updates
A new template is available for employers who will be claiming for 100 or more employees through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The new form is for claims on or after 1 July.
Commercial property code of practice announced
The Government has extended measures to prevent struggling companies from eviction until the end of September. A new code of practice has been developed with the retail, hospitality and property sectors to provide clarity for businesses when discussing rental payments and to encourage best practice so that all parties are supported.
The Reopening High Streets Safely Fund FAQ has been updated to provide information on websites and local authority delivery partners. Table 1 has been updated to reflect activities that are in or out of the scope of the Fund.
- The VAT payment deferral period ends on 30 June. Information about the end of the deferral period has been updated.
- A YouTube video offering guidance on how to make a claim for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) has been updated.
15 June:
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme guidance updated:
Revised guidance has been published giving more detail on forthcoming changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) following the Chancellor's announcement last month. This includes:
- From 1 July, employers can only claim for employees who have previously been furloughed for at least three consecutive weeks between 1 March–30 June.
- From 1 July, employers can bring furloughed employees back to work for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim the CJRS grant for the hours not worked.
- From 1 August, the level of the grant will be gradually reduced. No grant will be available for Class 1 employer NICs or pension contributions from 1 August, these contributions will remain payable by the employer.
- From 1 September, employers will also be asked to contribute towards the cost of their furloughed employees’ wages to ensure they continue to receive at least 80% of their wages for the time they are on furlough.
- Parents returning from maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and parental bereavement leave after 10 June are exempt from the cut-off date for new entrants. This applies to employers who have previously submitted a claim for any other employee (between 1 March-30 June). Employees need to have started the leave before 10 June and be returning after 10 June and need to have been on their employers’ PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020.
- HMRC are running two webinars - Thursday 18 June, 9:45-10:45 and Friday 19 June, 11:45-12:45 - giving an overview of the changes to the scheme, how employers will be affected, flexible furloughing, key dates and support available. Sign up here.
Self-Employment Income Support Scheme guidance update:
Updated guidance is available on the extension of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). Eligible individuals are able to claim a second and final grant in August.
- Those eligible for the first grant must claim on or before 13 July 2020.
- Applications for the second grant will open in August.
- The eligibility criteria remain the same as the first SEISS grant.
- Those claiming for the second grant will have to confirm that their business has been adversely affected on or after 14 July 2020.
- Individuals can claim for the second grant even if they did not make a claim for the first grant.
Guidance published for aviation passengers and operators, inland and coastal boats:
- The Government has published new guidance for aviation passengers and operators, setting out advice for air travellers and measures that operators should implement to protect against the spread of coronavirus.
- The guidance for passengers covers the travel experience step by step, including advice on journey planning, social distancing, cleaning, face coverings, use of PPE and ventilation.
- The guidance for operators has been published to help manage risks from coronavirus (COVID-19) and provide safer workplaces and services for workers and passengers.
- New guidance has also been published on using a boat inland or on the coast.
- Review the latest guidance for other transport and travel sectors here.
Updated guidance for holiday accommodation providers on accommodating those arriving into the UK:
- Businesses providing holiday accommodation can provide rooms to those required to self-isolate because they have arrived in England from outside the UK, or arrived in England from elsewhere in the UK but have within the preceding 14 days been outside the UK. Read the guidance to find out more.
Other Government updates:
- The green spaces guidance has been updated with information on the reopening of animal attractions.
- The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) has drawn together important security considerations for businesses in financial distress, including those in insolvency or administration, either directly or as a third party.
- The FAQ for the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund has been updated.
- The working safely during coronavirus guidance has been updated to reflect industry feedback in the areas of managing product handling and returns, the test and trace service, safer travel and managing security risks.
- Additional information has been added to the guidance on certain expenses covering paying travel and subsistence expenses to an employee travelling to a temporary workplace.
- A new section on returning office equipment has been added to the Check which expenses are taxable if your employees work from home due to coronavirus (COVID-19) page
Tools and resources available:
- A new platform called Digital Boost has been launched. The platform hosts a community of digital experts who will offer one-to-one digital support to small businesses free of charge.
- The High Streets Task Force has announced that they will provide access to tools, training, information and advice for high streets across England as part of the government’s efforts to get shops back in business safely from 15 June. This support is open to local councils and all organisations involved with high streets and will include free access to online training programmes, webinars, data and intelligence on topics including recovery planning and coordination, public space and place marketing.
Update to the Business Advice Hub:
We have published a new page on our Business Advice Hub for businesses getting ready to open. The page includes information, advice and links to guidance on reopening along with practical information on operating under social distancing guidelines.
10 June:
- The PM announced that from Monday 15 June, atttractions where people are in the cars can open for visitors, including safari parks and open-air cinemas. The outdoor areas of zoos can also open if they follow Government guidance on social distancing.
- Also from 15 June, all non-essential retail shops can open for business, as long as COVID-19 safety rules are adhered to. The Government is working towards 4 July 2020 as a target date to reopen the hospitality and service sectors including pubs and restaurants.
8 June: Business Secretary launches working groups to help plan economic recovery
Business Secretary Alok Sharma is creating five new business-focused groups as part of the Government’s plans to help the economy bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic. Focused on five key themes, each group will explore how business can work with Government to deliver economic growth and jobs:
- The future of industry: How to accelerate business innovation and leverage private sector investment in research and development
- Green recovery: How to capture economic growth opportunities from the shift to net zero carbon emissions
- Backing new businesses: How to make the UK the best place in the world to start and scale a business
- Increasing opportunity: How to level up economic performance across the UK, including through skills and apprenticeships
- The UK open for business: How to win and retain more high value investment for the UK
Further details including membership of the five working groups will be published in due course.
8 June: Transport operators are required to provide information about coronavirus and health information to all passengers travelling to England by sea, air or rail, from outside the common travel area, at 3 stages of the passenger journey: the booking stage, the check-in stage and on-board the vessel, aircraft or train.
5 June: Updated COVID-19 advice has been published for accommodation providers. The advice still states that businesses providing holiday accommodation (including hotels, hostels, B&Bs, campsites, caravan parks, boarding houses, and short term lets) should remain closed for leisure related stays. No person should stay overnight away from their own home for a holiday or similar purpose. Included in the guidance is advice for businesses who provide holiday accommodation and how they can accommodate those required to self-isolate. From 8 June, certain individuals travelling from overseas will be required by law to self-isolate for a period of 14 days. Businesses providing holiday accommodation can provide rooms to those required to self-isolate because they have arrived in England from outside the UK, or arrived in England from elsewhere in the UK but have within the preceding 14 days been outside the UK. Accommodation for these purposes should adhere to the same guidelines as for other permitted stays, including on social distancing and cleaning. Read the full guidance on Gov.uk
4 June: The Government has announced that Trade Credit Insurance, which provides cover to business-to-business transactions, will receive up to £10 billion of government guarantees. The Trade Credit Reinsurance scheme, which has been agreed with the insurance sector, will see the vast majority of Trade Credit Insurance coverage maintained across the UK. The guarantees will support supply chains and help businesses to trade during the coronavirus pandemic and continue to be protected if a customer defaults or delays on payment. The scheme is available on a temporary basis for nine months, backdated to 1 April 2020, and available from insurers operating in the UK market.
3 June: New border measures will be introduced from 8 June, there will be new rules in place for entering the UK because due to COVID-19. The rules are for residents and visitors. When these rules are in place, people will need to provide their journey and contact details when they travel to the UK and will have to self-isolate and will not be allowed to leave the place they are staying for the first 14-days they are in the UK except in very limited situations. Arrivals will not need to complete the form or self-isolate if they are travelling from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man if they were there for 14 days or more. Some travellers, including some specific workers, will be exempt from new English border rules.
1 June: The Coronavirus Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund has opened. The grant is for small and micro businesses with fixed property costs that are not eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund may be eligible.
As of 5 November 2020 - DCMS Q&A - Guildline Update
A. At the time that restrictions are brought in, if people are currently on holiday and it is not reasonable for them to curtail their stay, they may finish their holiday as planned; the duration of stay should only be as long as reasonably necessary and they should return home as soon as practical. People must comply with the ‘stay at home’ requirements and make every effort to reduce socialising indoors outside of their household whilst in holiday accommodation in the meantime.
A. Guests are allowed to finish their bookings if they were started before Thursday; the duration of stay should only be as long as reasonably necessary and they should return home as soon as it is practical to do so. They will need to comply with the ‘stay at home’ requirements in their holiday accommodation. Restaurants, dining rooms and bars in hotels will need to close from Thursday therefore breakfast in the hotel restaurant cannot be served, but room service is permissible.
