Plymouth businesses are being warned that the city is 鈥渙n the cusp鈥 of being placed under Tier 2 restrictions as coronavirus cases continue to mount.
Members of the city鈥檚 two Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have been contacted and told that tougher restrictions could be in force in the waterside Devon city 鈥渨ithin a matter of days鈥.
Plymouth City Centre Company and Destination Plymouth, and Plymouth City Council too, have emailed more than 1,300 businesses to tell them it is 鈥渁bsolutely essential鈥 they comply with Covid-19 measures to protect businesses, employees and the economy as the R rate jumps from 1 to 1.3.
The organisations are still hopeful a shift into Tier 2 can be avoided if everyone 鈥渁cts now鈥 and stressed that city businesses had been showing 鈥済ood levels of compliance鈥 with the rules.
In very similarly worded emails the organisations shared information from the council鈥檚 public health team.
Businesses have been told the rate of Covid-19 cases in Plymouth has now exceeded 130 per 100,000 people and 鈥渢he numbers are still increasing鈥.
The message from the City Centre Company said: 鈥淭he city is on the cusp of a Tier 2 level which means tougher restrictions 鈥 no more than one household or support bubble meeting indoors, and only six outdoors.
鈥淲e can expect to enter Tier 2 within a matter of days if this trend continues. However, if we act now, we may be able to make a difference, so we hope alerting the city early enough will prevent us hitting Tier 2.鈥
It continued: 鈥淢ost businesses are doing everything possible and feedback from the Health and Safety Executive shows good levels of compliance from our businesses.
鈥淪o far Plymouth has avoided tighter restrictions, but more than ever it is absolutely essential that we are all complying fully, being Covid aware and helping to stay out of Tier 2, protecting your business, your employees and the economy.鈥
The advice to businesses states that 鈥渟afe premises means social distancing, sticking to the rule of six where applicable, coverings on and sanitiser available, with good ventilation and clear information about how to comply.鈥
It also stressed that compliance is 鈥渘ot optional鈥 and said: 鈥淲e need customers to follow our lead and keep safe.鈥
Businesses are urged to allow staff to work from home if possible and 鈥渕ake it easy for them to do so鈥. Employees told to self isolate 鈥渘eed and deserve your support鈥 the organisations said.
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And the emails warned: 鈥淭he Government has recently given Plymouth City Council further enforcement powers and while they only want to use them as a last resort, they will do so in order to protect our city.
鈥淎ction has already been taken against one licensed venue through a fixed penalty notice. Fines in excess of 拢10,000 can be levied so the council hopes it doesn't have to take more action, as this is about stopping COVID-19, not penalising businesses.
鈥淭ier 2 will see all of our businesses affected by the limitations on households mixing indoors. I cannot stress how imperative it is everyone across the city understands the seriousness of Covid-19 and the consequences for our community. We must work together in order to protect our health, our NHS, our families, friends and our economy.
鈥淢uch has been said about the impact of the restrictions 鈥 the actions we have been taking ARE working, as we can see from the level of R, but more needs to be done. The R rate before we had any restrictions was 2.5 to 3; it dropped below 1 during the spring, and remained low in the summer. It is currently at 1.3 and we need to get it back down.鈥
If Plymouth does enter Tier 2 it would mean businesses and venues can continue to operate, but with restrictions. Pubs and restaurants must ensure customers consume food and drink only while seated - and must close between 10pm and 5am.
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Takeaways would be able continue to operate after 10pm if food is ordered online or by phone and schools and the city鈥檚 universities can remain open.
Exercise classes and organised sport would be able continue to take place outdoors, if the city enters Tier 2, but will only be permitted indoors if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with those they do not live with or share a support bubble with, or for youth or disability sport.
However, people are able to travel to work and places of education, but people are advised to reduce the number of journeys where possible. Tradespeople would be allowed to continue to go into households for work.
But people would be prohibited from socialising with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor setting and the rule of six would continue to apply for socialising outdoors, for example in a garden or public space such as a park or beach.
Places of worship would remain open, but people may not mingle in groups of more than six, and weddings and funerals could go ahead with restrictions on the numbers attending - 15 and 30 respectively.
