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Covid-19 Business Restrictions Advice for Businesses

Covid-19 Business Restrictions Advice for Businesses 

As a country, we all need to do what we can to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

On 23 March the Government, stepped up measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus and save lives. All non-essential premises must now close. Takeaway and delivery services may remain open and operational in line with guidance on Friday 20 March. 

The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020 introduced the requirement for certain businesses to close. Closure of the businesses lasts until a further direction is given by the Welsh Ministers allowing them to re-open.

The above Regulations have been amended by The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. The amendments introduce a new regulation 6A into the principal regulations.  This is a new restriction on all people responsible for work taking place at any place of work not already covered by the regulations.  The restriction requires the person to take all reasonable measures to ensure that people stay 2 metres from each other when work is taking place.  This is part of the response to concerns about public health on constructions sites and in factories and call centres and other workplaces.  It is a very broadly drawn provision which will apply to any place where work is being carried out, including the public sector and including outdoor places such as roadworks.
Businesses and premises that breach the Regulations will be subject to fixed penalty notices incurring immediate financial penalties, prohibition notices forcing them to close, and potentially unlimited fines.

Online retail is still open and encouraged and postal and delivery service may run as normal provided that the orders are received remotely (through a website or other online platform, by telephone (including text message), or by post). 

Retail and public premises which are listed specifically in the Regulations and can remain open to the public must comply with the following prescribed social distancing requirements:

1. Ensure a distance of two meters between customers and shop assistants (except between two members of the same household, or a carer and the person assisted by the carer); and; 

2. Take all reasonable measures to ensure that persons are only admitted to the business premises in sufficiently small numbers to make it possible to maintain that distance, and;

3. Take all reasonable measures to ensure that a distance of 2 metres is maintained between persons waiting to enter the business premises (except between two members of the same household, or a carer and the person assisted by the carer).

All businesses and premises are now required to take all reasonable measures to ensure that people stay 2 metres from each other when work is taking place. Guidance on ‘reasonable measures’ is available here: https://gov.wales/taking-all-reasonable-measures-maintain-physical-distancing-workplace

Non-essential businesses and premises must now shut. For a list of non-essential businesses and premises click on the following link: -

https://www.blaenaugwentbusinesshub.co.uk/documents/Business%20Closures.pdf

The premises and other venues included on the list must close as they involve prolonged close social contact, which increases the chances of infection spreading.

Takeaway and delivery facilities should remain open and operational.

This means people can continue to enter premises to access takeaway services, including delivery drivers. 

People must not consumer food or drinks on site at restaurants, cafes or pubs whilst waiting for takeaway food and remember the business must comply with the prescribed social distancing requirements.

Businesses are encouraged to take orders online or by telephone, and businesses should not provide seating areas, indoors and outdoors, for customers to consume food and drink on. Ordering in advance is strongly encouraged to avoid waiting in, as per guidelines.

Those venues offering takeaway or delivery services must not include alcoholic beverages in this list if their license does not already permit.

Further Advice:

If you are a business and want further advice in respect of any of the above please contact your local Environmental Health Team on 01495 357813 or alternatively at environmental.health@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk 

Additional advice for food businesses can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-food-businesses/guidance-for-food-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19

Additional advice from Welsh Government on ‘reasonable measures’ is available here:

https://gov.wales/taking-all-reasonable-measures-maintain-physical-distancing-workplace


Reporting a Non-compliant Business:

If you would to report a business that you believe is operating in breach of the COVID-19 closure or restriction requirements please use our online report it tool

CLICK HERE

This information is correct as to 07.04.20