A. Anyone who needs accommodation for the purposes of their work may stay in guest accommodation. There is no legal definition of 'work' i.e. no restriction to only allow key workers as there was during the initial national lockdown.
A. Accommodation providers should take all reasonable steps to encourage guests to adhere to government restrictions, including informing guests of restrictions when taking bookings and communicating to all customers, including those with existing bookings, reminding them not to travel unless it is essential (such as for work purposes or attending a funeral). Enforcement of the law remains a matter for the police and Local Authorities.
A. All employers with a UK bank account and UK PAYE schemes can claim the grant. Neither the employer nor the employee needs to have previously used the CJRS.
August 2020 Updates
As of 11 September 2020 - 'Safe Six' Update
Since Tuesday evening there has been a lot of concern expressed about how the Rule of Six will impact various types of tourism activity. While we await detailed tourism related guidance, the general principle is that businesses that are operating in a Covid-Secure way, along with some specified exceptions, will continue to be allowed to do so - provided that individual groups of visitors/guests meet together in groups of no more than six people.
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Close Contact Services -
Heritage locations -
Hotels and other Guest Accommodation -
Restaurants, Pubs and Bars -
The Visitor Economy
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Updated Coronavirus FAQs: what you can and can’t do. These are a useful set of FAQs which go a long way to provide some clarification on this complex situation.
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From Monday 15 Septemberpeople can still go on holiday in England, the distance travelled will not be restricted but they should not go on holiday with people outside their household (including bubble) in a group larger than 6 people.
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A new campaign to prevent the spread of the pandemic over the winter has been formulated with the branding of Hands, Face, Space.
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DCMS has announced that the proposed pilot schemes for spectators at sports matches are to be scaled back to just 1000 attendees
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The latest edition of DFT's transport monitor has been released which shows that the level of public transport use in London remains at around 33% of usual for the tube and 58% for buses (where it has been for the last five weeks) suggesting that people are still not returning to work in the capital. National rail is still operating at about 33% of usual capacity as well.
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From 18 September it will be required by law that many of us operating in the sector will need to k eep a record of customers, visitors and staff for 21 days as part of the NHS Test and Trace system, although there are some exceptions.
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who the testing will cover – all directly employed staff, or includes individuals working onsite, like contractors -
what the focus of the programme is: staff with symptoms or without symptoms -
how often staff will be tested -
appropriate facilities for carrying out the tests -
who the testing will cover – for example, whether this is all directly employed staff, or includes individuals working onsite, like contractors -
what the focus of the programme is: staff with symptoms or without symptoms -
how often staff will be tested -
appropriate facilities for carrying out the tests -
whether the programme is voluntary or mandatory -
what the consequences are for staff who decline to take part in the testing programme or decline to share the result of a test -
does the regime comply with the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018
As of 16 September 2020 - Insurance Judgement
FCA Coronavirus Disruption Insurance Judgement
You may remember that the FCA has been seeking a court ruling on the validity of the Business Disruption insurance with regard of to the Coronavirus Outbreak. This test case used a sample of 21 different types of policy wording from eight different insurers.
The judgement on this case has now been published and, in general terms, it represents a considerable step forward. While the judgment is long and complex for a number of reasons (including the fact that the wording of different insurance policies varies significantly) the FCA’s press release states that judgment concludes that most, but not all, of the “disease clauses” in the insurance policies considered, do provide cover for business. It also says that certain “denial of access” clauses in the sample provide cover, but this depends on the detailed wording of the clause and how the business was affected by the Government response to the pandemic, including whether the business was subject to a mandatory closure order and whether the business was ordered to close completely.
The test case has also clarified that the Covid-19 pandemic and the Government and public response were a single cause of the covered loss, which is a key requirement for claims to be paid even if the policy provides cover.
The FCA and Defendant insurers are now considering the judgment and what it might mean in respect of any appeal. Any applications to appeal will be heard at a consequentials hearing before the High Court.
Invitation to speak FCA legal team
The legal team has set aside time on 21 and 22 September to speak directly with policyholders and intermediaries and their legal advisers regarding this judgement. They will consider meeting requests made by 5pm on Thursday 17 September. A request can be emailed to biinsurancetestcase@fca.org.uk stating only the word 'Meeting' in the subject line of the email and stating your availability in the body of the email. If you would like to talk about a particular policy, email the policy document as well as any correspondence from your insurer regarding whether your claim is potentially affected by the test case.
A copy of the FCA Press Release can be found here
The FCA legal team have also put together a copy of a summary of the Judgement
Tax Free Shopping Briefing
Not Coronavirus Related but I’ve attached a copy of a briefing from AIR (Association for International Retailers) in the impact of removing Tax Free Shopping on tourism and retail. One of the most interesting components of this briefing is the 2013 quote from HMRC on the importance of Tax-Free Shopping in supporting the growth of the UK tourism industry.
“The VAT Retail Export Scheme – also known as Tax Free Shopping – plays a key part in the shopping experience for our visitors and positively influences their views on Britain as a value for money shopping destination.” “The Government is encouraging more visitors to the UK …..This will contribute to sustaining jobs and supporting economic growth across the UK. By 2020, the Government hopes to welcome more than 40 million visitors a year. This review of taxfree shopping in the UK supports this objective and aims to put the scheme in the best possible position to deal with the increase in visitors.”
The guidance on sporting activities has been updated to take into account how the Rule of Six applies to various activities and to update the guidance on team sports. Here’s the guidence on undertaking sporting activities with other people which includes activities such as horse riding and swimming.
And here is the guidence as it relates to team sports.
As at 22 September 2020 - PM's announcement - Increased Restrictions
The PM has announced the following rules from Thursday 24 September 2020 in England:
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The planned reopening of conferences, exhibitions and events on 1st Oct has been suspended
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Pubs, restaurants and bars will have to close at 10pm (except for takeaways)
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Only “table-only” service will be allowed at pubs, restaurants and bars
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Staff in retail and indoor hospitality will have to wear masks
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The Covid-secure workplace guidance will become a legal obligation.
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The number of people able to attend a wedding is being reduced to 15 from the previous 30
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The £10,000 fines imposed on those who don't quarantine will now be applied to businesses and the penalty for failing to wear a mask or breaking rule of six will double to £200.
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Exemptions to the “rule of six” will be reduced.
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People have been asked to work from home if they can.
Here’s a copy of the Prime Minister’s Statement to Parliament
A few clarifications from this
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The restriction on people attending Weddings is from Monday
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Take-aways will subject to the 10pm curfew – it is deliveries that are excempt
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Staff and customers in indoor hospitality will have to wear mask except when seated at a table to eat or drink.
He also announced that these new restrictions will most likely be in place for six months
With thanks Tourism Alliance
As at 23 September 2020 - New Restrictions -Further Detail
New restrictions in England due to rising coronavirus cases
In summary:
- From Thursday 24 September all pubs, bars, and restaurants must operate a table service only (except for takeaways)
- Also, from Thursday, all hospitality venues must close at 10:00pm (please note this means you have to shut at 10pm). Takeaways should also close, but they can continue to provide delivery services after 10:00pm
- The requirement to wear face coverings has been extended to include staff in retail, all users of taxis/private hire and to staff and customers in indoor hospitality with the exception of when seated at a table to eat or drink
- In retail, leisure, tourism and hospitality settings, the Government’s COVID-19 secure guidelines will become legal obligations. Businesses will be fined and can be closed if they breach the rules
- From Monday 28 September a maximum of 15 people will be able to attend wedding ceremonies and receptions. Up to 30 will still be able to attend funerals
- Business events, and large sports events, will not be able to reopen from 1 October as intended
- Office workers who can work from home have been asked to do so. In professions where this is not possible, people should continue to go into their workplace
- The rule of six will be extended to all adult indoor team sports
These rules will be enforced by tighter penalties. The penalty for breaking the rule of 6 or not wearing a mask when required will double to £200 for a first offence. The police will be provided with extra funding, and given the ability to draw on military support when needed. We will update you as and when more guidance becomes available.
- Customers in private hire vehicles and taxis must wear face coverings (from 23 September).
- 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 (from 24 September).
- 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 (from 24 September).
- Staff working on public transport and taxi drivers will continue to be advised to wear face coverings.
- Businesses selling food or drink (including cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants), social clubs, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement arcades (and other indoor leisure centres or facilities), funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls, must be closed between 10pm and 5am. This will include takeaways but delivery services can continue after 10pm (from 24 September).
- Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open after 10pm, only if the performance started before 10pm. They should not serve food or drink after this time.
- 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 (from 24 September).
- 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 24 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 in law and fines of up to £10,000 for repeated breaches.
- 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.
- Support groups must be limited to a maximum of 15 people (from 24 September). Support groups are formally organised groups to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support. This includes support to victims of crime, recovering addicts, new parents, people with long-term illnesses, those facing issues relating to their sexuality or gender, and those who have suffered bereavement.
- Indoor organised sport for over 18s will no longer be exempt from the rule of six. There is an exemption for indoor organised team sports for disabled people (from 24 September).
- There will be a new exemption in those areas of local intervention where household mixing is not allowed to permit friends and family to provide informal childcare for children under 14 (from 24 September).
- Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions will be restricted to a maximum of 15 people (down from 30). Other significant standalone life events will be subject to the ‘rule of six’ limits, except funerals (from 28 September).
- For further details on what has changed please visit the Government website.
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for work, or the provision of voluntary or charitable services -
registered childcare, education or training -
supervised activities provided for children, including wraparound care, youth groups and activities, and children’s playgroups -
providing support to a vulnerable person -
providing emergency assistance, and to avoid injury or illness or to escape risk of harm -
for arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both their parents -
fulfilling a legal obligation, such as attending court or jury service -
elite sporting competition and training -
wedding and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions – up to 15 people -
funerals – up to 30 people. This does not include wakes, other than for religious ceremonial purposes -
exercise classes, organised outdoor sport or licensed outdoor physical activity, and supervised sporting activity (indoors or outdoors) for under-18s -
indoor organised team sports for disabled people -
support groups of up to 15 participants – formally organised groups to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support. This includes support to victims of crime, recovering addicts, new parents, people with long-term illnesses, those facing issues relating to their sexuality or gender, and those who have suffered bereavement. -
protests – if organised in compliance with COVID-19 Secure guidance. All individuals must be socially distanced -
For up to date guidence please visit the Governemnt website on meeting with others safely.
Other Government updates
- Updated statistics available for Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) and Future Fund Scheme.
- Updated data (up to Sunday 20 September) is available for Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, and the VAT payments deferral scheme.
Situation update 22 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.
As at 24 September 2020 - Further Clarifications
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Ask at least one member of every party of customers or visitors (up to 6 people) to provide their name and contact details. -
Keep a record of all staff working on their premises and shift times on a given day and their contact details. -
Keep these records of customers, visitors and staff for 21 days and provide data to NHS Test and Trace if requested. -
Adhere to General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
As at 28 September 2020 - HM Tresurary Update
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To be eligible an employee must work at least 33% of their normal hours. In this example, of the remaining portion of the employee’s hours, the employer will pay a third (22% of the total) and the Government will do the same. This will give an employee 77% of their full pay. -
The level of the grant will be based on an employees’ usual salary and capped at £697.92 per month -
The scheme will run from six months from 1st November -
Large businesses will have to prove that they have been adversely affected by Covid-19 to be eligible for the Job Support Scheme. -
The scheme will be available to all businesses and all employees regardless of whether they have been part of the CJRS (furlough scheme) in the past
As of 7 October 2020
Updated Guidance for Restaurants, Pubs, Bars and Take Away Services
The Working Safely during Coronavirus Guidance Restaurants, Pubs, Bars and Takeaway Services has been updated in relation to taking payments and guidance on
Payment
on taking payments from customers has been updated to allow for customers to pay at the counter rather than at their tables where adequate safety measures are in place. This will help businesses with few or no handheld card machines.
“Payment should also be taken at the table wherever possible, but may be taken at a bar or counter if safety measures are in place” (Section 2.2)
Indoor Play Areas
The guidance on indoor areas and soft play has been updated, link to BALPPA’s revised guidance on how to manage these areas.
SEISS Guidance Update
Under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, if you’ve had a new child, you may still be able to make a claim even if you would otherwise be ineligible. The guidance on how to ask HMRC to verify that you had a new child which affected your eligibility for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme before you make a claim has been added.
If HMRC has confirmed your eligibility you can make a claim on or before 19 October 2020.
The guidance for educational travel by children under the age of 18 has been updated with links through to guidance for both schools and further education providers. In both situations, the guidance is against overnight travel but day-trips are allowed provided that there is a thorough risk assessment.
The Government has published the terms of reference for a review of connectivity within the UK. This is an independent review being undertaken by Sir Peter Hendy and tasked with understanding whether and how connectivity across the UK can support economic growth and quality of life, particularly as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the review is to consider:
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- the quality and reliability of major connections across the UK
- likely current and future demand for transport links
- the environmental impact of policy options (including with regard to climate change)
- existing work completed by the government on cross-UK connectivity
This will be a good opportunity to highlight how improving connectivity will support the recovery of the UK tourism industry. The proposed timetable is to publish his interim report in January 2021 and final recommendations in summer 2021.
With Christmas approaching, the Government has updated the Covid Secure guidance for holding special religious services and gatherings, whether they be at a place of worship, at home or in outside areas in order to take into account the new rules. So, as it stands, Xmas dinner and carolling has to comply with the Rule of Six and no Passing the Peace at Midnight Mass.
Situation update 6 October 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.
As of 12 October 2020
Job Support Scheme expanded to firms required to close due to COVID restrictions
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak set out
new measures and support for businesses in lockdown areas.
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The Job Support Scheme will be expanded to support businesses across the UK who are legally required to close their premises due to local or national coronavirus restrictions. -
The government will support eligible businesses by paying two thirds of each employees’ salary (or 67%), up to a maximum of £2,100 a month. -
To be eligible to claim the grant businesses must be subject to restrictions and employees must be off work for a minimum of seven consecutive days. -
Employers will not be required to contribute towards wages but will be asked to cover NICS and pension contributions -
The scheme will begin on 1 November and will be available for six months, with a review in January. Payments to businesses will be made in arrears, via a HMRC claims service, available from early December. -
Employees of firms that have been legally closed in the period before 1 November are eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. -
These measures will sit alongside the original Job Support Scheme and the Job Retention Bonus. -
It was also announced that cash grants for businesses required to close in local lockdown areas will also increase to be up to £3,000 per month and will be paid every two weeks.
As of 14 October 2020
Please see the first details of the new ‘three tiered’ alert level to standardise local restrictions. The new rules were announced by the Prime Minister see the tiers categorised as ‘medium,’ ‘high,’ and ‘very high.’
Local COVID Alert Level - Medium
Covering most of the country, and all of the South East region, this will broadly consist of the current national measures which came into force on 25th September. For these areas this means:
- All businesses and venues can continue to operate in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those that remain closed in law, such as nightclubs.
- Certain businesses selling food or drink on their premises are required to close between 10pm and 5am.
- Businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-thru.
- Schools, universities and places of worship remain open.
- Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees.
- Organised indoor sport and exercise classes can continue to take place, provided the Rule of Six is followed.
- People must not meet in groups larger than six, indoors or outdoors.
See the guidance and restrictions for areas where the Local COVID Alert level is Medium.
Local COVID Alert Level - High
This is for areas with a higher level of infections. The “high” alert level will reflect many current local interventions, but there will now be consistency across the country. This means the following additional measures are in place:
- People must not meet with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place.
- People must not meet in a group of more than six outside, including in a garden or other space.
- People should aim to reduce the number of journeys they make where possible. If they need to travel, they should walk or cycle where possible, or to plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport.
Most areas which are already subject to local restrictions will automatically move into the “high” alert level. As a result of rising infection rates Nottinghamshire, East and West Cheshire and a small area of High Peak will also move into the “high” alert level.
See the guidance and restrictions for areas where the Local COVID Alert level is High.
Local COVID Alert Level - Very High
This is for areas with a very high level of infections. The Government will set a baseline of measures for any area in this local alert level. Consultation with local authorities will determine additional measures.
The baseline means the below additional measures are in place:
- Pubs and bars must close, and can only remain open where they operate as if they were a restaurant - which means serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal. They may only serve alcohol as part of such a meal.
- Wedding receptions are not allowed.
- People must not meet with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor or outdoor setting, whether at home or in a public space. The Rule of Six applies in open public spaces like parks and beaches.
- People should try to avoid travelling outside the ‘Very High’ area they are in, or entering a ‘Very High’ area, other than for things like work, education, accessing youth services, to meet caring responsibilities or if they are in transit.
- People should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK if they are resident in a ‘Very High’ area, or avoid staying overnight in a ‘Very High’ area if they are resident elsewhere.
See the guidance and restrictions for areas where the Local COVID Alert level is Very High.
