The Prime Minister's announcement earlier this week that Monday 19th July is likely to see all restrictions lifted across England, was a huge step towards your businesses being able to trade freely once more. For our members in Wales and Scotland, restrictions remain in place and we hope for positive news from their reviews next week. Monday morning's INNfocus, will also detail how you need to apply for your continued rate relief in Scotland and reminds Welsh members about accessing the further financial support available from next week.
Despite this positive move for England however, we know that for many of you, the current self-isolation guidance, particularly from the NHS Covid 19 App remains a huge barrier for you to operate your pubs and further impacts profitability. Many have described the situation as lockdown under another name, with over a third of hospitality staff currently being instructed to self-isolate, and many venues forced to close due to a lack of team members.
We have been in constant communication with senior officials across Government, impressing upon them the urgent need for a resolution to the high levels of isolation instructions for team members. These are, in many cases, not people who have been in direct contact with someone testing positive, but as their phones have been in venue at the same time, they have been deemed as being a close contact and the app has instructed them to self isolate. All this against a background of professionally run venues, mitigating risk by wearing masks, keeping socially distanced from customers and ensuring that all Covid secure guidelines are being adhered to.
There have been many confusing reports in the media, with conflicting advice from Government and the NHS as to when you are legally required to self-isolate. Below, we share some useful guidance produced by our colleagues at UKH about legal requirements for self-isolation, which differ depending on how you have been contacted. We are working alongside the other key trade bodies on this critical issue and will bring you further guidance as it develops.
The news that self-isolation for under 18's and those who have received two doses of the vaccine will not be necessary from 16th August, whilst positive, will not help our sector over the next 6 weeks of key trading. In addition, many younger hospitality workers will not have had their second dose, representing a huge resourcing challenge for our already under-staffed industry.
Rest assured that we are doing everything in our power to get a swift resolution from Government that will enable you to begin the road to recovery for your fragile businesses.