COVID-19 update: what do the government’s latest Plan B measures mean for your business?

What has changed?

• Since 10 December, face masks have been extended to most public indoor venues including theatres and cinemas. This also includes hair salons, barbers, nail salons, massage centres, tattoo, and piercing studios. 
• Face masks have already been mandatory by law in England’s shops, supermarkets, indoor shopping centres, public transport including taxis and indoor stations, banks, and post offices since 28 November.
• Pupils at secondary schools are “strongly advised” to wear face coverings in communal areas, as should staff and visitors at all schools and childcare settings.

What remains unclear?

• Face coverings are currently not required in hospitality venues where food and drink are consumed (such as pubs, cafes, and restaurants), or during exercise (such as gyms), including dancing (such as nightclubs). However, with growing concern of the Omicron variant, this may change.

Read the latest information and guidance on face coverings.

What has changed?

• Since 13 December, people have been told to work from home again “if they can”.
• Employers have been asked to consider the health and mental health of their staff when deciding who should work from home. For instance, enabling those with a “challenging home working environment” to continue going into the office.

What remains unclear?

• Government guidance says people should continue travelling to work if they need “to access equipment necessary for their role, or where their role must be completed in person”. This is somewhat open to interpretation for the employer and employees.

What has changed?

• Since 14 December, anyone aged 5 years and over who lives in the same household or has come into close contact with someone with COVID-19, and who is not legally required to self-isolate (i.e. has been fully vaccinated) is now strongly advised to take a rapid lateral flow device (LFD) test every day for 7 days. If any LFD tests are positive, they should self-isolate for 10 days to protect others. 
• The public health advice for people with symptoms of, or a positive test result for COVID-19 remains the same for everyone.
• Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, or who tests positive, irrespective of vaccination status, must self-isolate for 10 days.
• Anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms should self-isolate and take a PCR test (and remain in isolation until the results come back).

What remains unclear?

• Whether the definition of what constitutes a ‘close contact’ will change as more becomes known about Omicron.
• Whether an employee who has been notified that they have the Omicron variant will have a legal duty to inform their employer.

Read the latest information and guidance on self-isolation.

What has changed?

• Since Wednesday 15 December, certain venues and events will be required by law to check the COVID status of customers using the NHS COVID Pass or other accepted proof, like a text or an email from the NHS.
• Venues will have to demand you have proof of two doses of the vaccine, or proof of a negative test in the last 48 hours.
• Venues affected include nightclubs, indoor unseated venues with more than 500 people and unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people.

What remains unclear?

• Currently, “fully vaccinated” constitutes two doses of the vaccine. However, this is likely to change in 2022 to include the booster vaccine.

What has changed?

• Since 15 December, all 11 countries were removed from the travel red list. There are currently no countries or territories on the red list for travel to England.
• The risk posed by individual countries and territories is monitored continuously and the red list is reviewed every three weeks.

What are the current rules?

If you are fully vaccinated, before you travel to England you must:

• Take a COVID-19 test two days before you travel to England. 
• Book and pay for a COVID-19 PCR test to be taken after you arrive in England.
• Complete a passenger locator form to be completed in the 48 hours before you arrive in England.

If you are not fully vaccinated, before you travel to England you must:

• Take a COVID-19 test two days before you travel to England.
• Book and pay for day two and day eight COVID-19 PCR tests – to be taken on arrival in England.
• Complete a passenger locator form in the 48 hours before you arrive in England.
• There are jobs that qualify for travel exemptions. Please follow the links for the government guidance in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Read the latest information and guidance on international travel.