Prime Minister announces stronger enforcement measures as easements resume

Thursday, 13 August 2020 22:30

Fines will double to a maximum of £3,200 for those who repeatedly flout face covering rules New finesto be introducedfor people hosting raves or other unlawful gatherings of more than 30 people Bowling alleys, skating rinks and casinos to reopen for the first time as well as indoor play and soft play centres which comply with new Covid-19 Secure guidelines Beauty salons, tattoo studios, spas, barbers across England will be able to...Request free trial

Fines will double to a maximum of £3,200 for those who repeatedly flout face covering rules
New finesto be introducedfor people hosting raves or other unlawful gatherings of more than 30 people
Bowling alleys, skating rinks and casinos to reopen for the first time as well as indoor play and soft play centres which comply with new Covid-19 Secure guidelines
Beauty salons, tattoo studios, spas, barbers across England will be able to offer all close contact services and treatments
Wedding receptions for up to 30 people to resume – andindoor performances with socially distanced audiences will recommence
Sports and business events pilots to resume

The Government has today (Friday 14 August) announced a series of tough new enforcement measures targeting the most serious breaches of social distancing restrictions.

Fines for repeatedly not wearing face coverings where mandated will be significantly increased in the coming weeks, and on the spot fines for hosting or facilitating illegal gatherings of more than 30 people will be introduced.

The announcement comes as a number of remaining aspects of England’s culture, sport, leisure and business sectors will be permitted to reopen from this weekend.Two weeks ago the ONS had expressed concerns about a slight increase in the number of people in England testing positive. The situation now appears to have levelled off.

The plan set out in the‘roadmap to recovery’which was paused for two weeks will resume from Saturday 15 August in England – except for specific areas where local restrictions are in place.

Indoor theatres, music and performance venues will be able to reopen with socially distanced audiences under updated performing arts guidance published by the Government. This follows a successful series of pilots and marksstage 4 of the government’s 5-stage roadmap for the return of professional performing arts.

Wedding receptionsin the form of a sit-down meal in a COVID-secure location for up to 30 guests will now be permitted.

Thepiloting of a small number of sporting events to test the safe return of spectatorswill resume from August 15 with a view to reopening competition venues for sports fans, with social distancing measures in place from 1 October. This will commence with the final of the World Snooker Championship at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre during 15-16 August, with a full pilot programme to follow.

Indoor play and indoor soft play, bowling alleys, skating rinks and casinos will be permitted to reopen.

Beauty salons, tattoo studios, spas and barbers across England will be able to offer all close contact services – including front of the face treatments such as eyebrow threading, eyelash treatments and facials from August 15 undernew guidance.

A number of pilots will now take place at event venues across the country to help plan how best to restart indoor business events and implement social distancing practices. Business events and conferences will bepermitted to resume from 1 October provided rates of infection remain at current levels.

Taking into account new evidence provided by SAGE and consultation with industry, the Government has also confirmed today that all staff offering close contact services, including hairdressers, should now wear a face mask (type 2 surgical), in addition to a clear visor that covers the face. This will help protect the customer and staff from respiratory droplets caused by sneezing, coughing, or speaking.

The guidance also applies to businesses that operate remotely, such as massage therapists working in people’s homes, and those learning in vocational training environments.

The Government will continue to review these measures announced today, which are based upon the very latest infection rates.

More detail on the new enforcement measures will be set out in the coming week.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

“Most people in this country are following the rules and doing their bit to control the virus, but we must remain focused and we cannot be complacent. That is why we are strengthening the enforcement powers available to use against those who repeatedly flout the rules.

“At every stage I have said our plan to reopen society and the economy is conditional and that it relies on continued progress against the virus.

“Today, we are able to announce some further changes which will allow more people to return to work and the public to get back to more of the things they have missed. However, as I have always said, we will not hesitate to put on the brakes if required, or to continue to implement local measures to help to control the spread of the virus.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel said:

“Coronavirus remains a real and present threat to all of us and the majority of the British public are doing the right thing.

“I will not stand by and see these sacrifices undermined by a small minority of senseless individuals.

