Following yesterday’s announcement of a number of new restrictions to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus, members of the Penzance Covid Recovery Group are working to develop further guidance to help local residents and businesses prepare for the changes.
The key changes announced by the Government are:
- From Thursday, 24 September all pubs, bars and restaurants must close at 10 pm (this means physically shutting their doors at this time, not calling for last orders)
- Hospitality venues can only offer table service – takeaways can continue
- Office workers should work from home again where possible
- Face coverings are now compulsory for people working in shops, everyone using hospitality services (including bar staff and waiters), and taxi drivers and passengers.
- Fines have increased to £200 for anyone not wearing a face covering when required (including customers in pubs, bars and restaurants when they are not seated at a table)
- £200 fines will be levied for a first offence for people gathering in groups of more than six
- All retail, leisure and tourism firms are now required by law to follow COVID secure guidelines – with fines of up to £10,000 or risk of closure for those who do not follow the rules.
- Attendance at weddings will be limited to a maximum of 15 people
- 30 people can still attend funerals
- The “rule of six” has been extended to indoor sports teams, such as five-a-side football games
- The phased reopening of stadiums for sporting events from 1 October has been postponed.
Previous measures, including the requirement for social premises and venues, including pubs and restaurants, to request test and trace information from customers and to keep the details for 21 days, remain in place.
Members of the Covid Recovery Group include representatives from Penzance Business Improvement District (BID), Safer Penzance, Police, Penzance Council and Cornwall Council, and Penzance and District Tourism Association (PDTA).
“While the rate of infection continues to be lower in Cornwall than in the majority of other parts of England, there has been a significant increase in the number of Covid 19 cases across the county during the past few days”
Penzance BID Manager Jessica Morris
“This recent increase in positive tests shows how important it is to follow the guidelines on social distancing, face coverings and hand hygiene.“
Councillor Nicole Broadhurst, the Mayor of Penzance, said that local residents and businesses had worked very hard to keep the town safe during the summer and she was confident that everyone would continue to follow the restrictions.
“The change in the Government’s alert level means that we all need to remain vigilant and play our part in making sure that Penzance continues to be a safe and welcoming place to visit, shop and work as we move into the winter” she said.
