Your Network of Opportunity

Coronavirus: Tourism Industry Update

Coronavirus: Tourism Industry Update

Please follow the news reports and for latest advice regularly visit the Public Health Wales website and the Business Wales website
_______________________________________________________________________________
Further constraints on meeting socially and compulsory face coverings to help prevent new coronavirus crisis
Face coverings will become mandatory in indoor public places across Wales from Monday as rules are tightened to prevent a fresh coronavirus crisis.
First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced a new limit on the number of people who can meet indoors as evidence shows indoor gatherings are the main source of transmission for the virus in Wales.
People will also continue to be encouraged to work from home wherever they can to limit person-to-person contact and local authorities will be given new powers to shut down premises and events on public health grounds.
The latest changes will come into effect on Monday (September 14) amid an increase in cases of coronavirus nationwide and the emergence of a number of hotspot areas, particularly in the South Wales Valleys.
From Monday, it will become compulsory for people over 11 to wear a face covering in public indoor spaces, such as shops. There will be exemptions for people who cannot wear face coverings for health or medical reasons, similar to those for public transport.
Face coverings will not be required in pubs or restaurants for the time being but the Welsh Government is carrying out a rapid review of the evidence about whether they should be extended to the hospitality sector.
The rules on face coverings are being changed because of an increase in the overall incidence rate of new cases of coronavirus in Wales, which indicates there is a serious risk of the virus spreading more widely once again.
At the moment, people are allowed to gather socially indoors with people from up to four other households, but only if they have formed an exclusive extended household (also known as a bubble).
From Monday, only a maximum of six people from the extended household will be able to meet indoors at any one time. This rule applies in pubs and restaurants as well as in people’s homes. Children under 11 will not be counted in the six.
However, this will not apply in Caerphilly County Borough Council area where stricter local restrictions have been introduced to control a sharp rise in coronavirus cases and protect public health – extended households are no longer allowed and no social meetings with anyone you don’t live with are allowed. This applies in pubs and restaurants as well as in people’s homes.
Ministers will also be giving local authorities new powers to close premises on public health grounds to tackle the spread of the virus.
Read the announcement in full on the Welsh Government website.
An updated list of frequently asked questions will be circulated as soon as possible.
________________________________________
Local lockdown restrictions imposed to control Caerphilly County outbreak 
Following a sharp increase in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Caerphilly County, new restrictions have been introduced to reduce the spread of the virus and protect public health for people living in the area.
The restrictions, which came into force at 6pm on 8 September 2020, will apply to everyone living in the Caerphilly County area and will be kept under review.  A full list of Frequently Asked Questions is now available.
________________________________________
Businesses urged to prepare for NHS COVID-19 app
Businesses across Wales and England like pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas, are being encouraged to have NHS QR code posters visible on entry, so customers who have downloaded the new NHS COVID-19 app can use their smartphones to easily check-in.
The move comes ahead of launching the NHS COVID-19 app across Wales and England on Thursday 24 September.
Checking in with the app will enable people to keep a diary of the locations they have visited, which will be held securely in the app. If there is a COVID-19 outbreak linked to their visit, users will get an early warning alert from the NHS.  If they have a positive test for COVID-19, people will be able to use the diary to tell contact tracing teams where they have been, helping to manage COVID-19 and protecting other people.
With coronavirus cases rising in the UK in the last few weeks it is essential that businesses do all they can to protect their customers and control the spread of the virus. The NHS QR code and check in function is in addition to existing measures.  Venues in Wales which are legally required to collect and keep a record of visitors will still need to do so.
The NHS COVID-19 app: guidance for businesses and organisations is now available online – includes details on how to create a QR code for display in your venue
You can read the full press release at Gov.Wales.       
________________________________________
Cultural Recovery Fund - Eligibility Checker 
Organisations in the culture and heritage sector can find out if they are eligible to apply for financial support from the Welsh Government’s £53 million Cultural Recovery Fund.
Although this a culture and heritage fund providing support for businesses primarily in that sector, organisations that could apply include Events and their technical support suppliers. 
Further details can be viewed on the Business Wales website and prior to applying, businesses should check potential fund eligibility with the online eligibility checker tool.
The grant fund will be open for applications from the week beginning 14 September and closing on 2 October.
________________________________________
Kickstart Scheme open for employer applications
The Kickstart Scheme helps you to create new 6-month job placements for young people aged 16 to 24 who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.
Employers will receive funding for 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum auto-enrolment pension contributions. Find out more on the Business Wales website.
________________________________________
COVID-19: Business Wales support for businesses podcast
Why not subscribe and listen to the Business Wales Podcasts for updates and information for businesses in Wales. Find out more on the Business Wales website.
________________________________________
The UK Transition – take action now
The UK has left the EU, and the transition period after Brexit ends this year. Read more on the Business Wales website, check the new rules from January 2021 and take action now.
________________________________________
COVID-19 Guidance reminder - weddings and hospitality
• WEDDINGS: A wedding reception can still be held subject to the cap of 30 people, both indoors and outdoors. The guidance for local authorities, approved premises and places of worship on marriages and civil partnerships is online and includes links to operational risk assessment considerations for wedding venues and those hosting wedding events.
• HOSPITALITY: Tourism and Hospitality Guidance for Safe Reopening  is available to help tourism and hospitality businesses safely re-open during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Additional guidance has also been produced and updated in consultation with the Hospitality sector for Pubs, Bars, Cafes and Restaurants re-opening indoors and outdoors, which can be viewed on the UK Hospitality website. 
________________________________________
COVID-19 Guidance links, downloadable assets and toolkits for your business
We realise that it’s sometimes hard to keep up with what is available – the links below will help you find what practical resources and toolkits are there to help you.
• Keep Wales Safe at Work: Legal Guidance / Workplace Guidance and Toolkits & Resources, including the Tourism and Hospitality Guidance for Safe Reopening. 
• Keep Wales Safe general resources including posters to download
• Trace Test Protect toolkit and resources including Record keeping 
• UK Local restrictions: information for areas with an outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) on Gov.UK.
• Visit Wales Safely assets including an industry guide, and downloads including posters to help share the Addo (Wales’ Promise) messages and also a specific collection of images that have been carefully selected to reflect open spaces and social distancing. (If it’s the first time that you’ve used the site, it will only take a 1 minute sign up for you to register – as well as the above it gives you access to a huge library of free images and other information).  Use #Addo #VisitWalesSafely in conjunction with the UK wide #EscapeTheEveryday (Visit Wales are working on this domestic autumn campaign with delivery partners VisitEngland).
________________________________________
Stay up to date with tourism industry news
We are committed to providing the support and assurance the business community needs during these unprecedented difficult times and have issued several Coronavirus (COVID-19) related bulletins which can be found on the Tourism Industry Coronavirus (COVID-19) Bulletins page.
________________________________________
Business Wales is providing businesses with tailored support and advice about dealing with coronavirus, from financial and supply chain planning to advice on staffing issues. We would advise Tourism businesses and stakeholders in Wales wanting specific guidance to visit the Business Wales website or call Business Wales helpline on 03000 6 03000, and to regularly visit the Public Health Wales website for up-to-date public health information for you, your staff and your visitors.
________________________________________