As of 23 October 2020
The Government has published details of the Job Support Scheme Expansion:
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Businesses that are operating but facing decreased demand can get support for wages through JSS Open.
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Businesses that are legally required to close their premises as a direct result of coronavirus restrictions set by one or more of the four governments of the UK can get the financial support they need through JSS Closed.
JSS Open
This is undoubtedly the most significant and potentially complex change to the grants available as part of the winter support scheme. In a change from the previous lower limit of an employee working 33% of their usual hours they will now need to work a minimum of 20% of their usual hours. For the remainder of the unworked hours the employee will be entitled to receive 66.67% of their normal pay. The funding for such will be made up of a 5% contribution from the employer and 61.67% from the government. In practice the employer will pay 5% of the hours not worked, up to a maximum of £125 per month, with the discretion to pay more than this if they wish. The government will pay the remainder of 61.67% of the hours not worked up to a maximum of £1,541.75 per month. This will ensure employees continue to receive at least 73% of their normal wages, where they earn £3,125 a month or less. The charts below show, through several examples, in yellow, the proportion of an employee’s salary paid by the company, in orange, that paid by the government, and, in grey, that which can remain unpaid.
In order to be eligible employers with over 250 employees will need to undertake a Financial Impact Test demonstrating that their turnover has remained equal or fallen due to the adverse effects of Covid-19. Those employing less than 250 do not need to do this.
Detailed information can be found here.
JSS Closed
Where a business has been ordered to cease trading due to the measures implemented by the government the following grant funding is available. Each employee who cannot work due to these restrictions will receive two thirds of their normal pay, paid by their employer and fully funded by the government, to a maximum of £2,083.33 per month, although their employer has discretion to pay more than this if they wish . This will help protect employee incomes, limit unemployment and retain employer-employee matches so that these premises are able to reopen as quickly as possible when circumstances allow. Full details from HMRC will follow in due course.
The Job Support Scheme will be open from 1 November 2020 and run until 30 April 2021. The government will review the terms of the scheme in January. Employers will be able to claim in arrears from 8 December 2020, with payments made after the claim has been approved.
Eligible employers will be able to claim the JSS Closed grant for employees:
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whose primary work place is at the premises that have been legally required to close as a direct result of coronavirus restrictions set by one or more of the four governments of the UK
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that the employer has instructed to and who cease work for a minimum period of at least 7 consecutive calendar days
A complete list of employee eligibility requirements for JSS Closed and further guidance will be published by the end of October here
Grants for the self-employed
The Chancellor also announced further SEISS grants for those experiencing a reduced demand for their services as a direct result of Covid-19. These grants will increase from 20% to 40% of three months average trading profits, meaning the maximum grant will increase from £1,875 to £3,750.
Business Grants
A welcome announcement was the additional funding being made available to Local Authorities to support businesses in our sector who are in Tier 2. Based on premises’ rateable value these can be worth up to £2,100 per month for those in the hospitality, accommodation and leisure sector who may be adversely impacted by the restrictions in high-alert level areas. These grants will be available retrospectively for areas who have already been subject to restrictions and come on top of higher levels of additional business support for Local Authorities which have moved into Tier 3.
Welcoming visitors from Tier 2 (High)
London is now positioned in the Tier 2 (High) category in terms of Covid risk while the rest of the South East remains in Tier 1 (Medium). We are still allowed, at the moment, to welcome visitors from Tier 2 areas (including London) and they are still allowed to travel here but they have to uphold the Tier 2 restrictions.
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Tier 2 visitors are allowed to stay in holiday accommodation with members of their own household, but they’re not allowed to enter other people’s homes: they can stay in a hotel, but not at friends and relatives houses.
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Tier 2 visitors are allowed to go to bars and restaurants, but only with members of their own household. However, they are allowed to meet with other people outdoors: they could meet friends in a pub garden, or go for a walk together, but not socialise indoors.
Obviously, national rules, such as the Rule of Six, along with the other measures such as social distancing must be upheld alongside the above. More details can be found here.
COVID-19 Situation update 22 October 2020
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To see the number of cases of COVID-19 in England and the UK visit the UK COVID-19 dashboard.
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To see the number of cases globally see the World Health Organisation dashboard.
As of 02 November - Autumn Lockdown
The restrictions will apply from 00.01 on Thursday 5th November and will remain in place until 2nd December.
Movement
Apart from the exceptions listed below everyone should stay at home. You can leave your house for the following reasons:
- For education
- To go to work if you cannot work from home. Workplaces should remain open where it is impractical or impossible to work from home.
- For exercise and recreation outdoors, with your household, support bubble or on your own (or with one person from another household)
- For all medical reasons, appointments and to escape injury or harm
- To shop for food and essentials
- to provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer.
In addition, people can attend funerals (max 30) however weddings and civil partnership ceremonies will not be permitted to take place except in exceptional circumstances.
Holidays
In terms of movement for holidays we are working on the assumption that the rules are the same as the previous lockdown. This means that people cannot travel internationally or within the UK, that they must stay in their primary residence and therefore cannot visit a second home or holiday home
Travel for work purposes is permitted. Although we are awaiting further clarification, accommodation providers will be allowed to stay open to provide accommodation for those who have to travel as part of their job.
For those people already on holiday, again we await further confirmation, but it appears that they can will be allowed to finish their holidays, but are still subject to the requirements in England not to go out without a reasonable excuse. International travel will continue to be governed by the travel corridor approach.
Busines Closures
A full list of businesses which will be forced to close has yet to be published but the headline groups are as follows:
- All non-essential shops, attractions, leisure and entertainment venues will be closed.
- Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes must close, except for takeaway and delivery services.
The details and, it is expected, the updates can be found here.
Furloughing and Grants
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough), which was meant to end on 31 October and be replaced by the Job Support Scheme, will now remain in place until December with the terms of the scheme reverting to as it was in August:
- employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500 and businesses paying for NI and pension contributions.
- Businesses will also have flexibility to bring furloughed employees back to work on a on a flexible basis.
The guidance on the furlough scheme has been updated in line with the Prime Minister’s announcement, and also here.
Grants
Businesses required to close in England due to local or national restrictions will be eligible for the following grants:
- For properties with a rateable value of £15k or under, grants to be £1,334 per month, or £667 per two weeks;
- For properties with a rateable value of between £15k-£51k grants to be £2,000 per month, or £1,000 per two weeks;
- For properties with a rateable value of £51k or over grants to be £3,000 per month, or £1,500 per two weeks.
As at 3 November - Clarifications for Autumn Lockdown from 5 November
Clarification has been provided on the new national restrictions in place from 5 November , including what they mean for working from home and business closures, why they are being introduced and the financial support available.
You must not meet socially indoors with family or friends unless they are part of your household - meaning the people you live with - or support bubble.A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household. Households in that support bubble can still visit each other, stay overnight, and visit outdoor public places together.You can exercise or visit outdoor public places with the people you live with, your support bubble, or 1 person from another household (children under school age, as well as those dependent on round-the-clock care, such as those with severe disabilities, who are with their parents will not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside).
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parks, beaches, countryside, -
public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them), allotments -
playgrounds -
You must not meet socially indoors with family or friends unless they are part of your household - meaning the people you live with - or support bubble.
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You can exercise or visit outdoor public places with the people you live with, your support bubble, or 1 person from another household (children under school age, as well as those dependent on round-the-clock care, such as those with severe disabilities, who are with their parents will not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside). -
Outdoor public places include: -
You cannot meet in a private garden.
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all non-essential retail, including, but not limited to clothing and electronics stores, vehicle showrooms, travel agents, betting shops, auction houses, tailors, car washes, tobacco and vape shops. -
indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, leisure centres and gyms, sports facilities including swimming pools, golf courses and driving ranges, dance studios, stables and riding centres, soft play facilities, climbing walls and climbing centres, archery and shooting ranges, water and theme parks, -
entertainment venues such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, casinos, adult gaming centres and arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, concert halls, zoos and other animal attractions, botanical gardens; -
Confirmation has been recieved on 3.11.2020 that parks and gardens, whether free or paid, may remain open, and Tourism Alliance continues to press the case for Botanic Gardens to remain open too. -
personal care facilities such as hair, beauty and nail salons, tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, body and skin piercing services, non-medical acupuncture, and tanning salons. -
Food shops, supermarkets, garden centres and certain other retailers providing essential goods and services can remain open. Essential retail should follow COVID-secure guidelines to protect customers, visitors and workers. -
Non-essential retail can remain open for delivery to customers and click-and-collect. -
Playgrounds can remain open. -
Hospitality venues like restaurants, bars and pubs must close, but can still provide takeaway and delivery services. However, takeaway of alcohol will not be allowed. -
Hotels, hostels and other accommodation should only open for those who have to travel for work purposes and for a limited number of other exemptions which will be set out in law.