“These measures send a clear message – if you don’t cooperate with the police and if you put our health at risk, action will follow.”

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

"The nation's hard work to keep the virus under control means we can now make further careful progress on recovery with allowing audiences back for indoor performances, fans back at sports events and the reopening of more Covid-19 secure leisure businesses.

“We must all continue to Stay Alert but today's welcome news means these organisations can finally get going safely, and we can enjoy more of the things we love as a nation.

“I have no doubt that they will work incredibly hard to keep their fans, patrons, and customers safe.”

Business Secretary, Alok Sharma said:

“From Saturday, salons, spas and other close contact services across England will once again be able to offer all services in a way that is safe for workers and clients.

“I am pleased to give these often small, independent businesses a much-needed boost as we progress with our plan to kickstart the economy to protect jobs and incomes.

“Opening up the economy is conditional on our continued success at controlling the spread of coronavirus. Therefore it remains essential businesses comply with Covid-19 secure measures to protect workers and the public."

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

“We introduced mandatory face coverings on public transport to protect people and stop coronavirus spreading. I’m grateful to all those who have complied, and of course many people have legitimate reasons not to wear face coverings – but for those who aren’t exempt, there is no excuse.

“That’s why we must get tougher on repeat offenders. This new system will look to ensure everybody who is not exempt wears a face covering on public transport, continuing the public’s excellent efforts in helping this country recover.”

Nightclubs, dance halls, and discotheques, as well as sexual entertainment venues and hostess bars, remain closed in law.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Specific areas where local measures are currently in place include:

City of Manchester
Trafford
Stockport
Oldham
Bury
Wigan
Bolton
Tameside
Rochdale
Salford
Blackburn with Darwen
Burnley
Hyndburn
Pendle
Preston
Rossendale
Bradford
Calderdale
Kirklees

Full guidance on soft play centres has also been published today (LINK)

This guidance will be for organisations in England. Organisations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should adhere to the advice of the devolved administrations at all times.

Details of the business events and conferences pilots will be finalised in partnership with the sector in the coming weeks.

The gambling sector has published comprehensive guidance covering cleaning and social distancing within casinos, amongst other measures.

Close contact services that involve work directly in front of the face will now be available to clients, including:

microblading
eyelash and facial treatments
eyebrow threading
intricate beard work
facial massages
facial waxing
make up application
Botox

The Governmentpreviously announced that outdoor theatre, opera, dance and music performances with social distancing can resume from 11 July, with a limited and socially distanced audience.

More details on the Government’s £1.57 billion rescue package for cultural and heritage organisations can be foundhere.

The five stages of the phased return to professional performing arts is as follows:

Stage One - Rehearsal and training (no audiences and adhering to social distancing guidelines)
Stage Two - Performances for broadcast and recording purposes (adhering to social distancing guidelines)
Stage Three - Performances outdoors with an audience plus pilots for indoor performances with a limited distance audience from July 11. We will now also work with the sector to get small pilots started as soon as possible and will set out further details in due course.
Stage Four - Performances allowed indoors / outdoors (but with a limited distanced audience indoors)
Stage Five - Performances allowed indoors / outdoors (with a fuller audience indoors)

Full guidance on when to wear a face covering can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

Fines for not wearing a face covering in a mandated area are currently £100 (or £50 if paid in 14 days). In future repeat offenders will see their fines doubled on each offence, up to a maximum of £3,200.

Forces across England and Wales have already stepped up patrols to prevent illegal gatherings in areas of concern – such as Leicester and Greater Manchester, where deployments have sometimes been larger than on New Year’s Eve.

Last weekend, West Midlands Police shut down 125 parties and raves - and closed a pub - taking action to stop illegal gatherings and anti-social behaviour across the region.

Transport for London and British Transport Police have proactively enforced face coverings guidance for those who are not exempt, with 91,501 interventions, preventing 4397 from boarding, asking 3030 to leave the network and issuing 341 penalty notices.

Face coverings are not compulsory for children under 11, people with breathing difficulties, people with any disability that makes it difficult for them to wear or remove a face coveringand those travelling with or assisting somebody who relies on lip reading to communicate.