As the country continues to fight the coronavirus, we once again find ourselves in a national lockdown. We all know the famous Bonfire Night rhyme: remember, remember the fifth of November. Well, this year, we definitely will.

From November 5th, in response to rising coronavirus case numbers, the UK entered into a second national lockdown until December 2nd (subject to change). But this lockdown is slightly different from the first – different even from the recent tier system. So it can be hard to understand what this lockdown involves and the impact it can have on our businesses.

We all need to be aware of the new rules, especially as it will dictate if your business has to close. Here is how the second lockdown will affect businesses across the country and what you need to do.

What businesses are affected?

For most businesses, this will be a familiar situation. Everything that isn’t deemed to be an essential business will have to close. Essential businesses include: “food shops, supermarkets, garden centres and certain other retailers providing essential goods and services”.

Those who have to close can be found across a wide range of industries:

• Non-essential retail – clothing stores, electronics stores, car showrooms, travel agents, betting shops, car washes.
• Leisure facilities – gyms, bowling alleys, leisure centres, swimming pools, golf courses, soft play centres, dance studios, theme parks.
• Entertainment venues – cinemas, theatres, museums, bingo halls, zoos.
• Personal care facilities – hairdressers, salons, barbers, tattoo parlours, spas.

Those lists aren’t extensive, so make sure to check if your business falls into any of those categories. Restaurants, bars, and pubs can remain open, but only as a takeaway service. Note that this includes food and alcohol after a campaign from pub owners pleaded with the government to U-turn on their ban of takeaway alcohol sales. The only caveat is they must be pre0ordered beforehand.

In a similar vein, non-essential retail can stay open if they offer click-and-collect. This in particular is a huge relief for the retail sector as it keeps stores open and reduces the burden on their online platform and distribution centres. Closure also does not affect medical facilities, such as GPs, nor the Jobcentre or courts. Childcare and support groups are also allowed to remain open.

What will remain important in those that remain open is to follow the COVID-19 secure guidelines to keep the workplace as safe as possible for all staff and visitors.

Going to work

If you don’t have a public-facing workspace, such as a head office, the advice is similar to that of the first lockdown. The government has asked that anyone who can work at home must do so. For those that can’t, such as those in manufacturing and construction, they can still go to work, albeit safely. This will be a sigh of relief for the construction industry, which took a hit in the first lockdown.

One sector that isn’t closing down as it did in the first lockdown is the education sector. Children will still be going to school, meaning teachers and other education staff will still have to go into work. Again, the utmost dedication to health and safety is essential.

How will it affect our personal lives?

It will be a familiar feeling for most, but not one we want to revisit. Seeing your friends and family will be restricted once again, and you can only meet with those in your household or in your support bubble.

You can’t meet people from different households indoors or in private gardens. In public outdoor spaces, you are allowed to meet with people you live with, those in your support bubble, or one other person from another household.

You’re also advised to stay at home as much as possible, only leaving the house for these reasons when necessary:

• Work where you can’t work from home
• Education purposes
• Outdoor exercise
• Medical reasons
• Shopping for basic necessities
• Visiting those in your support bubble or caring for vulnerable people

By this time next month, the lockdown should be over and we’ll return to the tier system. But throughout November, make sure to follow all guidelines, keep your distance from others, and stay safe.

At Inform People, we understand the struggles of businesses during this time. If staying abreast of all changes and keeping your staff informed is proving to be a challenge, get in touch with us via email or on +44 (0)161 713 4104.