From Saturday (4 July), more businesses such as pubs, restaurants, and hairdressers will be able to reopen, providing they keep to COVID-19 secure guidelines.

The changes follow the government’s recent announcement to ease the rules in England to enable people to see more of their friends and family and allow more businesses to reopen.

The council has been providing support and guidance to businesses to ensure that they follow the COVID-19 Secure guidelines and check other health and safety standards to ensure that they are ready to resume trade safely.

All hospitality indoors will be limited to table-service, and the government guidance encourages minimal staff and customer contact.  Strict social distancing still needs to be in observed, and other measures put in place such as contactless payments, and staff wearing personal protective equipment. Customers can use toilets but they must be cleaned regularly with hand-washing facilities provided and social distancing adhered to.

Hospitality businesses are also required to collect data on customers using their services, to support the NHS Test and Trace service and to help respond to localised outbreaks.

Many businesses may act cautiously in order to make sure that they can reopen safely so check business opening details before travelling to avoid disappointment.

So what are the new rules?

• Where it is possible to keep 2 metres apart people should, but where it is not, government will advise people to keep a social distance of ‘one metre plus’, meaning they should remain one metre apart, while taking mitigations to reduce the risk of transmission.
• You can meet in groups of up to two households (your support bubble counts as one household) in any location – public or private, indoors or outdoors. You do not always have to meet with the same household – you can meet with different households at different times. However, even inside someone’s home you should socially distance from anyone not in your household or bubble. This change also does not affect the support you receive from your carers.  
• People will be able to stay in self-contained accommodation such as hotels and bed and breakfasts. Campsites, where shared facilities are kept clean, will also be permitted to open.
• Other leisure facilities will also be permitted to open including outdoor gyms and playgrounds, cinemas, museums, galleries, theme parks, arcades, libraries, social clubs and community centres.
• While theatres can reopen, performances to a live audience should not take place at this time.  Theatres may broadcast performances.
• Recreation and sport will be allowed, but indoor facilities, including changing rooms and courts, will remain closed and people should only play close contact team sports with members of their household.
• Places of worship will be able to reopen for prayer and services – including weddings with a maximum of 30 people, all subject to social distancing.

You can find out more about what you can and can’t do on the government’s website.

However the government’s overarching guidance remains the same.

Everyone must:  

• Stay at home as much as possible   
• Work from home if you can   
• Limit contact with other people   
• Keep your distance if you go out (two metres apart where possible)   
• Wash your hands regularly   
• Wear a face covering on the public transport network and in hospitals   
• Wear a face covering in enclosed or busy spaces, such as shops  

Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms of a high temperature, or a new, continuous cough or a loss of, or change to your sense of smell or taste.

You can find further advice and information on hygiene precautions and social distancing on the NHS website.    

‘We want to ensure that this is a ‘Super Saturday’ in Ealing’

“While there have been false claims in the media that Ealing has seen spikes in coronavirus cases, it is more important than ever to follow the guidelines that the government has set out to keep us all safe,” said councillor Jasbir Anand, cabinet member for business and community services.

“As we have seen with the return to lockdown restrictions in Leicester, it is vitally important that everyone continues to follow public health guidance and maintain social distancing to minimise the risk of transmission of the coronavirus especially as the restrictions are eased.

“We want to ensure that this is a ‘Super Saturday’ in Ealing, where our residents act sensibly while enjoying a new level of freedom. 

“While lockdown measures may have been relaxed, the threat of coronavirus has not gone away. We need people to help by continuing to do the right thing. Please act responsibly, drink responsibly and continue to follow the public health guidance.”

If you are concerned that a business in Ealing is open to the public when it should be closed please report it to the council for investigation by emailing: covid19businesscompliance@ealing.gov.uk.

All reports are in confidence but should include as much information as possible to enable an investigation to be considered. To find out more about COVID-19 Secure guidelines that business must follow and to report concerns visit the council’s website as some businesses must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive and not the council.