COVID-19 - updated government guidelines
The Government has set out a roadmap over the coming five months that will gradually lift the restrictions on the hospitality sector. The steps in the lifting of restrictions are defined within the Government’s COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021.
Only when the government is sure that it is safe to move from one step to the next will the final decision be made. The decision will be based on four tests:
- the vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
- evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalizations and deaths in those vaccinated
- infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalizations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
- our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern
It is essential that businesses continue to operate in a responsible and COVID-19 secure way.
Traders should have reviewed and implemented the Government’s guidance on minimising the risks and operating safely.
Preparing to reopen:
Step 2, which will be no earlier than 12 April 2021, will see the opening of non-essential retail. Below are steps you need to follow to open your trade:
Risk assessments:
All traders planning to resume trade will be required to undertake a risk assessment to ensure they are operating as a COVID-19 secure business. This is to protect both staff and customers from infection, or the potential spread of infection from asymptomatic people.
Find the suggested guidance and risk assessment templates
Staff:
All staff working on a stall must be registered with the Market Team.
It is important to protect your staff from coronavirus. The best protection for your staff is regular handwashing and to maintain a 2m distance from other staff and customers where possible, and 1m with mitigation where it isn’t. Staff should travel separately to work and not car share, should follow all safety measures on public transport and have a change of clothes for the workplace. It is recommended that regular shifts are organised, so people are working with the smallest number of different people as possible.
You are required by law to report if a member of staff tests positive for coronavirus. You may need to ask all your staff to self-isolate if one becomes infected so reiterate the advice to stay at home if they feel unwell, have a temperature or cough.
Queues:
It is your responsibility to manage the queues that form outside your stall and to ensure that customers are maintaining social distancing. This is 2m, or 1m with mitigation where 2m is not viable. You are required to manage your own queues and ensure compliance with the social distancing rules.
Face Masks:
Traders and their registered assistants are required to wear face mask at all times when carrying street trading activities. You must tell customers of the requirement to wear face coverings where social distancing is not possible and have signs displayed so they can easily see and read them. The requirement to wear a face covering does not apply to specific circumstances set out in the Regulations and guidance.
Social Distancing on our trading sites:
All markets have been risk assessed and we are still maintaining 4m or 2m distance between stall set up to ensure proper and safe crowd management. There is no guarantee of pitches and pitches will be allocated by the market team subject to availability and in line with social distancing rules.
Street trading licences process:
All street trading licences and their associated street trading charges remain suspended and the process for temporary street trading licence remains unchanged.
If you wish to trade or continue trading you must submit a request for a temporary licence to the street trading team in writing in advance (at least 24 hours during working hours and office days) to the marketsteam@camden.gov.uk providing details of:
- the market or street trading location you wish to trade at
- goods that you would like to offer for sale
- days on which you would like to trade
- Covid 19 risk assessment
Note: Please ensure your Employers/Public Insurance Liability certificate, Food hygiene Level 2 certificate, Gas certificate, Pat test are valid to prevent delays.
For those of our traders who are unable to trade, information about support is updated on our dedicated webpage.
Fees re-instatement:
Markets Team is planning to re-instate the street trading charges in due course and further communication will be sent out to advise you on the fees structure and process involved.
If you break the rules:
The Police can take action against you if you meet in larger groups. This includes breaking up illegal gatherings and issuing fines (fixed penalty notices).
You can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400. If you hold, or are involved in holding, an illegal gathering of over 30 people, the police can issue fines of £10,000.
Note: This advice is subject to change if Government advice is amended. You will be notified of any future change.