Lock down easing and closing

The coronavirus lockdown and reopening industry.

New changes were announced.

These changes are applicable in England only. Key points are as follows

• The 2 metre social distancing rule will reduce from 4 July 2020. This will reduce to “1 metre plus” which is 1 metres, with additional measures including avoiding face to face seating, protected screens, hand sanitisers, changed shift patterns and closing non-essential social spaces.

• Guidance is in place, rather than legislation, on social contact:
• Two households, of any size, can meet in any setting; inside or outside. This does not always have to be the same two households.
• Meetings of multiple households are not recommended indoors.
• Restaurants and pubs will be reopened on 4 July; table service will be encouraged, with minimum staff and customer contact. Contact details will be taken from customers so they can be contacted in the event of any outbreak. 
• Hairdressers will be reopened (with precautions), with other close contact services reopening in a Covid-Secure way.
• From 4 July, two households can stay overnight in self-contained accommodation, including hotels and campsites.

• Outdoor gyms and playgrounds, cinemas, galleries, museums etc, will be able to reopen after 4 July. “Close proximity” venues such as indoor gyms, swimming pools, nightclubs, spas, softplay areas ad bowling alleys, will remain closed for now. Theatres will be able to resume live performances as soon as possible, with sports activities reopening in due course.
• Formal childcare will re-start over the summer; primary and secondary education will recommence in September with full attendance, but in the meantime children who can go to school are encouraged to do “because it is safe”.

• Each step is “conditional and reversible”, based on the alert levels.

• Covid secure guidelines will be published for every sector which is reopening.

It was confirmed that the shielding measures are being slowly eased:

• From Monday, 6 July, those shielding from coronavirus can gather in groups of up to 6 people outdoors and form a ‘support bubble’ with another household.
• Individuals will no longer be advised to shield after 1 August, and therefore those persons can be expected to return to work.

• Employers were asked to “ease the transition for their clinically extremely vulnerable employees, ensuring that robust measures are put in place for those currently shielding to return to work when they are able to do so”. This effectively requires that all workplaces are Covid Secure. We have previously written a blog . about safely returning to work following Covid 19.
• It is important if you are shileding to be aware of your rights for shielded employees and their rights in returning to work, and what protection they have under the Equality Act 2010 and what employers should be considering to avoid discrimination claims. I will post a follow up article.
• This is not legal advice. Should you, or anyone you know, need any assistance with returning to work, redundancy, Covid secure workplaces or the future of shielding, please do get in touch with women in the law uk. Who have a list of endorsed employment lawyers you can advice you further and other areas of law. visit the need a lawyer tab at www.womeninthelawuk.com