On Monday 4 January 2021, the Prime Minister announced a new national lockdown.
This means certain businesses are required to remain closed, including:
For further details, please refer to Government guidance.
These pages will be updated with further information as it is received.
On 22 September the Government announced that the COVID-secure guidance for all retail, leisure, tourism and other sectors is now a legal obligation, with potentially large fines in place for those who fail to adhere by the new measures. The government’s expectation is the measures described below will need to remain in place until March 2021.
It is now a legal requirement that businesses follow their industry guidance around social distancing, PPE, contact tracing, cleanliness and hygiene. Government guidance for working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19).
To help contain the virus, office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter.
Businesses selling food or drink (including cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants), social clubs, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement arcades (and other indoor leisure centres or facilities), funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls, must be closed between 10pm and 5am. This will include takeaways but delivery services can continue after 10pm (from 24 September).
In licensed premises, food and drink must be ordered from, and served at, a table.
Customers must eat and drink at a table in any premises selling food and drink to consume on site (from 24 September).
Businesses will need to display the official NHS QR code posters so that customers can ‘check-in’ at different premises using this option as an alternative to providing their contact details once the app is rolled out nationally (from 24 September). We appreciate that a small number of local businesses might not have access to a computer or printer. Therefore, if you are not able to create and print your personalised QR code poster - please visit one of our libraries or the Civic Centre and Council staff will be able to assist.
Businesses and organisations will face stricter rules to make their premises COVID-Secure (from 28 September):
Below is a range of government guidance to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic.
Public Health England has produced guidance on what you should do to manage a possible outbreak. This information provides key steps to quickly identify and contain any potential COVID-19 outbreak.
Read guidance for:
The Risk Assessment template (MS Word, 876 KB) has been developed to help businesses implement the Government COVID-19 secure guidelines.
Here are some signs for businesses to print off and put on display to remind customers to adhere to social distancing.
The Government recommends that businesses and employers display the Staying COVID-19 Secure in 2020 notice (pdf, 423 KB) in their workplaces to show they have followed the 'Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)' guidance. This notice includes an HSE contact number for workers to report any concerns that they may have.
Richmond Council has produced a guidance leaflet on how to safely operate your business (pdf, 62 KB).
See further guidance on how to be safe at work:
The Community Toilet Scheme allows businesses across the Borough to earn money in return for allowing non-paying customers to use their toilet facilities. Businesses will also be promoted across the borough, informing visitors of the facilities on offer.
How to keep social distancing at work:
For help and advice on how to protect people from coronavirus (COVID-19) in your workplace contact the HSE.
Updated: 08 January 2021