New rules for re-opening

Blackburn with Darwen is gearing up for more re-openings – here is all you need to know

Restaurants, pubs, bars, takeaways, libraries, museums and hairdressers are gearing up to open their doors across the borough from July 4^th following closures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the way they operate will be different with many new guidelines for social distancing, queuing, service and hygiene.

New Government guidance has been released ahead of the re—opening with some significant changes to how premises will be run and what businesses need to do to keep customers and staff as safe as possible.

Risk assessments, customer and employee safety, and how to manage toilets are three of the main issues facing businesses as they get ready to re-open from July 4th.

The main guidelines can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/opening-certain-businesses-and-venues-in-england-from-4-july-2020

The new guidance sets out a range of measures for pubs and restaurants to become Covid-19 secure, including:

• requiring use of table service where possible instead of ordering at the bar and assigning a single staff member per table
• encouraging use of contactless ordering from tables where available, such as through an app
• discouraging non-essential trips by staff within venues, such as between the kitchen and front of house, by using radios and other electronic devices to communicate
• encouraging customers to use hand sanitiser or handwashing facilities as they enter the venue
• providing clear guidance on social distancing and hygiene as people arrive on the premises, with signage and visual aids

When visiting businesses please be prepared to give your name and contact number if asked. This will help should contact tracing be needed.

The guidance is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-asked-to-leave-a-name-and-number-with-venues-to-help-stop-the-spread-of-covid-19

If you plan to travel by taxi please play your part in keeping you and your driver as safe as possible:

• Never travel if you have symptoms of Covid-19 – however mild
• Always sit in the back seats of the car
• Wear a face covering
• If available, use contactless payments

• Hairdressers and barbers will also have new rules in place, including wearing of masks, fewer customers at any one time, not arriving before your appointment time, and using hand sanitiser or washing your hands before your appointment.