Helping businesses follow the COVID Roadmap

Wiltshire Council is advising businesses to carefully check the COVID-19 reopening guidance for businesses and venues as they make plans for the further easing of restrictions should they go ahead on 17 May.

Sam Fox, Corporate Director for Place, said: The Government updated the guidance for the safe reopening of businesses and venues on 12 April, and businesses should not assume that the measures they had in place last summer will be sufficient as we move to Step 3.

In particular, businesses need to carry out a new Covid risk assessment, review how they keep a record of all customers, visitors and staff, and retrain their staff in the new COVID-19 measures they need to follow.

Businesses in hospitality, the tourism and leisure industry, close contact services, community centres and village halls must all have a system in place to request and record contact details of their customers, visitors and staff to help break the chains of transmission of coronavirus. Businesses can do this in a number of ways; by displaying an official NHS QR code poster and inviting staff, customers and visitors to 'check in' by scanning the code; or by recording customer details for all customers except children when taking bookings or on arrival.

Many restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes will be reopening with revised menus and are reminded that they need to review the food allergens in recipes, update menus where needed and display food allergen advice.

The move to Step 3, if approved, will mean the pubs, cafes and restaurants can serve up to six people or two households indoors. However, many will also choose to continue using outdoor marquess to increase the number of customers they can accommodate. Businesses using marquees should check the manufacturer's guidance on the wind loading of marquees and gazebos to ensure they are stable and secure.

Hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation can reopen, and gyms can restart group exercise classes at Step 3.

Links to the latest Government and Health and Safety Executive guidance

GOV.UK: Guidance - Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19 (opens new window)

GOV.UK: Guidance - Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace (opens new window) - Guidance for people who work in or run restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes or takeaways, including priority actions - what businesses need to do to protect staff and customers. 

Health and Safety Executive (HSE): Coronavirus (COVID-19): working safely (opens new window)

GOV.UK: Guidance - Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace (opens new window)