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Coronavirus: How are pubs keeping customers safe? Coronavirus: How are pubs keeping customers safe?
(6 days later)
Pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants will be allowed to stay open despite greater restrictions on social gatherings in England. Pubs and restaurants in England and Scotland will be given a curfew as part of measures to try to halt the spread of Covid-19.
What are the rules for going out around the UK, and what do you have to do?
What are the new rules in England?What are the new rules in England?
People in England can meet in groups of no more than six from Monday, but pubs, cafes and restaurants will be allowed to stay open so long as these groups do not mingle with other groups at each venue. From Thursday 24 September, all pubs, bars, restaurants, cafes and other hospitality venues in England must close by 22:00.
Table bookings of more than six will not be allowed. They will be restricted by law to table service only, except for takeaways. Table bookings of more than six are not allowed and groups can't mingle.
Hospitality businesses are now legally required to take customers' contact details so they can be traced if a potential outbreak is linked to the venue. Previously, they were advised to do so, but didn't have to officially. Businesses are legally required to take customers' contact details so they can be traced if there is an outbreak. They can be fined up to £10,000 if they take reservations of more than six, do not enforce social distancing, or do not take customers' contact details.
Businesses can be fined if they take reservations of more than six, do not enforce social distancing or do not take customers' contact details. Staff in hospitality venues must now wear masks, as must customers when not seated at their table to eat or drink. The penalty for not wearing one, or breaking the ''rule of six'' has doubled to £200 for a first offence.
What are the pub rules around the UK?What are the pub rules around the UK?
In Scotland, from Monday 14 September, it will only be possible for a maximum of six people from two households to meet together - either indoors or outdoors. Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has announced that from Friday 25 September, pubs, bars and restaurants will also have to close by 22:00.
If children aged under 12 are part of the two households, they will not count towards the limit of six people. It will soon become law that when moving around hospitality venues, customers will have to wear face coverings. Face coverings must be worn if you are not seated at a table.
In Wales, up to four households can meet inside. In Northern Ireland, up to six people from two households can gather - but pubs have to serve food. In Wales, several counties in the south of the country have introduced a 23:00 closing time as part of a package of local measures.
Northern Ireland has yet to open indoor pubs that do not serve food (so-called "wet pubs").
How do social distancing rules affect pubs?
Social distancing across the UK is officially 2m - but in England people can be "1m plus" if they, for instance, wear a face covering or don't sit face-to-face.Social distancing across the UK is officially 2m - but in England people can be "1m plus" if they, for instance, wear a face covering or don't sit face-to-face.
Pubs, restaurants and cafes can keep individual groups closer than 2m if they take certain steps to keep customers safe.Pubs, restaurants and cafes can keep individual groups closer than 2m if they take certain steps to keep customers safe.
Areas under ''local lockdown'' due to high coronavirus rates have different rules.Areas under ''local lockdown'' due to high coronavirus rates have different rules.
Some places, such as Caerphilly, are only allowed to take bookings consisting of one household, while hospitality venues in Bolton can only serve takeaway food and drink.
What contact details do I have to provide?What contact details do I have to provide?
UK pub and hospitality trade bodies have published guidance for bars and restaurants on how to operate contact tracing. UK pub and hospitality bodies have published guidance for bars and restaurants on how to operate contact tracing.
If a customer tests positive, will the pub or restaurant have to close?If a customer tests positive, will the pub or restaurant have to close?
Possibly, but not necessarily.Possibly, but not necessarily.
Official government advice says an NHS Test and Trace call does not always mean a pub or restaurant must close.Official government advice says an NHS Test and Trace call does not always mean a pub or restaurant must close.
It depends on the circumstances and when the infected person visited.It depends on the circumstances and when the infected person visited.
NHS Test and Trace could ask staff to:NHS Test and Trace could ask staff to:
Local health protection officials have the power to close establishments.Local health protection officials have the power to close establishments.
Several pubs have temporarily closed after customers or staff tested positive for coronavirus.Several pubs have temporarily closed after customers or staff tested positive for coronavirus.
If you are contacted personally by NHS Test and Trace, you should follow the advice and be prepared to self-isolate for a fortnight.If you are contacted personally by NHS Test and Trace, you should follow the advice and be prepared to self-isolate for a fortnight.
Is it safe to go to the pub?Is it safe to go to the pub?
Guidance has been issued in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on measures that pubs and restaurants must take to keep customers and staff safe.Guidance has been issued in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on measures that pubs and restaurants must take to keep customers and staff safe.
They include:They include:
How did the hospitality sector cope during lockdown?How did the hospitality sector cope during lockdown?
The hospitality sector was the third-largest employer in the country in 2018, according to UK Hospitality.The hospitality sector was the third-largest employer in the country in 2018, according to UK Hospitality.
But many restaurants and cafes were already struggling even before the Covid-19 outbreak, in the face of rising rents and falling consumer spending.But many restaurants and cafes were already struggling even before the Covid-19 outbreak, in the face of rising rents and falling consumer spending.
Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association Emma McClarkin, says the new group restriction in England ''comes at a delicate point in our pub recovery''. Adnams brewery chief executive Andy Wood told the Today programme that the pub industry had taken health messages seriously and it seemed "incongruous" to be singled out.
''We need the Government to send the clear message that pubs remain open for business and the public should continue to support them." He said the industry was still "on life support" with about 900,000 jobs at risk.
Since the pandemic hit, job cuts and closures were announced by several chains such as Byron Burger and Pizza Express . Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has written to 1,000 people employed at six airports to say up to 450 jobs are at risk of redundancy.
Staff at Birmingham, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, and Stansted have been told the decision is "mainly a result of a downturn in trade in these pubs, linked with the large reduction in passenger numbers using the airports".
Since the pandemic hit, job cuts and closures have also been announced by several chains such as Byron Burger and Pizza Express .
Thousands of workers in the industry have been furloughed under the government's job retention scheme, which allows them to receive 80% of their monthly salary up to £2,500.Thousands of workers in the industry have been furloughed under the government's job retention scheme, which allows them to receive 80% of their monthly salary up to £2,500.
That scheme is now winding down, and is due to end on 31 October.