The government has today announced further restrictions, to help reduce the spread of Covid-19, which will come into force from Saturday 17 October. From Saturday London, including Kingston, will move from the government’s Tier 1 alert (medium) system to Tier 2 (high).
In summary, the new measures mean:
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Mixing of households indoors, including in bars and restaurants is now banned. You can still take bookings of up to 6 people from the same household.
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Organised indoor exercise classes are only permitted if it is possible for people to avoid mixing in with people you do not live with or share a support bubble with. Exercise classes can continue outside.
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Schools, Universities and places of worship remain open.
Other restrictions still in place:
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All pubs, bars and restaurants must continue to close at 22.00. Food and drink must be restricted to table service only, including when customers order and consume food and drink.
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The rule of six still applies to outdoors; you will be allowed to take bookings for up to six people from different households. You should continue to take the contact details of at least one person in that group or ask them to check in using the official NHS COVID-19 app so NHS Test and Trace can contact you if needed.
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Employers and their staff are encouraged to walk or cycle to their destination and to avoid public transport at peak times.
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Office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over winter.
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Facemasks are still mandatory for customers and staff except when customers are seated to eat or drink.
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Continue to maintain socially distanced measures.
Further information can be found here.
We understand these further restrictions are unsettling and are likely to have an impact on you and your business, and our town centre. Leisure and hospitality businesses have been, and are, facing incredibly challenging trading conditions, in particular, with the 10pm curfew and new Tier 2 restrictions on people mixing. The impact of these changes and how people use the town centre in the coming weeks will be felt across Kingston and our business community. We are in regular contact with our local MP, Sir Ed Davey, to lobby the government for more financial support to be directed to and made available for sectors most affected by the new restrictions.
We will keep Kingston First members informed of any further updates and any financial support packages that may be announced by email and on our Covid-19 page.
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