We suggest it is an opportune time to review the measures you have in place, and consider any additional measures that you may want to introduce, reinstate or reinforce in stores.

This could include allowing for social distancing and reducing customer capacity to help minimise mixing between households. You can also consider how best to mitigate pinch-points where queues may form during busy times or by using one-way systems where appropriate.

Please also try to limit close contact between people from different households, encourage people to use contactless payments where possible, and install safety screens up at till points/customer service desks.

For further advice and guidance, please visit GOV.UK. 

Responsibility for ensuring that events held in places of worship are safe rests with your organisation. You are recommended to manage risk by changing the way any events operate to ensure they are as COVID-secure as possible.

Some activities can also increase the risk of catching or passing on COVID-19. Places of worship should carefully consider the risks and benefits of singing as part of services. You may decide to limit the number of people who sing or limit the amount of time spent singing.

Communicating about COVID-19 safety measures with the regular congregation is important as they can help to set the example. In addition, you could choose to display posters and use your websites to inform wider visitors, including messages asking attendees to take a test before they attend and stay at home if they have any COVID symptoms.

Wider measures and further considerations:

• Consider whether a virtual option for services or nativity performances is possible
• If possible, additional services could be put on to reduce the number of attendees at any one service
• Consider whether it is possible to have an online or manual booking system to prepare for the number of people attending a service or event
• As singing and playing woodwind instruments can increase aerosol transmission, we would advise that any performers take an additional lateral flow test before performing

For further advice and guidance for places of worship, please visit the government’s website.

As salons and services are likely to be busy over the coming weeks, we suggest it would be an opportune time for you to review the measures you have in place, and consider any additional measures that you may want to introduce, reinstate or reinforce. 

You should operate a booking system and take people’s contact details to support contact tracing. Prior to arrival, customers should be informed of the COVID-secure measures you have in place, highlighting the legal requirements on the use of face coverings. Clients should be encouraged to arrive at the time of their appointment. If a waiting area is required, ensure that chairs are spread out. 

If possible, put screens or barriers between workstations to protect staff and customers. Use disposable equipment where possible, but if this is not possible, ensure that they are thoroughly cleaned between customers.

For further advice and guidance for close personal services, please visit the government’s website.

Hosting events for large numbers of people is particularly challenging at this time. Any events, performances and festivals that take place during the COVID-19 pandemic must follow the government's guidelines and be COVID-secure.

Risk assessments and event management plans must ensure through measures such as social distancing and hygiene arrangements that you minimise transmission of the virus.

Event organisers can consider whether to implement face coverings as a precaution in situations where they are not legally required. This could be considered in particular for indoor environments where it is difficult to maintain distance or if it is poorly ventilated.

However, venues where large crowds gather or are in close contact may choose to check the COVID-19 status of attendees and the workforce to keep them safer.

Consider travel routes to the site and how to avoid congestion. Think about car parking arrangements, including any one-way systems, and the safety of stewards and marshals directing traffic. Due to public concerns about social distancing and public transport, you may find that more people travel using their car so you may need to allow for additional parking. Consider the use of staggered entry and exit times using a ticketed entry to the event, as well as one way routes. This will avoid queues forming. Ticketed entry is currently recommended for events attended by more than 30 people.

Find detailed guidance on events planning in the Events Industry Forum guidance, which is available on their website. For further advice and guidance, please visit the government’s website.

Hosting events or functions for large numbers of people is particularly challenging at this time. Any events, performances and festivals that take place during the COVID-19 pandemic must follow the government's guidelines and be COVID-secure.

Risk assessments and event management plans must ensure through measures such as social distancing and hygiene arrangements that you minimise transmission of the virus. There are currently no additional COVID-19 restrictions on events taking place, however, organisations and individuals may choose to manage risk by either cancelling planned activities, or by changing the way these events operate to ensure they are as COVID-secure as possible.

From 27 January it is no longer mandatory for certain high-risk events and venues to check the COVID-19 status of attendees. However, venues where large crowds gather or are in close contact may choose to check the COVID-19 status of attendees and the workforce to keep them safer.

Consider displaying an NHS QR code so that customers can check in using the NHS COVID-19 app. You are no longer required to collect customer contact details, or keep a record of your staff and visitors. However, you are advised to continue to display an NHS QR code for customers wishing to check in using the app, as this will help to reduce the spread of the virus and protect your customers, visitors and staff. You do not have to ask customers to check in, or turn them away if they refuse.

