COVID secure business advice
Warrington is currently part of a national lockdown, which places strict restrictions on businesses.
More information about what this means for businesses can be viewed on the government's website.
Businesses that must close
- non-essential retail, such as clothing and homeware stores, vehicle showrooms, betting shops, tailors, tobacco and vape shops, electronic goods and mobile phone shops, auction houses, and market stalls selling non-essential goods. These venues can remain open for delivery/ click-and-collect services.
- hospitality venues, with the exception of providing food and drink for takeaway (until 11pm), click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services
- accommodation such as hotels, hostels, guest houses and campsites
- leisure and sports facilities such as leisure centres and indoor gyms, indoor swimming pools, indoor sports courts, indoor fitness and dance studios, golf courses and indoor climbing walls
- entertainment venues such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, casinos, amusement arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, indoor play and soft play centres and areas, funfairs, zoos and other animal attractions, water parks and theme parks
- indoor attractions at venues, though outdoor grounds of these premises can stay open
- personal care facilities such as hair, beauty, tanning, tattoos and nail salons, and these services should not be provided in other people’s homes
- community centres and halls must close except for a limited number of exempt activities
Businesses that can remain open
Exempt activities
Some businesses and venues can stay open for a small number of exempt activities, including:
- education and training – for schools to use sports, leisure and community facilities where this is part of their normal provision
- childcare purposes and supervised activities for children
- hosting blood donation sessions and food banks
- to provide medical treatment
- for elite sports persons to train and compete (in indoor and outdoor sports facilities), and professional dancers and choreographers to work (in fitness and dance studios)
- for training and rehearsal without an audience (in theatres and concert halls)
Open venues
Some venues can remain open including:
- essential retail such as food shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, market stalls, garden centres, building merchants and suppliers of building products and off-licences
- businesses providing repair services may also stay open, where they primarily offer repair services
- petrol stations, automatic (but not manual) car washes, vehicle repair and MOT services, bicycle shops, and taxi and vehicle hire businesses
- banks, building societies, post offices, short-term loan providers and money transfer businesses
- funeral directors
- laundrettes and dry cleaners
- medical and dental services
- vets and pet shops, animal rescue centres, boarding facilities, and animal groomers
- mobility and disability support shops
- storage and distribution facilities
- car parks, public toilets and motorway service areas
- places of worship, crematoriums and burial grounds
Follow the COVID-secure guidance
Businesses and venues that are able to remain open should follow COVID-secure guidance to protect customers, visitors and workers.
Our coronavirus community support officers will be working alongside Cheshire Police to ensure that businesses have the support they need to continue to operate safely, in line with the current guidance and restrictions.
Business owners
If you have coronavirus concerns about your business, it is vital that you take action quickly to prevent transmission of the virus. Make sure you understand the steps you need to take to keep everyone as safe as possible.
Business basics
Make sure that if you're an indoor venue/setting, you, your staff and customers wear face coverings where necessary. If any of your staff display any coronavirus symptoms, they must self-isolate and book a test immediately.
Premises and venues across England must have a system in place to record contact details of their customers, visitors and staff to support NHS Test and Trace.
For more information, view the government's guidance on maintaining records on their website.
It is legally required for certain venues to display NHS QR posters.
Find out more about how to download your QR poster on the NHS website
Reporting cases of coronavirus in your organisation
Coronavirus early outbreak management information has been created to ensure people who run businesses or organisations:
- know how to recognise and report cases of coronavirus
- are aware of measures that may need to be taken in order to contain it
The government and Public Health England have produced guidance for businesses, and outbreak 'action cards' for specific settings.
Read the guidance and download the action cards on the government's website
Employees
How to report coronavirus safety concerns in your workplace
If you're concerned that your employer isn't following the national guidance, and that your workplace doesn't have appropriate COVID-secure safety measures in place, you could speak to the person in charge of the venue, your employer, your union or employee representative.
You can also report it to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Call 0300 790 6787 or highlight it to the HSE online.
Customers
How to report coronavirus safety concerns in a business environment
If you're concerned that a local business isn't following the national guidance, and doesn't have appropriate COVID-secure safety measures in place, you can report it to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Call 0300 790 6787 or highlight it to the HSE online.
If you still have concerns, you can report any issues to us
Tell us about your COVID safety issue
Is your business COVID secure?
Food businesses operating as takeaways
During the ongoing coronavirus situation, many food businesses have moved to a takeaway model, following the social distancing measures implemented by the government. The Food Standards Agency has advised that it's improbable that coronavirus can be transferred from one person to another via food.
If you're a business that wants to begin operating in this way, then you will need to consider a number of things.
Further information
If you need more information, please visit the Food Standards Agency website. Alternatively, you can send your enquiry via email to Environmental.Health@Warrington.gov.uk.