Cosby Parish Council

Below is a guide on what's changing, the Rule of Six, the NHS Covid-19 App and local events in the district.

You can find full guidance and restrictions for managing coronavirus on the Government website.

What's changing?

From today, the following rules are in place:

• All pubs, bars and restaurants must close at 10pm, including takeaways, and only table service is allowed
• 10pm is the final closing time. No pubs, bars or restaurants are allowed to be open after this time. Takeaways may still deliver any orders after 10pm if the order was received before the closing time
• Facemasks MUST be worn by staff in retail, by all users of taxis and private hires vehicles, as well as staff and customers of indoor hospitality venues, except when seated for food and drink
• Medical exceptions for facemasks will continue
• From Monday, a maximum of 15 people will be able to attend wedding ceremonies and up to 30 people can attend a funeral
• Large scale sporting events will not be able to operate from 01 October as originally planned
• The penalty for failing to wear a mask or breaking the rule of six will double to £200 for first offence

Pubs and Restaurants - What to expect?

When you visit a pub or restaurant from today, you will be required to wear a mask unless you are seated at your table. This includes entering, exiting or walking through our the premises.

Businesses must also offer access to NHS Test and Trace as this is required to be completed every time you visit.

All premises MUST also close by 10pm at the latest. Many pubs and restaurants across the district are working hard to bring in the new rules.

Before you visit, please contact the business, or visit their webpage or social media pages to make sure you know their guidelines.

Shielding

For people who have shielded throughout the pandemic the latest advice is that you do not need to shield unless you are in a local lockdown area. We will be in touch if the District is placed under any local lockdown restrictions.

Rule of Six

Limits on the number of people you can see socially have changed. When meeting friends and family you do not live with (or have formed a support bubble with) you must not meet in a group of more than six, indoors or outdoors.

Fines (fixed penalty notices) of £200 can be issued for breaking these rules, with the penalties doubling for further breaches up to a maximum of £6,400.

The rule of six also applies to all indoor sporting activity. Any team sports played in water/indoor settings other than a sports hall must be played in groups of six or fewer.

Remember:

• Meet in groups of no more than six
• Follow social distancing rules when you meet up
• Meet people outdoors where practical: meeting people outdoors is safer than meeting people indoors because fresh air provides better ventilation

Covid-19 App

The NHS Covid-19 app is now available to download. Using your postcode, the app will let you know and offer advice if your area becomes high-risk.

A built-in QR scanner lets you check in to venues quickly and easily. Any data shared with the app is held on your phone. Nobody will know who or where you are and you can delete the app and all data at any time.

More information is on the NHS website, and you can download on the Google Play Store, or the App Store.

Track and Trace - Help us help businesses

From today, hospitality businesses must offer a QR code to record when customers and staff are on your premises. This can be available either as a poster or a display screen and should be at the entrance to the premises.

If you spot a business not displaying a QR code to scan, or any any other concerns, please tell us, so our team can help. Email our Environmental Health team now with any information.

Local Events

If you are planning any event, either indoors or outdoors, please contact our Environmental Health team as soon as possible. Our team can advise whether an event can be run, or the steps that can be taken to ensure it is Covid compliant.

Please remember all events will be expected to meet the relevant risk assessments.

Any events meeting the criteria below will need to fill in the Event Notification Form:

• Event involves in excess of 500 attendees, whether alcohol is available or not
• Has an impact on the highway network
• Attendance by VIPs and/or the military
• Has a community impact

Car Sharing

Car sharing is an easy way for the coronavirus to spread. If you do need to car share, please remember:

• Share the transport with the same people each time
• Open windows for ventilation
• Face away from each other
• Driver and passengers should consider wearing a face covering

More information is available on the Government's website.

We hope that by following the guidance, the District will not have a second set of lockdown restrictions placed upon it. If you have symptoms, get a test! Call 119 or visit the NHS website to book one.

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