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Funerals can be attended by a maximum of 30 people, and it is advised that only close friends and family attend. -
Linked ceremonial events such as stone settings and ash scatterings can also continue with up to 15 people in attendance. -
Anyone working is not included. Social distancing should be maintained between people who do not live together or share a support bubble. -
Weddings, civil partnership ceremonies will not be permitted to take place except in exceptional circumstances. -
Places of Worship will be closed, unless they are being used for:
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Funerals -
To broadcast acts of worship -
Individual prayer -
Formal childcare or where part of a school -
Essential voluntary and public services, such as blood donation or food banks -
Other exempted activities such as some support groups
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travelling to work where this cannot be done from home -
travelling to education and for caring responsibilities -
hospital GP and other medical appointments or visits where you have had an accident or are concerned about your health -
visiting venues that are open, including essential retail -
exercise, if you need to make a short journey to do so
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If you need to travel we encourage you to walk or cycle where possible, and to plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport. This will allow you to practise social distancing while you travel. -
Overnight stays and holidays away from primary residences will not be allowed. This includes holidays abroad and in the UK. It also means you cannot stay in a second home, if you own one, or staying with anyone you do not live with or are in a support bubble with. There are specific exceptions, for example if you need to stay away from home (including in a second home) for work purposes, but this means people cannot travel overseas or within the UK, unless for work, education or other legally permitted reasons. -
You must not travel if you are experiencing any coronavirus symptoms, are self-isolating as a result of coronavirus symptoms, are sharing a household or support bubble with somebody with symptoms, or have been told to self-isolate after being contacted by NHS Test and Trace. -
If you need to use public transport - to travel to work for example - you should follow the safer travel guidance. This includes the rules on wearing face masks and advice on car sharing. -
For those planning to travel into England, you should check the current travel corridor list to see whether you need to isolate for 14 days. You will still be required to abide by the restrictions set out here even if you do not need to isolate. If you do need to travel overseas from England before 2 December (and are legally permitted to do so, for example, because it is for work), even if you are returning to a place you’ve visited before, you should look at the rules in place at your destination, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice. -
British nationals currently abroad do not need to return home immediately. However, you should check with your airline or travel operator on arrangements for returning.
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Workers in any part of the UK can retain their job, even if their employer cannot afford to pay them, and be paid at least 80% of their salary up to £2500 a month. -
The flexibility of the current CJRS will be retained to allow employees to continue to work where they can. -
Employers small or large, charitable or non-profit are eligible and because more businesses will need to close, they will now be asked to pay just National Insurance and Pensions contributions for their staff during the month of November – making this more generous than support currently on offer. -
The Job Support Scheme will not be introduced until after Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme ends
Wherever you live, you may be able to get financial help through the:
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Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme -
Job Support Scheme (from 1st November) -
New Style Employment and Support Allowance
As at 4 November 2020 - More clarity for accommodation providers - exemptions
Who Can Stay in Visitor Accommodation (please also see further upadtes as of 5 Nov)
Here’s the list of exemptions
(6) A person (providing visitor accommodation) may continue to carry on their business and keep any premises used in that business open—
(a) to provide accommodation for any person, who—
(i) is unable to return to their main residence
(ii) uses that accommodation as their main residence
(iii) needs accommodation while moving house
(iv) needs accommodation to attend a funeral
(v) is isolating themselves from others as required by law
(vi) is an elite athlete, the coach of an elite athlete, or (in the case of an elite athlete who is a child), the parent of an elite athlete, and needs accommodation for the purposes of training or competition,
(b) to provide accommodation for any person who needs accommodation for the purposes of their work
(c) to provide accommodation for any child who requires accommodation for the purposes of education
(d) to provide accommodation for the purposes of a women’s refuge or a vulnerable person’s refuge
(e) to provide accommodation or support services for the homeless
(f) to provide accommodation for any person who was staying in that accommodation immediately before these Regulations came into force
(g) to host blood donation sessions
(h) for any purpose requested by the Secretary of State, or a local authority.
Note: (f) allows people to stay on in the accommodation if they were before the lockdown came into force – so people don’t have to return home immediately.
Can People Staying in Accommodation use the Restaurant or Bar ?
Accommodation operators with bars and restaurants can sell food and drink via takeaway or delivery for consumption off the premises between 05:00 and 22:00 but must keep the restaurant and bar areas closed. Food and drink served to people legally staying in the property must be via room service.
15. (1) A person responsible for carrying on a restricted business, or providing a restricted service, must—
(a) close any premises, or part of the premises, in which food or drink are provided for consumption on those premises, and
(b) cease providing food or drink for consumption on its premises.
(2) The requirement in paragraph (1) is subject to the exceptions in regulation 17(1) and (2).
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), food or drink provided by a hotel or other accommodation as part of room service is not to be treated as being provided for consumption on its premises.
Can Work Meetings Still Take Place ?
There is an exemption to the restrictions on gatherings for certain purposes including work meetings, training and education (the forthcoming guidance might provide more clarity on the circumstances and limitations on such meetings)
Exception 2: gatherings necessary for certain purposes
(3) Exception 2 is that the gathering is reasonably necessary—
(a) for work purposes or for the provision of voluntary or charitable services;
(b) for the purposes of education or training;
(c) to provide emergency assistance;
(d) to enable one or more persons in the gathering to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm; (e) to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person, including relevant personal care within the meaning of paragraph 7(3B) of Schedule 4 to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006(a);
(f) to facilitate a house move.
Can Weddings Take Place ?
There are exemptions to allow people to both hold and travel to weddings – although only 6 people can attend. It is also Important to note that although people are allowed to travel for the purpose of a wedding, there is no corresponding ability for people to stay in visitor accommodation for the purpose of attending a wedding.
Exception 8: marriages and civil partnerships etc
(11) Exception 8 is that—
(a) the gathering is for the purposes of—
(i) the solemnisation of a marriage in accordance with the Marriage (Registrar General’s Licence) Act 1970(a);
(ii) the solemnisation of a marriage by special licence under the Marriage Act 1949(b), where at least one of the parties to the marriage is seriously ill and not expected to recover; (a) 1970 c. 34. (b) 1949 c. 76. 14
(iii) the formation of a civil partnership under the special procedure provided for in Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004(a);
(iv) the conversion of a civil partnership to a marriage under the special procedure provided for in regulation 9 of the Marriage of Same Sex Couples (Conversion of Civil Partnership) Regulations 2014(b), or
(v) an alternative wedding ceremony, where one of the parties to the marriage is seriously ill and not expected to recover, and for these purposes, “alterative wedding ceremony” has the meaning given in regulation 6(11),
(b) the gathering consists of no more than 6 people,
(c) the gathering takes place—
(i) at a private dwelling,
(ii) at premises which are operated by a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body,
(iii) at premises which are part of premises used for the operation of a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body, or
(iv) in a public outdoor place not falling within paragraph (ii) or (iii), and
(d) the gathering organiser or manager takes the required precautions in relation to the gathering (see regulation 14).
As of 4 November 2020 - More clarifications on Attractions that must close.
As of 5 November 2020 - Extended Furlough and Financial Suppport
As of 10 November 2020 - Guidence updates
Reclaiming Statutory Sick Pay
The guidance to employers on reclaiming Statutory Sick Pay has been updated so that now the repayment will cover up to 2 weeks SSP starting from the first qualifying day of sickness, if an employee is unable to work because they have been advised by letter to shield because they’re clinically extremely vulnerable and at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus.
The end of the lockdown is a 00:01 on Thursday 3rd December – this being 28 days after the lockdown started (5th Nov).The lockdown guidance reads:
“The new measures will apply nationally for four weeks up to and including Wednesday 2 December.”
The Guidance for Local Restrictions Support Grants and Additional Restrictions Grants has been updated to explain the Local Restrictions Support Grant strands and further explain the Additional Restrictions Grant. However, this update is more directed to Local Authorities on their management of the Grants rather than business eligibility so we await further guidance for businesses on these grants
One of the most pressing questions that I’ve been getting is whether accommodation businesses are eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) or the discretionary Additional Restrictions Grant. DCMS still haven’t received guidance on this from the Cabinet Office but recognise how urgently the industry needs this and will come back to us as soon as possible.
