Wales closes hospitality, leisure and non-essential retail businesses in short, sharp national lockdown

Resume of what is permitted in tiers across the UK

The First Minister for Wales has announced today that, as of this Friday 23 October from 6pm, everyone must stay at home and non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses will close. The closure will end on Monday 9 November. Gatherings indoors and outdoors with people not in a single household will be banned.

All tourism-related travel to and from Wales as well as within Wales is not allowed. More information here.

There will be a business support package to include:

• An extra economic resilience fund of £300m
• £150m of the fund to support those businesses directly affected
• Businesses covered by the Small Business Rate Relief will receive a £1,000 payment
• Small and medium retail, leisure and hospitality businesses which have to close will receive a one-off payment of up to £5,000 which will be paid automatically
• The £80m Business Development fund to help businesses will be increased to £100m - and of that, £20m will be ringfenced for tourism and hospitality businesses.

Access to the funds will open in the first week of the lockdown. All business required to close can also access UK government funds.

Read more here.

England

Travel and overnight stays in local COVID alert level: high (tier 2) areas e.g. Birmingham

People can still travel within high alert level areas to guest accommodation e.g. caravan parks, but should only do this with other people in their household or support bubble. People can still go on holiday outside of high alert level areas, but must only do so with other people in their household or support bubble.

Read more here.

Travel and overnight stays in local COVID alert level: very high (tier 3) areas e.g. Liverpool and Lancashire (Blackpool etc)

Residents of very high alert areas should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK, except if they need to do so for work, education or caring responsibilities and they must not stay with anyone they do not live with elsewhere in the UK.

People are being asked to avoid staying overnight in a very high alert level areas where possible, except for those who need to for work, education or caring responsibilities. Residents from a very high alert level area may travel to hotels and other guest accommodation within that area but should only do so with people in their household or support bubble.

Read more here.

How local COVID alert level: medium (tier 1) differs from previous national regulations

Local COVID alert levels introduced last week have seen the nationwide regulations replaced by ‘Local COVID alert level: medium’. There are some differences which are worth noting for tourism and hospitality businesses:

• In addition to delivery and drive-thru, hospitality venues will now be able to offer a click-and-collect service for the sale of food and non-alcoholic drink between 10pm and 5am, provided customers have pre-ordered by phone, online, or by post.
• Theatres, concert halls and cinemas will be exempt from requiring people to be seated whilst ordering food and drink.
• The restrictions on singing, dancing and loud music in hospitality premises will be removed.

Read more here.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland a financial support scheme for businesses subject to the latest restrictions under the Health Protection Regulations has opened for applications.

Read more here.