Coronavirus (COVID-19): Business Advice
The following information has been developed by our Public Health and Regulation department to support local businesses (food and non-food) to operate safely during coronavirus (COVID-19). It covers food safety, health and safety and infection control, with links to the latest guidance from the government:
Workplace Safety
Following the government's gradual easing of COVID-19 lockdown measures, new guidance has been produced for businesses to ensure workplaces are safe for employees and customers.
If your business operates more than one type of workplace (eg an office, a factory and a fleet of vehicles) you will need to read all of the guides that are relevant to you:
Businesses and venues that must remain closed to members of the public:
This guidance tells employers what actions to take if a member of staff becomes unwell, is a confirmed case of Covid19 or there are multiple cases:
Checklists and Risk Assessment Templates for Businesses
To help you assess your ability to implement measures to ensure employee and public safety during this pandemic, the following checklists for businesses are available.
If you are unable to implement the measures required to reduce the risk of transmission, you will need to consider closing your businesses:
Checklist for food businesses:
Checklist for all businesses:
Risk assessment checklist template:
If you would like help with completing these checklists, please get in touch with the Public Health and Regulation department:
- email: publichealth.regulation@adur-worthing.gov.uk
- or call us on 01903 221064
Record keeping: Venues required by law to record contact details
Premises and venues across England must have a system in place to record contact details of their customers, visitors and staff in the latest move to break the chains of transmission of coronavirus.
Businesses and other public settings where people meet socially including hospitality, close contact and leisure venues must record contact details of customers, visitors and staff on their premises to tackle the spread of coronavirus.
For full details of the requirements please see:
QR Codes for test and trace
As part of the government's new measures announced in September 2020, a range of firms - including those in hospitality, close contact and leisure - are now required by law to keep customer details for 21 days.
This is to support the national Test and Trace system and roll out of the NHS COVID-19 app which went live across England and Wales on Thursday 24th September. For information on the NHS COVID-19 app, including how to download it and a series of FAQs, visit:
As part of that it will be mandatory for hospitality, leisure and close contact businesses, as well as places of worship and public buildings, to display a unique QR Code in their premises. Full details on which premises this applies to see:
To generate a unique QR code to work with the app please see:
They will then need to be clearly displayed (either on a screen or printed off as a poster) so that visitors can use the app to scan the code when they arrive.
Printing: For those without printing facilities, this is available in a number of community facilities, such as libraries, as well as a range of commercial outlets.
Staying Safe: Legal duty to self-isolate, face coverings, meeting people and early outbreak management
Legal duty to self-isolate:
The government has isssued a new legal duty to self-isolate:
Face coverings:
The government has issued guidance and advice on face coverings. It also explains what face coverings are, their role in reducing the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19), the settings in which they are recommended, how they should be safely used and stored, and how to make one:
Meeting with others safely (social distancing):
The government has issued guidance and advice on meeting with others safely (social distancing):
Early outbreak management:
The government has issued guidance and advice on early outbreak management:
Beauty Salons, Spas and Close Contact Services
Close contact services
Salons, spas and beauty salons
Facial treatments and procedures
These are a higher risk activity so extra precautions are needed.
Facial treatments can start again from 15th August 2020. In summary, practitioners must now wear a visor AND a mask and clients must wear a face covering. For full details please click into the weblink on close contact services listed above
Food / Food Business specific advice
Reopening and adapting your food business during COVID-19
Please also refer to this guidance for food businesses from the Food Standards Agency about allergen management:
See also: Reopening checklists (below)
Takeaways and food delivery
Food processing and production settings
Food banks and community provision guidance for food banks, charities and volunteer organisations dealing with food
This guidance provides food safety information and guidance for individuals or groups wishing to prepare meals at home for their community:
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
The CIEH have produced a range of resources relating to coronavirus (COVID‑19):
Drainage and cleaning advice for food businesses
Southern Water has produced some useful guidance for food businesses about how to clean and maintain kitchen equipment during a period of closure, and what you need to think about and do before you re-open:
Health & Safety: Legionella, vehicles and PPE
Legionella guidance
As a result of businesses having to close and water systems being shut down during coronavirus (COVID-19), there is an increased risk of Legionella bacteria being present when the water system is switched back on.
Businesses that could be affected include hotels, B&Bs, leisure centres, gyms, clubs, spas and hairdressers.
Covid-19 could also increase the risk of waterborne infections, including Legionnaires' disease, in nursing and care homes.
These guides set out the requirements for Legionella control to avoid the potential for Legionnaires' disease:
Vehicle safety and social distancing
PPE
Care Homes
Specific guidance has been developed for care homes, with information about how to work safely during coronavirus (COVID-19):
The government has given guidance on visiting care homes during coronavirus:
See also:
Social Care and Education
Educational and childcare settings
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settings - on the GOV.UK website
- Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - on the GOV.UK website
Sport, Leisure, Recreation and Play
- Phased return of sport and recreation - on the GOV.UK website
- Guidance for managing playgrounds and outdoor gyms - on the GOV.UK website
Safe use of Multi Purpose Community Facilities
Places of Worship
Reopening of our Town Centres
Adur & Worthing Councils are working with local businesses and partners, such as Sussex Police, Worthing TCI and traders' organisations to ensure our town centres can reopen safely to the public from 15th June 2020.
The emphasis is on individual businesses to make sure their premises are safe places for shoppers and workers.
A range of advice for businesses is available on the GOV.UK website.
Please also see our information film below:
In early June we wrote an open letter to traders and businesses outlining the challenges they have faced and the steps that are being taken to reopen town centres. The letter can be found here:
With the government lifting some restrictions on 4th July, Adur & Worthing Councils is working with West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and other partners to encourage businesses to make use of the open spaces, where possible, in our town centre. This will make social distancing easier and minimise the risks to employees and customers while supporting our local economy.
Tables and chairs:
From the end of July the government is set to give Adur & Worthing Councils powers to support local businesses such as public houses, bars, cafes and restaurants to place tables and chairs outside their premises.
If you are interested in doing this, please contact the Councils' Licensing Unit on:
This will allow us to make sure you have the correct permit in place when legislation is eventually passed.
Alcohol sales:
Changes to the Licensing Act 2003 came into force at the end of July allow licensed premises such as public houses, bars, cafes and restaurants to serve alcohol to customers seated in these designated outside areas.
Anyone looking for further information or guidance can contact the Councils' licensing team on:
Outdoor trading:
Adur & Worthing Councils has put in place temporary road closures in Montague Place, Portland Road and Montague Street west specifically to assist the small businesses in these areas and allow limited outside trading in accordance with social distancing guidelines.
The cafes, restaurants and bars in these areas are advised to consider how best they can use this opportunity to reopen successfully. To get advice on reopening a licensed premises and/or the use of the space outside your licensed premises contact the Councils' Licensing Unit on:
Pavement licences guidance:
How to contact Public Health and Regulation
If you need extra support or have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Public Health and Regulation.
You can send us an email at: publichealth.regulation@adur-worthing.gov.uk
You can also give us a ring on telephone number 01903 221064.