MWT Cymru Newsletter - Coronavirus update Issue 20
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Yesterday's announcement
From Thursday 24th September at 6pm:
  • Hospitality businesses in Wales – including pubs, cafes, restaurants and casinos – will have to close at 10pm.
  • They will also have to provide table service only.
  • Off-licences, such as supermarkets, will also have to stop selling alcohol at 10pm.
Travel Restrictions
The First Minister has re-iterated this afternoon (23/09/20) that there is no evidence that visitors to holiday areas in Wales during summer has led to an increase in local community transmission of Covid-19.  

Members are reporting that they are receiving calls from visitors that are confused regarding the essential travel guidance in Wales which has resulted in some visitors wishing to cancel bookings.  

You should advise visitors that there are currently NO travel restrictions in place in any area of Mid Wales.  

We have raised concerns about the announcement from Welsh Government, and Val is attending a Wales Tourism Alliance meeting tomorrow to represent the views of our members.

Tourism businesses in Ceredigion, Powys and Gwynedd have maintained their vigilance throughout the summer period in adhering to the Covid guidelines and the rates of transmission remain relatively low throughout the Mid Wales region.  

  • Lockdown areas in Wales - Residents in areas in Wales subject to lockdown measures can only undertake 'essential travel' i.e. they cannot travel in or out of their own counties except under certain circumstances. 

  • Lockdown areas in England - Areas in England are subject to different restrictions and are allowed to travel out of their local area to go on holiday.  

  • Requests for bookings from lockdown areas - We advise members to treat requests for bookings from lockdown areas within England on a case by case basis - you are within your rights to refuse bookings if you decide to do so. 
Reminder of Covid requirements for members operating licensed premises
Local Authorities in Mid Wales will be carrying out compliance visits and officers are checking that businesses are complying with the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No.2) (Wales) Regulations 2020. The Local Authorities have the power to close, force improvements or review the premises licence or club premises certificate.
 
All pubs and clubs must ensure that:
 
  • A Test, Trace, Protect system is in place to accurately record all visits to the premises so that customers can be easily contacted in the event of a positive case linked to the venue. This includes customers’ name and telephone number.
  • The rule of 6/extended households applies
  • Social distancing of 2 metres is maintained, with adequate signage, distance between tables and seating, and procedures for managing walkways and toilet areas.
  • All premises must provide table service only i.e. no ordering at the bar.
  • All food and drink must be consumed at tables.
  • Customers are not drinking and standing at the bar.
  • Customers are not drinking alcohol whilst standing, unless they are standing at a tall table - in all other instances they must be seated.
  • There is no live music, and that recorded music is only played at a low background level.
  • Hospitality businesses, including pubs, cafes, restaurants and casinos, will have to close at 10pm (coming into force on Thursday, 24 September at 6pm).
NHS COVID-19 app (contact tracing)
The new NHS contact tracing app is going live in Wales & England tomorrow. 

This will not replace any manual track and trace which is a legal requirement, but we do advise all businesses to produce their own ‘QR code’ using the link below – these can be displayed around your business with a recommendation that visitors scan them. 

QR codes will be an important way for individuals to record their movements helping the NHS Test, Trace, Protect system.

If you have more than one business (multiple properties) etc, then you can produce these for each of your units/businesses. 
FAQ's
The Welsh Government have produced a useful FAQ’s section to help answer many of the queries we have also been receiving from businesses. 

If you have any specific question that relates to your business then please do not hesitate to contact Zoe on zoe@mwtcymru.co.uk – if we don’t know the answer we will take your query to the Welsh Government for clarification. 
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