The new coronavirus law change coming in on Friday and how it will affect Doncaster
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Venues including pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas must have a system in place by law to record contact details of their customers, visitors and staff by September 18.
These details must also be stored for 21 days in order to provide them to NHS test and trace “without delay” if required.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdBusinesses and organisations had been advised to collect and share data, with many effectively doing so, but following the recent move to ban social gatherings of more than six people, the data collection programme will now be formally mandated from Friday, September 18.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “NHS Test and Trace is a vital part of the government’s response to fighting coronavirus, designed to help us return to a more normal way of life and reduce the need for local lockdowns in the future.
“The system cannot operate without the cooperation of business. We are now mandating venues collect the necessary contact details and support NHS Test and Trace to stop the spread of the virus.”
Additionally, venues that flout the rules could be fined if they fail to collect contact information.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdA name, a contact number, date of visit, arrival time and – if possible – departure time are among the details which will be needed.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: “Each and every one of us needs to play our part to control the virus and avoid a second deadly peak.
“While the vast majority of businesses have done an incredible job by following the guidance to keep customers safe, we are now making it the law for certain establishments to collect life-saving NHS Test and Trace data and to keep this on record for 21 days.
“We need to take these tough measures now to reduce the risk of local lockdowns in the future.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIf we don’t all pull together to drive this virus down, businesses will need to close, and people’s jobs will be put at serious risk.”
Further guidance will soon be released, specifying the settings that are included, but the scope will cover the majority of the hospitality industry.
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.