Another update to the Guidance for the Kick Start Guidance to say that requests to be added to the Kickstart gateway list will no longer be accepted after 16 November 2020. However, organisations can still operate as a Kickstart gateway and submit a Kickstart Scheme grant application even if they're not on the list.
COVID-19 Situation update 10 November 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.
As of 10 November 2020 - Vaccine Announcement
Prime Minister’s press conference 9 November
The Prime Minister was joined by Jonathan Van Tam and Brigadier Joe Fossey at a press conference this evening.
- He began by touching on the progress toward a vaccine. He said that the Pfizer vaccine’s results are showing 90% effectiveness, but they have not yet seen the full safety data. If/when it is approved the UK will be ready – they have 40m doses of this particular one (for around a third of the population – two doses per person).
- If this is successful they will carry out a NHS led roll out of vaccination, prioritising the who gets vaccinated based on scientific advice.
- The Prime Minister stressed that these were early days, and this news cannot be seen as the only solution.
- Irrespective of a vaccine or not, more must be done to bring the virus down – mass testing is part of this plan – currently being trialled in Liverpool.
- The Brigadier provided an update on the programme.
- Jonathan Van Tam touched on the new vaccine announcement by Pfizer.
- He warned people to stand fast and not get over excited. The next step would be to see the safety data of the 22,000 people given the vaccine.
- He doesn’t see this vaccine making any difference to this Winter wave, but it may help prevent future waves. He urged the public not to relax and to continue to comply to restrictions.
Q&A
- There was a question about travel around the UK at Christmas – the PM said the more we comply with guidance now, the better all of our chances of a close to normal Christmas are.
- The final question asked if London would be released from lockdown early due to declining rates in the city. The PM said this progress was due to people following the rules, but in some places the virus is still doubling.
View the Prime Minister’s full statement.
As of 11 November 2020 - CJRS Claim Clrification
Main Extended CJRS Guidance
Full details can be seen here. Some of the key points are
-
- You can claim for any employees who were employed on 30 October 2020, as long as you have made a PAYE RTI submission to HMRC between the 20 March 2020 and 30 October 2020, notifying a payment of earnings for that employee
- You do not need to have previously claimed for an employee before the 30 October 2020 to claim for periods from 1 November 2020.
- Employers can furlough employees for any amount of time and any work pattern
- For periods from 1 November 2020, you will only need to pay for the cost of employer NICs and pension costs.
- There is no maximum number of employees you can claim for from 1 November 2020.
- Employees continue to maintain all their employment rights and accrue holiday pay as previously
Check Which Employees Can Be Furloughed
There is separate guidance detailing how the employment status of workers impacts on a businesses ability to furlough them. Some of the key points here are:
-
- For employees on Fixed Term Contracts, if fixed term contract has not already expired, it can be extended or renewed for claim periods after 1 November 2020
- If the employee’s fixed term contract expired after 23 September, they can be re-employed and claimed for as long as the other relevant eligibility criteria are met.
- Apprentices can be furloughed in the same way as other employees and they can continue to train whilst on furlough.
- For claim periods after 1 November 2020, a new employer is eligible to claim in respect of employees of a previous business transferred if the TUPE or PAYE business succession rules apply to the change in ownership. The employees being claimed for should have been employed by their prior employer on or before 30 October 2020 and transferred from them to their new employer on or before 1 September 2020
- If you made employees redundant, or they stopped working for you on or after 23 September 2020 you can re-employ them and put them on furlough.
- The government is reviewing whether employers should be eligible to claim for employees serving contractual or statutory notice periods and will change the approach for claim periods starting on or after 1 December 2020, with further guidance published in late November.
This is the online calculator that will help you determine how much you can claim. The key points here are:
For Employees on Fixed Pay
-
- the reference period is the last pay period ending on or before 19 March 2020 for employees who either:
-
- were on your payroll on 19 March 2020, that is you made a payment of earnings to them in the tax year 2019 to 2020 which was reported to HMRC on a Real Time Information (RTI) Full Payment Submission (FPS) on or before 19 March 2020
- you made a valid CJRS claim for in a claim period ending any time on or before 31 October 2020
-
- For all other employees, the reference period is the last pay period ending on or before 30 October 2020;
- the reference period is the last pay period ending on or before 19 March 2020 for employees who either:
For Employees’ on Variable Pay
Further details can be seen here.
- Employees who were on your payroll on 19 March 2020, you should calculate 80% of the higher of:
- the wages earned in the corresponding calendar period in the tax year 2019 to 2020
- the average wages payable in the tax year 2019 to 2020
- For all other employees’ you should calculate 80% of the average wages payable between 6 April 2020 (or, if later, the date the employment started) and the day before they are furloughed on or after 1 November 2020
Claim must be submitted by:
November 2020
14 December 2020
December 2020
14 January 2021
January 2021
15 February 2021
February 2021
15 March 2021
March 2021
14 April 2021
It is important to note that 30 November 2020 is the last day employers can submit or change claims for periods ending on or before 31 October 2020.
As of 12 November 2020- Grant Eligbility
Eligible for the Coronavirus Additional Restrictions Grant
A short piece of guidance on eligibility for the ARG has been published which stated that Local councils have the freedom to determine the eligibility criteria for these grants. However, the government expects the funding to help those businesses which – while not legally forced to close – are nonetheless severely impacted by the restrictions
This could include:
-
- businesses which supply the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors
- businesses in the events sector
- business required to close but which do not pay business rates
Similarly, guidance on eligibility for the LRS Grant has been published. The eligibility criteria are:
-
- occupies property on which it pays business rates (and is the ratepayer)
- is in an area of local restrictions and has been required to close because of local restrictions that resulted in a first full day of closure on or after 9 September
- has been required to close for at least 14 days because of the restrictions
- has been unable to provide its usual in-person customer service from its premises
Businesses are not eligible if:
-
- you can continue to operate during the period of restrictions because you do not depend on providing direct in-person services from your premises (for example, accountants)
- local restrictions are introduced for less than 14 days or you are closed for less than 14 days
- you have chosen to close, but have not been required to close as part of local restrictions
- your businesses has been subject to national closures, since 23 March 2020, such as nightclubs (these are eligible for other grant support)
- you have exceeded the permitted state aid threshold
Eligible For a Coronavirus Grant Due to National Restrictions (for closed businesses)
The next one is the eligibility criteria for businesses that have to close as a result of national restrictions
To be eligible your business:
-
- occupies property on which it pays business rates (and is the ratepayer)
- has been required to close because of the national restrictions from 5 November to 2 December 2020
- has been unable to provide its usual in-person customer service from its premises
Businesses are not eligible if:
-
- you can continue to operate during the period of restrictions because you do not depend on providing direct in-person services from your premises (for example accountants)
- you have chosen to close, but have not been required to close as part of national restrictions
- you have exceeded the permitted state aid limi
Finally we have the eligibility criteria for the LRSG (Open) Grant.
To be eligible your business:
- is in an area subject to ‘High’ or ‘Very High’ local restrictions since 1 August 2020 and has been severely impacted because of the local restrictions
- was established before the introduction of Local COVID alert level: High restrictions
- has not had to close but has been impacted by local restrictions
Businesses are not eligible if:
- your business was established after the introduction of local restrictions in your local council area
- your business is in administration, insolvent or has been struck off the Companies House register
- you have exceeded the permitted state aid threshold
As of 13 November 2020- Further Guidence and DCMS Q&A
Updated Lockdown Guidance
The Government has just published an updated version of the national lockdown guidance but have not indicated what they have changed in the guidance.
The Government has announced that to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next year, the late May Bank Holiday will be moved to Thursday 2 June and an additional Bank Holiday created on Friday 3 June to create a four-day weekend. The four day celebrations will feature an extensive programme of events throughout the UK which will also help boost tourism recovery.
DCMS - Q&A
Q. Is there any further information on the Job Retention Bonus? This has caused concern with the larger hotel/tourist groups.
A. The Chancellor has said that a retention initiative will be reintroduced at an appropriate time but no further detail. We will continue to work with HMT to get more clarity.
Q. For rural areas, is there clarification on what is considered acceptable travel for exercise?
A. While people are allowed to travel in order to exercise, we ask that you minimise the distance you travel. There are no limits on how far you can travel for work where necessary. Travel for recreation and exercise should be kept to a short distance. Travel for permitted purposes, such as essential retail, should be kept within reasonable bounds.
