As Ipswich moves from Tier 1 (Medium Alert) to Tier 2 (High Alert), there will be new restrictions on businesses.
In Tier 2 (High Alert), the following restrictions are in place that will affect your businesses:
- The 'rule of six' remains; individuals are not to socialise in a group of more than 6 people outside, including in a garden or a public space
- Businesses must continue to operate in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those which remain closed by law (such as nightclubs)
- Pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals
- Hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:
1 - provide table service only, in premises which sell alcohol
2 - close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, transport services and motorway service areas are exempt)
3 - stop taking orders after 10pm - Hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-&-collect or drive-through
- Early closure (11pm) also applies to casinos, cinemas, theatres, museums, bowling alleys, bingo halls and activities. Cinemas and theatres can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances that start before 10pm
- Public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted; limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors
- Places of worship can remain open but attendees must not socialise with people from outside of their household or support bubble while they are indoors, unless a legal exemption applies
- Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees; 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, and 15 people can attend linked commemorative events such as wakes or stonesettings.
- Organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue.
- Organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes will only be permitted if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with). There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, which can take place with larger groups mixing
- Avoid travel to, or overnight stays in, Tier 3 areas other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. Individuals can travel through a Tier 3 area as a part of a longer journey
Visit the official Government website for more information about the tier system of restrictions: www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restrictions...
Statement from our BID Chair, Terry Baxter:
"After so much hard work, the decision to move Ipswich into Tier 2, alongside London and Liverpool, is highly disappointing for businesses in Ipswich. It is time to support our local economy and, given all that businesses have been through this year and the importance of the run-up to Christmas period, if there was ever a time to choose ‘local’, it is now."
"However, for pubs and hospitality venues, they now find themselves even more restricted despite their creativity, stoicism and pluck. They can now only reopen if they serve substantive meals and will not be allowed to have more than one household together. The current grant compensation scheme which pays £3,000 for each 4-week period of forced closure will not be sufficient to save local businesses and jobs and we are calling for substantial additional financial support for those businesses that are worst affected together with a clearer understanding of the scientific evidence to support this hugely disappointing decision."
"We must all remain vigilant and focused on social distancing, wearing a mask and washing our hands and driving the infection rate down in Ipswich. These simple steps will help ensure that our town has the chance to trade up to and beyond the Christmas period and recoup some of the financial losses suffered during this horrendous year."
