Reporting outbreaks of Coronavirus in the UK
UK Chambers should review and share the new guidance for businesses and organisations on how to recognise, contain and report incidents of Coronavirus. The COVID-19 early outbreak management information has been created to make sure that people who run businesses or organisations:

• know how to recognise and report an incident of Coronavirus; and
• are aware of measures local health protection teams may advise in order to contain it.

Print and download the new action cards developed to provide specific advice on the issues each type of organisation may face now lockdown restrictions have been eased.

The next chapter
On 17 July, the Prime Minister set out the plans for moving to the next phase of the UK government’s response to the virus. The strategy sets out a cautious roadmap to easing existing measures in a safe and measured way, subject to successfully controlling the virus and being able to monitor and react to its spread. The roadmap will be kept constantly under review as the epidemic, and the world’s understanding of it, develops.

Lifting restrictions from businesses in England
In England, from 1 August, if prevalence remains around or below current levels, and COVID-19 Secure guidelines are followed, the UK government will:

• Give employers more discretion on how they ensure employees can work safely. Working from home is one way to do this, but workplaces can also be made safe by following COVID-19 Secure guidelines.
• Reopen most remaining leisure settings, namely bowling, skating rinks and casinos, accompanied by COVID-19 Secure guidelines. This will not include particularly high-risk activities and settings such as nightclubs, which will be kept under review.
• Enable the restart of indoor performances to a live audience, subject to the success of pilots that are taking place as soon as possible. More information is available here.
• Enable all close contact services to resume, including any treatments on the face such as eyebrow threading or make-up application.
• Carry out pilots in venues with a range of sizes of crowds including sports stadia and business events. If plans progress in line with expectations, pilots will expand to build up to and prepare for a full, socially distanced return in the autumn.
• Business events and conferences given go ahead to resume from 1 October
• Enable wedding receptions; sit-down meals for no more than 30 people, subject to COVID-19 Secure guidelines. Over time, we will assess whether gatherings of this type for other purposes can be made possible and when larger wedding receptions can take place.
• In September, schools, nurseries and colleges will open for all children and young people on a full-time basis.

All businesses and venues which are listed to reopen on 25 July or 1 August must remain closed until those dates.

People are advised that they may now use public transport but are encouraged to consider alternative means of transport where possible.

More information is available here.

Face coverings mandatory in shops, supermarkets, shopping centres and enclosed transport hubs in England

• From 24 July, face coverings must be worn in additional enclosed public spaces in England, as the UK government takes further steps to help curb the spread of the virus.
• Face coverings are mandatory in additional enclosed public spaces from Friday 24 July including:
  - shops;
  - supermarkets;
  - shopping centres; and
  - transport hubs.
• Venues such as restaurants, pubs and gyms are exempt.
• Face coverings are not mandatory for:
  - anyone under the age of 11; and
  - those with disabilities or certain health conditions, such as respiratory or cognitive impairments that make it difficult for them to wear a face covering.
• See the College of Policing guidelines for face coverings and the regulations.

Reopening in England
On 8 July, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP presented a Summer Statement titled A plan for jobs. The Chancellor made a number of policy announcements including:

• Strong>Job Retention Bonus – a one-off payment of £1,000 to UK employers for every furloughed employee who remains continuously employed through to the end of January 2021.
• Kickstart Scheme – £2 billion fund to pay for six-month work placements for 16 to 24-year-olds on universal credit.
• Temporary VAT cut for restaurants, hotels and attractions – From 15 July 2020 to 12 January 2021, the reduced (5%) rate of VAT will apply to restaurants, hotels and attractions across the UK.
• ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ voucher – Every diner is entitled to 50% discount up to £10 a head, from Monday to Wednesday for August 2020 across the UK.
  - Register your establishment
  - Service availability and issues
  - Promotional materials
• Green Homes Grant – providing grants of up to £5,000 per household to make their home more energy efficient in England.

On 9 July, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden MP announced three phases of reopening for some, but not all, English businesses.

Phase one – 11 July

Phase one of the reopening relates to a relatively small section of the leisure sector: open air swimming pools. Review the guidance for operators, including:

• limiting the number of people within the facility and pool itself, perhaps by using a mandatory online booking system;
• managing how people move through the facility;
• enhanced cleaning; and
• encouragement to shower and change at home, wherever possible (staff and customers).

A number of other leisure facilities may be reopened from the 25 July (see below).

In addition, from the 11 July some open air cultural performances can take place, including gigs, festivals and concerts, but only where they have a ‘limited and socially distanced audience’.