If you display an NHS QR code, you should also have a system to collect (and securely store) names and contact details, for those who ask to check in but who do not have access to a smartphone or who prefer not to use the app. Read about how to keep records for NHS Test and Trace.

Venues should encourage the use of contactless transactions to minimise contact between staff and customers by:

• Providing facilities for customers ordering food/drinks through an app at the table instead of staff approaching customers for orders. This will minimise contact between staff and customers
• Taking contactless payments to avoid handling cash and card readers
• Where possible, remove self-service of food and drinks, cutlery and condiments to prevent the risk of transmission and encourage the use of disposable condiments
• Encourage customers to order online, on apps or over the phone for takeaways to reduce queues
• Limit access to venues for people waiting for or collecting takeaways with clear floor markings or by encouraging them to wait outside or in their cars

Hospitality venues should consider ways movement within the premises can be reduced. This could be done by encouraging the use of electronic devices (phones, tablets etc.) to pass information such as sending orders to the kitchen. You should also consider the management of any pinch points, in particular around any dispensing points and toilets. Consider additional signage and markings to encourage social distancing in those areas where people are likely to come into close contacts with people from other groups.

Some hospitality venues, in particular those serving the night-time economy, may hay have relatively poor natural ventilation. How you will provide supply of fresh air into these spaces should form a key element of your COVID-19 risk assessment. Please see section below on ventilation.

Consider lowering the volume of any music played to reduce the need for people to shout or bring their faces close together to talk.

For further advice and guidance for hospitality please visit the government’s website.
 

As part your risk assessment, you might consider implementing a suitable cleaning regime, in particular around frequent touch points. This can be a particular challenge for soft play centres which provided interactive play for children. However, you must take all reasonable steps to minimise the risk of transmission in these spaces. In order to support your cleaning regime you should consider how you could operate to enable regular cleaning. This could include operating in fixed blocks with time between them for cleaning.

Controlling contact between children, in particular younger children, in soft play or similar settings will be challenging. However, you should consider how to reduce contact between different groups within the setting, with particular focus on adults where this is practical and reasonable to do so.

If your venue serves food and drink, consider providing facilities for customers to order food and drinks through an app at the table instead of staff approaching customers for orders or asking customers to queue. You could encourage contactless payments to avoid handling cash and card readers. These actions will help minimise contact between staff and customers.

You should also consider the management of any pinch points in particular around any dispensing points and toilets. Consider additional signage and markings to encourage social distancing in those areas where people are likely to come into close contacts with people from other groups.

Consider lowering the volume of any music played to reduce the need for people to shout or bring their faces close together to talk.

For further advice and guidance, please visit the events and attractions section on the government’s website.

Consider displaying an NHS QR code so that customers can check in using the NHS COVID-19 app. You are no longer required to collect customer contact details, or keep a record of your staff and visitors. However, you are advised to continue to display an NHS QR code for customers wishing to check in using the app, as this will help to reduce the spread of the virus and protect your customers, visitors and staff. You do not have to ask customers to check in, or turn them away if they refuse.

If you display an NHS QR code, you should also have a system to collect (and securely store) names and contact details, for those who ask to check in but who do not have access to a smartphone or who prefer not to use the app. Read about how to keep records for NHS Test and Trace.

As part your risk assessment you must implement a suitable cleaning regime, in particular around frequent touch points. This can be a particular challenge in relation to gym equipment. However, you must take all reasonable steps to minimise the risk of transmission in these spaces. In order to support your cleaning regime you should consider how you could operate to enable regular cleaning.

Ensure that customers are aware of relevant cleaning measures. If you expect customers to clean gym equipment (such as fixed machines, ballet bars and large equipment handles), place visible notices to remind them to do so, and ensure they have the materials they will need (such as sprays and paper towels).

Water bottles or other refreshment containers should not be shared. Advise participants to bring their own water bottle or refreshment container, in a labelled or highly distinguishable container. If you are providing water or other beverages, ensure that these are provided to individuals and are not expected to be shared. You should take particular care to clean water fountains, and ask customers to use them to fill up personal containers and not for face-to-tap drinking.

Identify areas of crowding and consider what steps can be taken to avoid congestion, such as reduce class sizes or amend timetabling to prevent crowding and allow for cleaning studios or equipment.

Some gyms and exercise facilities may hay have relatively poor natural ventilation. Encourage the use of outside space where practical, in particular for higher-risk activity such as strenuous exercise or sports involving close face-to-face contact between participants.

Consider lowering the volume of any music played to reduce the need for people to shout or bring their faces close together to talk.

For further advice and guidance, please visit the government’s website.