Businesses in Cornwall are being reminded of the new rules they must adhere to from Boxing Day, December 26, now that the Government has announced that the Duchy has moved into Tier 2 High Alert coronavirus restrictions.
All businesses and venues must follow COVID-secure guidelines to protect customers, visitors and workers. The Government guidance for Tier 2 says:
- Pubs and bars can only remain open if they are operating as a restaurant and hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with a substantial meal. They must operate table service only and also stop taking orders at 10pm and close by 11pm.
- Table bookings can only be for one household or support bubble, as mixing of households indoors is not permitted.
- At least one person in the group should give their contact details to the venue, or each individual should check in using the NHS COVID-19 app so that NHS Test and Trace can contact them if needed.
- Hospitality venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so for takeaway after 10pm. After 11pm, this must be through delivery, click-and-collect or drive-through.
- Accommodation such as hotels and holiday lets can remain open, ensuring that social contact rules are followed. People staying in holiday accommodation must be from the same household. People living in Tier 3 and Tier 4 areas should not be travelling to Cornwall, except for reasons listed in the Government’s guidance.
- Retail businesses can remain open and must operate in a COVID-secure manner.
- Theatres, concert halls, music venues and sports stadia can open, but with capacity restricted to whichever is the lower of 50 per cent of their capacity or 2,000 people outdoors, or 1,000 people indoors.
- Likewise conference centres and exhibition halls must adhere to the same capacity limits.
- Shops, gyms and those offering personal care, such as hairdressers, can remain open.
Dr Ruth Goldstein, Dr Ruth Goldstein, public health consultant for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “Unfortunately Cornwall, like the rest of the country, has seen a steep rise in cases. As we move into a higher tier of coronavirus restrictions it’s more important than ever that businesses know how to operate to keep everyone safe. If we all keep following the new rules we can help to stop the spread of the virus.”
Everyone is reminded that we all need to keep washing hands or use hand sanitiser often, wear a face covering in public places such as shops and on public transport, and to keep two metres apart.
The full rules for Tier 2 are available on the gov.uk website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-2-high-alert to find out more about business support measures for Tier 2 businesses visit https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder
