On Wednesday 8th December, the government announced that England will move to Plan B in response to the risks of the Omicron variant.

Since the announcement, the primary guidance for the hospitality and leisure industry continues to be updated with full details still to be announced. The below information should be treated as an an indication as to what the body of the guidance will say once full updates have been released. Please always check the government website for the latest information.

What's changed?

• From 10th December, face coverings will be required by law in most indoor settings
• From 13th December, office workers who can work from home should do so
• From 15th December, certain venues and events will be required by law to check that all visitors aged 18 years or over are fully vaccinated, have proof of a negative test in the last 48 hours, or have an exemption.

There are also plans to scrap the 10-day self-isolation period with daily testing to be introduced instead of isolation for those who come into contact with infected people. Isolation will only be required for those people who test positive. The date for this new rule is yet to be announced.

Face coverings:

From 10th December, face coverings will be required by law in most indoor public places and on public transport, including taxis.

Face masks will be required in the following settings:

• Community centres (including village halls), youth centres, members clubs and social clubs
• Libraries and public reading rooms
• Polling stations and premises used for the counting of votes
• Places of worship
• Crematoria and burial ground chapels
• Visitor attractions and entertainment venues (museums, galleries, cinemas, indoor theatres, concert halls, cultural and heritage sites, indoor areas at aquariums, zoos and visitor farms, bingo halls, snooker and pool halls, amusement arcades, adventure activity centres, indoor sports stadiums, funfairs, indoor theme parks, casinos, skating rinks, bowling alleys, indoor play areas including soft-play areas)
• Public areas in hotels and hostels
• Indoor areas of sports stadiums.

Face mask exemptions: You do not have to wear a face covering in hospitality settings such as cafés, restaurants and pubs. This is because it is not practical to keep removing face coverings to eat or drink. You do not need to wear a face covering in nightclubs or certain other night-time venues, including dance halls and discotheques. This is because it is not recommended that you wear a face covering while exercising or during strenuous physical activity, including dancing.

Face masks will not be required in the following settings:

• Restaurants, cafés and canteens
• Bars and shisha bars
• Gyms and exercise facilities
• Photography studios
• Nightclubs, dance halls and discotheques
• In indoor settings where a face covering is not legally required, you should still continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with other people you do not normally meet.

Required use of the NHS COVID Pass:

From 15th December, certain venues and events will be required by law to check that all visitors and staff aged 18 years or over are fully vaccinated (currently a full course of vaccination without the need for a booster, but this will be kept under review). Proof of a negative test (a lateral flow test result via email or text) in the last 48 hours will also be accepted, as will proof of an exemption.

The use of the NHS COVID Pass is required as a condition of entry into the following places:

• Nightclubs, dancehalls and discotheques;
• Other late night dance venues. These are any other venues that are:
  - open between 1am and 5am;
  - serve alcohol during this time;
  - have a dancefloor (or designated space for dancing); and
  - provide music, whether live or recorded, for dancing.
• Indoor events with 500 or more unseated attendees, where those attendees are likely to stand or move around for all or part of the event, such as music venues with standing audiences or large receptions;
• Outdoor events with 4,000 or more unseated attendees, where those attendees are likely to stand or move around for all or part of the event, such as outdoor festivals; and
• Any events with 10,000 or more attendees indoor or outdoor, such as large sports and music events.

There are some settings that will be exempt from requirements to use the NHS COVID Pass including communal worship, wedding ceremonies, funerals and other commemorative events, protests, and mass participation sporting events.

New self-isolation rules

On 28th November, the Government said all contacts of those with Omicron must isolate for 10 days. However, will been replaced by new rules announced on Wednesday 8th December.

Those who are in contact with people who have tested positive for Covid-19 will now be required to take daily tests. Only those who test positive will then be required to isolate. They should isolate until they take their first test.

The details of when this measure will come into effect have not been confirmed yet, although reports say this will happen before Christmas.

Please always check the government website for the latest information.