The situation with coronavirus, officially Covid-19, is changing daily. The future situation is unknown but there are resources and advice available which will change as the situation changes.

Updated 14th July 2021

Changes to government restrictions from 19th July
Most legal restrictions to control COVID-19 will be lifted from 19th July. Rather than legal requirements, individuals will be asked to use personal judgement to manage their own risk. The government has also made some recommendations alongside the lifting of legal restrictions.

• No requirement to stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with.
• No limits on the number of people you can meet. The government recommends limiting close contact with people you do not usually live with, increasing close contact gradually, meeting outdoors where possible and letting fresh air into homes / enclosed spaces.
• No requirement to wear face masks. (The government recommends they are worn in crowded areas such as public transport and some will require masks to be worn, such as London Transport).
• No requirement to work from home where possible (although the government has recommended a gradual return).
• No limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, civil partnerships, funerals and other life events (including receptions and celebrations). No requirement for table service at these events and no restrictions on singing or dancing.
• No restrictions on group sizes for communal worship.

Businesses and venues

• All businesses can reopen, including nightclubs.
• No requirement for table service or social distancing in hospitality venues such as pubs, restaurants and bars.
• Capacity limits lifted at sporting, entertainment and business events.
• It is no longer a legal requirement for businesses to collect customer details for Test and Trace but businesses are encouraged to continue displaying QR codes for customers wishing to check in using the NHS COVID-19 app or collect customer contact details.

NHS Pass

• The government are encouraging organisations in higher risk settings (eg where there will be large crowds of people from different households) to use the NHS COVID Pass as a condition of entry. The government will make the NHS COVID Pass available through the NHS App, nhs.uk, or as a letter that can be requested by ringing NHS 119. Visitors will also be able to show text or email confirmation of test results.
• The NHS COVID Pass should not be used as a condition of entry for essential services and essential retailers able to stay open throughout the pandemic to ensure access for all.

Working Safely Guidance for businesses
The government’s Working Safely during Coronavirus guidance will be updated on the government website here. At the time of writing these have not been updated.
Employers will still have a legal duty to manage risks to those affected by their business and are expected to carry out a health and safety risk assessment which includes the risk of COVID-19 and how those risks will be mitigated. The could include

• cleaning surfaces that people touch regularly;
• increasing ventilation
• ensuring that staff and customers who are unwell do not attend the workplace or venue;

Protections remaining in place:

• Testing when you have symptoms.
• Targeted asymptomatic testing in education, high risk workplaces. You can order free Lateral Flow tests here.
• Isolating when testing positive or when contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
• Border quarantine for everyone arriving from red list countries and for people not fully vaccinated arriving from amber list countries.their