Q. Can you self-isolate in a hotel before you have an operation?
A. You can stay in a hotel to self-isolate as required by law.
This week the following countries and territories have been removed from the Air Corridor List
-
- Mainland Greece
- Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus
And the following countries have been added to the Air Corridor list
- Bahrain
- Cambodia
- Chile
- Iceland
- Laos
- Qatar
- Turks & Caicos Islands
- UAE
All these changes apply UK-wide and will come into effect from 04:00 on Saturday 14th November.
As of 19 November 2020 - Update
Clarification regarding Christmas illumination trails during national restrictions.
-
All sites operating Christmas illumination trails will be expected to operate within strict social distancing and COVID-safe guidelines. -
Each site must ensure that crowds are controlled, and that there is no singular event that has more people in attendance (e.g. a launch night). -
Each site must take measures to ensure that visitors do not congregate around particular installations. -
Each site must provide assurance on how visitor numbers will be controlled, and how social distancing will be maintained throughout (e.g. one-way routes, crowd management, etc). -
Operators will need to ensure that any food or drink provision at these sites is in line with the requirements set out in the Regulations. Please also refer to the Visitor Economy guidance. -
We would expect operators to make clear that the requirements set out in the Regulations around household groups and linked household groups to be strictly adhered to. -
Relevant Local Authorities should ensure that these steps are taken, and will have the power to close these down where the steps above are not taken.
A. Under the national restriction regulations, voluntary workers are covered by the same exceptions which paid workers are covered by, including general restrictions on leaving the home and gathering. This means where it is reasonably necessary to leave the home in order to volunteer, and where it is not reasonably possible for a volunteer to provide their voluntary services from home, a volunteer is able to continue to volunteer outside of their home.
A. Yes, these businesses may operate in line with the restrictions around the sale of food and drink. If food or drink is provided for consumption on a premises, then that premises must close. Food or drink, including alcohol, may be provided for consumption off the premises through click and collect or deliveries.
As of 26 November - Tier and Alert Level update
Tier 1: Medium alert
Isle of Wight
Restriction guidance for Tier 1: Medium alert
East Sussex, West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, Surrey, Reading, Windsor and Maidenhead, West Berkshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire
Restriction guidance for Tier 2: High alert
Slough, Kent, and Medway
Restriction guidance for Tier 3: Very High alert
This afternoon Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave a statement to the House of Commons on the Government’s COVID-19 Winter Plan. The Prime Minister confirmed that the national restrictions in England will end on 2 December and that the country will move back into a regional tiered approach. These tiers will be tougher than previously. On Thursday 26 November the government is due to announce which areas are in which tier. A postcode checker will also be available to show which restrictions apply in which area.
In the meantime guidance on the restrictions that will be applicable in each tier has been published. Please see the key guidance from each area below. The new rules will come into effect from the beginning of Wednesday 2 December, from which time people will be able to leave home for any purpose and meet people outside their household subject to the rule of 6, collective worship and weddings can resume, shops and gyms can reopen (see caveats below).
Tier 1: Medium alert
- People must not socialise in groups larger than 6 people, indoors or outdoors, other than where a legal exemption applies
- Businesses and venues can remain open, in a COVID secure manner, other than those which remain closed by law, such as nightclubs
- Hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:
- Provide table service only, for premises that serve alcohol
- Close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, on transport services and in motorway service areas are exempt)
- Stop taking orders after 10pm
- Hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
- Early closure (11pm) applies to casinos, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities and bingo halls. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances that start before 10pm
- Public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 4,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors
- Public attendance at spectator sport and business events can resume inside and outside, subject to social contact rules and limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 4,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors
- Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, and 15 people can attend linked commemorative events
- People who live in a tier 1 area and travel to an area in a higher tier should follow the rules for that area while they are there. Travel to or overnight stays in tier 3 areas should be avoided other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. Travel through a tier 3 area as part of a longer journey is permitted
Tier 2: High alert
- People must not socialise with anyone they do not live with or who is not in their support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place
- People must not socialise in a group of more than 6 people outside, including in a garden or a public space
- Businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those which remain closed by law, such as nightclubs
- Pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals
- Hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:
- Provide table service only, in premises which sell alcohol
- Close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, transport services and motorway service areas are exempt)
- Stop taking orders after 10pm
- Hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
- Early closure (11pm) applies to casinos, cinemas, theatres, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances that start before 10pm
- Public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors
- Public attendance at spectator sport and business events can resume inside and outside, subject to social contact rules and limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors
- Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, and 15 people can attend linked commemorative events such as wakes or stonesettings
- People can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible
- People who live in a tier 2 area, must continue to follow tier 2 rules when travel to a tier 1 area. Travel to or overnight stays in tier 3 areas should be avoided other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. Travel through a tier 3 area as a part of a longer journey is permitted
Tier 3: Very High alert
- People must not meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody they do not live with, or who is not in their support bubble, this includes in any private garden or at most outdoor venues
- People must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in some other outdoor public spaces, including parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or a sports facility
- Hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed – they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services
- Accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and guest houses must close. There are several exemptions, such as for those who use these venues as their main residence, and those requiring the venues where it is reasonably necessary for work or education and training
- Indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close. This includes:
- play centres and areas, cinemas, theatres and concert halls, trampolining parks, soft play, casinos, bingo halls, bowling alleys, skating rinks, amusement arcades, adult gaming centres, laser quests and escape rooms, snooker halls
- Indoor attractions at mostly outdoor entertainment venues must also close (although indoor shops, through-ways and public toilets at such attractions can remain open). This includes indoor attractions within:
- zoos, safari parks, and wildlife reserves, aquariums, visitor attractions at farms, and other animal attractions, model villages, museums, galleries and sculpture parks, botanical gardens, biomes or greenhouses, theme parks, circuses, fairgrounds and funfairs, visitor attractions at film studios, heritage sites such as castles and stately homes, landmarks including observation decks and viewing platforms
- Leisure and sports facilities may continue to stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead. Saunas and steam rooms should close
- There should be no public attendance at spectator sport or indoor performances and large business events should not be taking place. Elite sport events may continue to take place without spectators
- Large outdoor events (performances and shows) should not take place, with the exception of drive-in events
- Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions are not allowed, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, 15 people can attend linked commemorative events
- Organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however higher-risk contact activity should not take place
- Organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place indoors. There are some exceptions
- People can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys they make where possible
- Travel to other parts of the UK, including for overnight stays should be avoided, other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. Travel through other areas as part of a longer journey is permitted
See the full guidance for the exemptions from gathering limits in all tiers
As of 24 November - International Arrivals
The Global Travel Taskforce has been working to develop a new regime for improving the management of international arrivals into England. The Government has now announced that new strategy and funding for airports.
The key points of the strategy are:
-
- Test and Release will be available to passengers in England arriving from high-risk countries (those not on the Travel Corridor list). A test will be taken on Day 5, which has been determined to help reduce the risk of false negatives. This test can be taken at home or at a provider’s testing site. If that person tests negative, they will be able to exit self-isolation.
- People must use a private provider (a list of approved providers will be on the gov.uk website) so this does not impact NHS Test and Trace capacity.
- People will be advised to book the test before arriving into the UK as they will need to state this on their PLF. If they choose to opt-in after arrival, they will need to resubmit their PLF.
In terms of funding for airports, the Government has announced that:
-
- It will provide financial support to commercial airports and ground handlers equivalent to their business rates costs but capped at £8m per site
- This scheme, which will be open to ground handlers and commercially licenced airports who served commercial passengers in 2019, will be open for applications, subject to certain conditions, in the New Year
As of 25 November - BEIS Grant Scheme FAQ
New BEIS FAQ on the Grant Schemes
BEIS has published a new FAQ for Councils regarding the administration of, and eligibility for, the various grant schemes. There is a range of information that will be helpful for tourism businesses when applying for a grant. Some of the useful questions are:
25. If a mixed-use premises is evenly split between services that are required to close and services that can remain open, how should Local Authorities distribute grants to the business?
In order to qualify for the LRSG (Closed), businesses will be required to declare their main service themselves. Its main service should constitute more than a 50% proportion of the overall business. If a business is unable to demonstrate that its main service has been required to close, it may be able to apply for a grant through the discretionary LRSG (Open) or ARG schemes.
30. Where a business operates seasonally and was therefore closed on the date before local restrictions were introduced but remains an active business, can it still qualify for a grant under the LRSG (Closed) scheme? Can occasional use by owners during the period of closure be discounted?
Yes, as long as the business was not insolvent, in liquidation or subject to a striking off notice on that date, it can be considered to be trading and is therefore eligible to receive grants under this scheme. Any occasional use by owners during the period of closure, must be lawful under the terms of the restrictions applicable within the Local Authority.