Phase two – 13 July

Phase two of the reopening relates to some, but not all, of the remaining ‘close contact’ facilities – including beauty services, (clothes) tailoring and sports and massage therapists.

This is different to other sectors, as the requirement for reopening is based on the type of service rather than the type of business. For example, a salon that offers one permitted and one forbidden service can open, but only deliver the permitted service. Forbidden services are those which require close proximity to the face. There is no exhaustive list, but some of the forbidden services include:

• face waxing;
• eyebrow threading;
• eyelash treatments; and
• some (‘intricate’) beard services.

Review the guidance on close contact working. This is similar to guidance issued for those close contact services already reopened eg. hair salons using face shields, social distancing etc.

Phase three – 25 July

Phase three will see many indoor fitness facilities reopen, including indoor pools, gyms and fitness and dance studios. Review the guidance here.

Remaining sectors

There are a number of sectors which have not been given a date to open (in addition to the beauty services above) including:

• Nightclubs, dance halls, discotheques;
• Casinos;
• Sexual entertainment venues and hostess bars;
• Bowling alleys;
• Indoor skating rinks;
• Indoor play areas, including soft-play areas; and
• Exhibition halls or conference centres which must remain closed for events such as exhibitions or conferences, other than for those who work for the business or organisation who run the venue.

Please note that, whilst theatres can technically open, indoor plays, concert gigs etc. cannot be held until further notice – although there are some pilots going ahead to test how this might work.

The guidance is subject to devolved powers and there may be differences in the approaches taken in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Working safely during Coronavirus
The government has updated the guidance for businesses on working safely during Coronavirus. In consultation with industry, this guidance has been produced to help ensure workplaces are as safe as possible. There are 8 guides which cover a range of different types of work. Many businesses operate more than one type of workplace, such as an office, factory and fleet of vehicles. You may need to use more than one of these guides as you think through what you need to do to keep people safe.

• Five steps to working safely
• Close contact services
• Construction and other outdoor work
• Factories, plants and warehouses
• Heritage locations
• Hotels and other guest accommodation
• Labs and research facilities
• Offices and contact centres
• Other people's homes
• Restaurants, pubs, bars and takeaway services
• Shops and branches
• Vehicles
• The visitor economy

Further guidance for employers and businesses including:

• Good practice for employers
• Social distancing in the workplace - principles
• Shift-working and staggering processes

Once you have carried out a risk assessment you should display this notice in your workplace to show that you have complied with the guidance on managing the risk of Coronavirus.

Coronavirus Business Support
A full range of business support measures are available to UK businesses and employees. This page helps businesses find out how to access support schemes, who is eligible and how to apply.

The UK government's Coronavirus business support hub brings together key information for business.

Code of practice for the commercial property sector
The UK government has published a code of practice to encourage commercial tenants and landlords to work together to protect viable businesses.

Support to self employed individuals
The Chancellor announced on 26 March that millions of self-employed individuals will receive direct cash grants though the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, a ground-breaking UK-wide scheme for those whose income has been impacted by the Coronavirus.

Test and trace The NHS Test and Trace service launched across England on 28 May. Those who have been in close contact with someone who tests positive must isolate for 14 days, even if they have no symptoms. Take a look at the NHS test and trace workplace guidance and the Q&A for external stakeholders.

See further guidance for organisations in certain sectors on how to collect details and maintain records of staff, customers and visitors on their premises to support NHS Test and Trace.

Temporary easements in corporate Insolvency and governance
The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act has received royal assent and has come into force. The Act introduces temporary easements for AGMs and filing requirements for PLCs, new corporate restructuring tools to the insolvency regime to give companies the time they need to maximise their chance of survival and temporarily suspends parts of insolvency law to support directors.Detailed government guidance on the changes can be found here.

Additional support for business:

• Coronavirus Business Support Campaign - Communications Toolkit
• ACAS has published information for employees and employers, including information on simple steps to help protect the health and safety of staff, sick pay and absence from work.
• More information on business interruption insurance.
• Crime - to minimise the risk to queues of people in social distancing, organisations can take practical and steps to deter or disrupt a Vehicle As a Weapon Attack. Please see the CPNI advice note on Protecting pedestrian queues from Vehicle As a Weapon Attack.
• As an emergency response to Coronavirus, Companies House has developed a temporary online service to upload a number of completed forms and send them to Companies House digitally.
  
  The Small Business Leadership Programme
  
  The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is funding training for senior SME leaders to enhance their business’s resilience and recovery from the impact of Coronavirus, and develop their potential for future growth and productivity.
  
  The Small Business Leadership Programme is free to participants and will be delivered by top business schools across England. Spread the word with your members in the UK.