COVID-19

This page contains resources for retailers with regard to COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

Additional resources are available at the bottom of the page.

If you have any questions or concerns about what to do in your business, contact Willem van de Ven ([email protected])

Below is information for retailers on the current restrictions in England, Wales and Scotland.

DOWNLOAD THE ONE PAGE BRIEFING FOR COLLEAGUES (ENGLAND)

DOWNLOAD THE ONE PAGE BRIEFING FOR COLLEAGUES (WALES)

DOWNLOAD THE POSTERS

England

On 21^st February, the Prime Minister announced the Government’s Living with Covid-19 strategy.

The Government’s Living with COVID-19 strategy establishes a timetable for the expiration of all remaining coronavirus restrictions. The timetable, which can be accessed in full here, establishes some key points for retailers to note:

From Thursday 24^th February, workers do not need to inform their employers if they are advised to self-isolate.
From 24^th March, COVID-19 provisions in statutory sick pay will end. However, workers who have COVID-19 and are unable to come into work can claim normal sick pay.
From 1^st April, employers will no longer be required to conduct and implement a COVID-19 risk assessment.

Government Guidance

The Government guidance, Working Safely During Covid-19, outlines six priority areas for shops to take action on:

Complete a health and safety risk assessment for the store
Provide adequate ventilation
Clean surfaces more often
Turn away customers or colleagues that display Covid-19 symptoms
Enable people to check in using a Test and Trace QR code
Communicate your procedures to colleagues and customers

The full guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19/shops-branches-and-close-contact-services

Rules on Testing and Isolating

From 1^st April, people with COVID symptoms will no longer be advised to test but instead isolate until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and do not have a high temperature.

The Government will no longer provide free universal symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public in England.

From 1^st April, there will be ongoing limited free testing available for a small number of at-risk groups and free symptomatic testing will remain available to social care staff.

Selling Covid Tests

Universal free testing has expired in England as of 1^st April. COVID tests are now only freely available to over-75s and vulnerable over-12s. Retailers can sell Covid tests but they must ensure they are on the approved list, which can be accessed here. The Department of Health and Social Care has also provided an information sheet for retailers which sets out guidance and rules.

Covid-19 Booster

There are a range of posters that you can use in store to encourage people to book their Covid-19 booster vaccine, the posters are available to download here: Emergency Booster Posters - Coronavirus Resource centre (phe.gov.uk)

To find your nearest walk-in vaccination site, please visit https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-walk-in-coronavirus-covid-19-v…

Clarity on sick pay for colleagues

The Covid-19 Sick Pay Rebate Scheme is closed on 24^th March, meaning retailers will no longer be able to claim back costs for sick pay issued due to Covid-19 between 21^st December and 17^th March.

Normal sick pay rules will apply for Covid-19 and other absences. This also means sick pay will no longer paid from the first day of absence. To be eligible for sick pay, colleagues must have been off work for at least 4 days in a row, including any usual non-working days.

Wales

From 28^th March, face coverings are no longer legally required to be worn in shops or on public transport in Wales. Face-coverings are still legally required in health and social care settings and it is ‘strongly advised’ that they are worn in crowded areas.

Businesses, organisations and workplaces are still legally required to carry out a coronavirus risk assessment and implement reasonable measures to reduce the risk of spreading the virus on their premises.

The Welsh Government has confirmed retailers will no longer be required to undertake a specific Covid-19 risk assessment and take reasonable measures to minimise transmission risks from 18^th April. Guidance will recommended face coverings are worn in indoor crowded settings.

The Welsh Government has extended the property moratorium banning the eviction of commercial tenants materially impacted by Covid-19 until March 2022. Landlords in Wales will also not be able to use Commercial Rents Arrears Recovery (CRAR) to recover unpaid rent on commercial leases under the same timeframe, or issue statutory demands or winding up petitions.

A UK Government Code of Practice is available to support discussions between landlords and tenants. Retailers in England cannot be evicted until 25^th March 2022 or subject to other legal tactics above until 30^th September.

Self-isolation

From 28^th March, it is no longer a legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive for Covid in Wales. People who test positive and those with symptoms are still strongly advised to self-isolate, but it is no longer a legal requirement.

Scotland

On 22^nd February, a staged approach to easing protective measures and lifting legal restrictions was announced.

To protect yourself and others, the Scottish Government has made a number of recommendations, including:

Getting the COVID vaccine and booster
Take regular lateral flow tests (providing you have no symptoms), especially before mixing with others
If you are displaying symptoms, you should isolate and book a PCR test
Wash your hands regularly
Open windows when meeting with other people indoors
A mixture of home and office working is allowed

Self-isolation rules

If you think you have COVID-19 symptoms, you should self-isolate immediately and book a test. Anyone with a positive Covid-19 result can end self-isolation on day seven provided that they return two negative lateral flow test results, one on day six and one 24 hours after, and have no fever. Close contacts of a positive covid-19 case will no longer need to self-isolate but will be required to complete daily lateral flow tests for seven days. If a positive result is returned, self-isolation will be required. This only applies to fully vaccinated individuals who have also received a booster dose. Both of these self-isolation changes will come into effect from 00:01 6th January.

For confirmed positive cases, the self-isolation period is 7 full days from when symptoms first started.

Testing

From 6^th January if a positive result is returned on a lateral flow device, and you do not have symptoms, you will not be required to take a PCR test anymore to confirm the result. You will be required to immediately isolate.

Individuals without Covid-19 symptoms will also no longer be asked to take regular lateral flow tests but PCR tests can be booked until 30^th April.

Face Coverings

The Scottish Government has confirmed the legal requirement to wear face coverings in shops will be converted into guidance on 18^th April. Face coverings will be recommended for indoor crowded spaces.