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Coronavirus: When will pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants reopen? Coronavirus: What are the new rules when pubs reopen?
(10 days later)
Pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants in England will soon be able to welcome customers inside for the first time since lockdown began in March. Pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants in Northern Ireland and England are ready to welcome customers for the first time since lockdown began in March.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on 23 June that they would be able to reopen on 4 July. Hotels, pubs and restaurants in Northern Ireland that serve food and have table service are allowed to reopen from Friday.
He also announced that two metre social distancing would be relaxed to "one metre plus", with some conditions. Establishments in England are able to reopen from Saturday.
But despite the easing of restrictions, a trip to a local bar or place to eat could be a very different experience from how it was before the coronavirus outbreak.But despite the easing of restrictions, a trip to a local bar or place to eat could be a very different experience from how it was before the coronavirus outbreak.
When will reopening begin?When will reopening begin?
On 20 March, all pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes were asked to shut in order to stop the spread of coronavirus. Northern Ireland is the first part of the UK to reopen pubs and restaurants.
The only exceptions to this were cafes and canteens at a few selected places such as schools, hospitals and prisons. Its date was brought forward after businesses called for change, following reopening in the Republic of Ireland on 29 June.
Since then, many restaurants have started offering food delivery and takeaways to generate income while their doors are closed. Some pubs have also been allowed to offer takeaway beers. It will be joined by England on Saturday, but there will be restrictions put in place, including changes to shift patterns, mandatory table service and more use of hand sanitiser.
From 4 July, pubs and restaurants in England will be allowed to reopen with certain restrictions, including changes to shift patterns, mandatory table service and more use of hand sanitiser. The guidelines are due to be updated soon, a government spokesperson said. On 20 March, all pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes in the UK were asked to shut in order to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Customers will also have to give their details to staff to make contact tracing easier if another customer tests positive for the virus. The only exceptions were cafes and canteens at a few selected places such as schools, hospitals and prisons.
What about the rest of the UK? Many restaurants and pubs started offering food delivery or takeaway beers to generate income while they were closed.
Each nation is setting its own rules for the reopening of food and drink outlets: Is it safe to go to the pub?
What other measures may be taken? Northern Ireland's Economy Minister Diane Dodds and Tourism NI published new guidance in June on measures that pubs and restaurants take to keep customers and staff safe.
At the weekend, Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggested people visiting pubs may have to register before going for a pint. Customers are likely to be given the option of ordering food on apps, while staff will be encouraged to wash their hands before handling plates and cutlery.
He said the government is looking at ways to strengthen contact tracing, as the economy reopens. Updated government guidance for pubs and restaurants reopening in England says that music should be kept at a low volume to avoid people needing to shout, which increases the risk of transmission from tiny droplets in the air, known as aerosols.
The Mexican restaurant chain Wahaca says it is considering a range of measures to keep staff and workers safe. Pub-goers will be encouraged to book tables in advance, while live gigs and standing at the bar will not be allowed.
Customers are likely to be given the option of ordering food on apps, while staff will be encouraged to wash their hands every 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, the Wetherspoons pub chain has said its staff will be provided with face masks and protective eyewear and it will run a reduced food menu.Meanwhile, the Wetherspoons pub chain has said its staff will be provided with face masks and protective eyewear and it will run a reduced food menu.
Bottles of ketchup and mayonnaise will be replaced by individual sachets. Customers will also be encouraged to sit outside in pub gardens, while some indoor seating areas will be separated by Perspex screens. Bottles of ketchup and mayonnaise will be replaced by individual sachets. Customers will also be encouraged to sit outside in pub gardens, while some indoor seating areas will be separated by plastic screens.
Social distancing has been reduced from 2m (6ft) to 1m in Northern Ireland and will be cut from 2m to 1m plus from Saturday in England. Restrictions apply in both cases.
How will contact tracing work?
UK pub and hospitality trade bodies have published guidance for bars and restaurants on how to operate contact tracing.
What about the rest of the UK?
Each nation sets its own rules for the reopening of food and drink outlets:
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.
In the lockdown, job cuts and closures were announced by chains such as Frankie & Benny's and Carluccio's.In the lockdown, job cuts and closures were announced by chains such as Frankie & Benny's and Carluccio's.
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.
What have other countries done? The British Beer and Pub Association, which represents the pubs industry, said it welcomed the move to reopen businesses but called on pub-goers to support staff "to ensure everyone can enjoy the return of our pubs safely".
Many other countries have already reopened restaurants, bars and cafes around the world. In some cases they have had the use of lower social distancing recommendations - in France, for example, the recommended distance between customer and staff is 1m.