Covid 19 - Welsh Reopening Guidance

Today the Welsh Government has issued Guidance in anticipation of the next step in the easing of lock down, again we have a long document covering many areas of operation and the government is recommending that operators read the whole of the document rather than just the area which appears to relate to them, stating: ”As each premises is different, businesses should read all guidance to understand the measures to be considered to re-open the business safely.”

The full Guidance can be found here: 'Keep Wales Safe: guidance for tourism and hospitality'

The Guidance confirms the continued requirement for social distancing:

"If allowed to operate, hospitality premises (including bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants) must take all reasonable steps to minimise risk, including, ensuring compliance with social distancing requirements and other reasonable mitigations within the venue, e.g. implementing mitigations between tables where it is not possible to maintain 2m of space and maximising ventilation. Where multiple people from different households are sat together at a table (within the allowed numbers), every effort should still be made by the business and the customer to ensure that they maximise distance at the table. Reasonable measures may include the need to restrict or refrain from doing a particular activity if other efforts or mitigations are likely to be insufficient."

Due to the current requirement not to travel out of Wales, an additional requirement is imposed by the Guidance to enquire where people have travelled from as follows:

"Tourism and hospitality businesses must take all reasonable measures to minimise the risk of exposure to the virus and should not knowingly accept customers in breach of the travel restrictions or indeed any other restrictions/limitations (such as on gathering). Businesses should ask the customer at the point of booking where they are travelling from and check that they comply with the regulations, or may be covered by an excemption. The obligation is on the individual although a business that encourages a breach may also commit an offence.

If a customer has already made a booking and becomes subject to the travel restrictions, ultimately any decisions on refunds are a matter between the business and customer, which will be determined by the terms and conditions of the booking. Businesses taking bookings from customers do so at their own risk given these restrictions are subject to on-going review and could change at short notice."

In relation to the service to customers it confirms that this:

“must be carried out with the reasonable measures specified in the Coronavirus Regulations. This also applies during any period of further restrictions where alcohol cannot be consumed within hospitality premises. This means that customers must be seated in the premises anywhere other than at a bar:

• When ordering food or drink
• When being served with food or drink, and
• When consuming food or drink."

The guidance recommends the use of smartphone apps for customers to order and pay so as to minimise contact between staff and customers. If paying at the counter, social distancing should be maintained.

The document is long and the areas covered overlap,it also provides links to other Guidance from zoos to swimming along with a link to the guidance issued to enforcement bodies.