31. If a business operates for only part of the week and was therefore closed on the day before relevant restrictions began, is it eligible to receive grants under this scheme?
Yes, as long as the business was not insolvent, in liquidation or subject to a striking off notice on that date, it can be considered to be trading and is therefore eligible to receive grants under this scheme.
36. Are self-catering accommodation operators and similar businesses, which do not own the accommodation they manage and do not ordinarily serve customers on site, eligible to receive grants under this scheme?
In order to qualify for this grant, the business must be part of the business rates system. Therefore, businesses that manage the accommodation remotely must be the eligible business rates payers for that hereditament to receive a grant through the LRSG (Closed) scheme. If they are not, then they would need to apply for a grant through the discretionary LRSG (Open) or ARG schemes.
48. Why is there a presumption that under ARG, Local Authorities should not be supporting the self-employed when so many self-employed and company directors paid dividends are excluded from SEISS & CJRS? If Local Authorities were to check that these businesses declare that the money was to go towards fixed costs would that be acceptable?
Discretionary grants, including the ARG, can be used to support the self-employed. However, the ARG must not be used as a wage supplement, rather as a support to the business that the self-employed person runs. In addition, the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) is available to support self-employed people who are liable for business rates.
50. Can ARG funding be allocated to BIDs?
The ARG funding can be provided to Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) bodies to support them with the shortfall in their levy income, provided that the BID body is not the Local Authority, or a company under the control of the Local Authority.
55. Can Local Authorities make multiple payments to the same customer for ARG?
As the ARG is a discretionary scheme, Local Authorities may decide to pay multiple grants to the same business. However, Local Authorities may wish to focus on businesses that are not already receiving support through other Local Restrictions Support Grant schemes.
As of 25 November - Scheme Feedback
Eat Out to Help Out Analysis
The Government has published an analysis of the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme which contains a number of very interesting findings. Among these are:
-
- over 52,000 businesses registered for Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO) and over 49,000 of these had made a claim for the scheme by 30 September.
- the average discount per meal claimed for was £5.24
- the number of meals discounted and total value of claims increased each week throughout August – which showed that it increased confidence in going out
- 55% of the discount was claimed by businesses operating primarily as restaurants with a further 28% claimed by pubs.
- 93% of claims and 52% of the total discount claimed was for businesses with just one participating outlet.
- The number of businesses using the furlough scheme dropped from 83% to 61% in August – meaning that the cost of the scheme would have been largely offset by savings to the furlough scheme
The Government has also published an updated analysis of the CJRS. The main findings of this are:
-
- At the beginning of October there were still almost half a million people in the accommodation and food services sector still on furlough
- More people are on furlough in this sector than any other sector of the economy
- Of the 2m people on furlough in England, almost 25% of these are in London. One of the main factors for this will be the decline in international travel
Completing a trifecta of analyses, the Government has also published an analysis of the uptake of the Self Employment Income Support Scheme.
his analysis, in comparison to the CJRS, indicates the tourism related businesses are not one of the highest beneficiaries of this scheme. By way of comparison, there are 800,000 people in the construction sector and 217,000 in the transport and storage sector that made claims compared to just 72,000 is arts, entertainment and recreation, and 54,000 in accommodation and food services. This could well indicate the problems that many self-employed people in the tourism and hospitality sectors have experienced in terms of eligibility.
As of 25 November - Christmas Bubble
The Government has released guidance on the rules that have been agreed between the four home nations on the restrictions regarding friends and families meeting over the Christmas period
Xmas Bubble Guidance
Between 23 and 27 December:
- you can form an exclusive ‘Christmas bubble’ composed of people from no more than three households
- you can only be in one Christmas bubble
- you cannot change your Christmas bubble
- you can travel between tiers and UK nations for the purposes of meeting your Christmas bubble
- you can only meet your Christmas bubble in private homes or in your garden, places of worship, or public outdoor spaces (ie., not in pubs and restaurants0
- you can continue to meet people who are not in your Christmas bubble outside your home according to the rules in the tier where you are staying
- you cannot meet someone in a private dwelling who is not part of your household or Christmas bubble
People in a Xmas Christmas bubble are allowed to stay in private rented accommodation but are not allowed to meet in any other indoor setting, such as a pub, hotel, retail, theatre, or restaurant. In these settings, people have to comply with the rules that apply to the Tier in which they are meeting.
But Xmas bubbles are able to meet outdoors in public places such as:
- parks, beaches, parts of the countryside open to the general public
- public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them)
- allotments
- playgrounds
As of 02 December 2020 - Regulation and Christmas Update
Visitor Economy
The following guidance has been produced by DCMS to provide more detail for Tourism business – the Visitor Economy Primary Guidance.
Points of note:
- Guided tours may operate in line with the relevant social contact restrictions in each tier, meaning all groups would need to be kept separate at all times.
- Coach tours may take place in Tiers 1 and 2, in line with social contact restrictions and with all necessary Covid-secure measures in place. They are advised against in Tier 3 given wider advice against travel.
- Hotels may keep open any onsite facility (such as gyms and spas) not otherwise closed by law outside the hotel setting.
- If a heritage railway service is provided primarily for dining or other recreational purposes; or for the carriage of passengers from the same start and end point then this is an indoor attraction and must close in Tier 3. If the heritage railway service is going from place to place (i.e. point A to point B), it is considered 'public transport' and can be permitted if required for the purposes of transport in Tier 3 provided all social distancing and face covering requirements are followed.
- Accommodation providers in Tier 3 can check people in on the 22nd dec and out on the 28th Dec
Travel and Overnight Stays
- These are permitted between Tiers 1 and 2, and people must adhere to the rules of the tier they are in or that in which they usually live, whichever is strictest. Travel into and out of Tier 3 is advised against, but there are exemptions e.g. work and education.
- The list of exemptions for hotels and other guest accommodation to remain open in Tier 3 has been expanded to include: volunteering, medical and respite stays, and education and training for all not just for children.
Business Events and meetings
- Event spaces can be hired out for essential education, work and training purposes.
- Business events are permitted with a cap of 50% or 1000 indoors in Tiers 1 and 2.
- In Tier 3, large business events such as conferences, exhibitions and trade shows are not permitted indoors, or outdoors with the exception of drive-in events.
- In Tier 3, smaller business meetings are advised against, but may take place with up to a total of 30 people if reasonably necessary - for example for the purposes of work that cannot be done at home.
- Meals can be served at business meetings and events, and business meetings can be held in hospitality venues - as long as BEIS guidance is followed.
- Private dining and corporate hospitality are not allowed, and no event should be social in nature.
Outdoor events
- Business events, elite sports, and live performances in performance venues will all operate under restrictions of a cap of 50% or 4000 people, whichever is lower in Tier 1 and a cap of 50% or 2000 people, whichever is lower in Tier 2. The cap does not include venue or site staff.
- In Tier 3 outdoor business events and sporting events are not permitted unless they are drive-in.
- All other outdoor events such as funfairs and fairgrounds, car boot sales, and literary fairs are permitted across all tiers and are not subject to these caps, but they must follow all relevant COVID-Secure guidance.
Christmas Guidance
From 23 December to 27 December, people may choose to form a Christmas bubble. Christmas bubbles can gather in private homes - including second homes and caravans - and in private rented accommodation such as short term holiday lets.
To enable Christmas bubbles to meet between 23 and 27 December, hotels, hostels, B&Bs and boarding houses are permitted to take bookings for leisure travel in all tiers from 22 December to 28 December. Guests must check out on or before 28 December.
- If a member of the Christmas bubble uses the hotel, hostel, B&B or boarding house as their main residence then the Christmas bubble can gather there.
- If no one in the Christmas bubble lives in the hotel, hostel, B&B or boarding house, the Christmas bubble may not stay there together. However, people may still stay in hotels, hostels, B&Bs and boarding houses in permitted groups over this period:
- In Tier 1: Medium alert, in groups of up to 6 people, other than where a legal exemption applies.
- In Tier 2: High alert and Tier 3: Very high alert, in groups of a single household or support bubble.
- Hospitality such as restaurants and bars within hotels and other guest accommodation may operate in accordance with wider tier restrictions:
- In Tier 1: Medium alert, people may attend in groups of up to 6 people, other than where a legal exemption applies.
- In Tier 2: High alert, people may attend with those in their own household or support bubble.
- In Tier 3: Very high alert, hospitality including hotel restaurants and bars will be closed. Accommodation providers will still be able to provide food and drink including alcohol through room service as long as it is ordered by phone or online.
Read full guidance about restrictions over the Christmas period