Last week Welsh Government announced extra restrictions from December 27 for the retail sector to help control the spread of coronavirus.
Mark Drakeford confirmed there would be new measures after Boxing Day for stores and yesterday also added in additional rules for hospitality and leisure.
A 'potential reasonable measures' action card for retailers has now been published for a sector that has worked hard to keep staff and customers safe in the pandemic.
READ MORE: New hospitality restrictions in Wales from Boxing Day - including rule of 6 and table service
It includes a rule of 6 and for shops to use one-way system where possible. They also ask larger retailers to use security staff to monitor mask use.
This comes as cases rise - driven by the more transmissible but potentially less severe Omicron variant as more evidence emerges showing that hospitalisations are lower,
They said: "With the move to Alert Level 2, this now includes taking all reasonable measures to ensure that 2m social distancing is observed on the premises (including while waiting indoors to enter the premises) and that entry is controlled and social interactions in store are limited by ensuring that no more than 6 people from different households attend as a group not counting any persons under the age of 11 or any carer of a person in the group.
"As a basis for deciding what measures should be taken, the responsible person must also carry out a posed by coronavirus to provide focus on urgent risks of exposure.
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"The responsible person will be expected to review their risk assessment in light of the emergence of any new variant and currently this includes Omicron. Given its increased transmissibility, we would expect the implementation of additional reasonable measures.
"Scope for physical distancing on premises is to an extent constrained by the size of premises; however, regardless of the size of the premises, the starting point is that consideration must be given to how customers and employees could be kept physically apart and how close face to face interaction could be prevented or minimised."
Full Guidance below
Social distancing
- Take all reasonable measures to ensure 2m social distancing for employees and customers is observed across the premises
- Introduce one way systems to assist managing flow and pinch points on premises. One way systems might work in some settings, but not others. Often a blend of measures will be required.
- Display signs or other visual aids like floor markings, and make regular announcements to remind people of the need to 2m social distance and to wear a face covering.
- Consider changes to the layout of premises and erecting screens and /or barriers.
Limit capacity/Prevent over-crowding
- Control the entry to the premises.
- Encourage people who shop alone or in smaller groups to limit face to face interaction.
- Ensure groups of no more than 6 people from different households attend except for children under 11 or any carer of a person in a group.
- Control entry and exit points to prevent people coming together.
- Utilise staff to manage the flow of customers to checkouts if necessary.
Wearing face coverings
- Ensure that people present – both employees and customers - comply with their legal obligation to wear a face covering.
- In larger premises, consider using security personnel at entry points to manage store numbers and monitor the wearing of face coverings. This will signal an important message to members of the public that covid remains a threat. And having trained security on the front line will remove retail workers from threat of abuse.
Keep your premises clean
- Thorough and regular cleaning using disinfectant in high footfall areas and in high contact touchpoints such as counter tops, tables and door handles.
- Placing hand sanitisers in multiple locations, particularly at entry and exit points and elsewhere at key touchpoints, and providing automated soap dispensers, water and paper towels in washrooms.
Manage use of customer changing rooms
- Having a member of staff in place to monitor physical distance being maintained to ensure that customers feel assured of their safety.
- Using markings to avoid the creation of bottlenecks or adopting a one-in one-out process.
- Leaving a gap of several minutes between customers using the cubicles.
- Improving ventilation where possible.
Look after your staff
- There is evidence of cluster outbreaks associated with employees therefore effective control measures and compliance is critical otherwise employee absences may have a significant impact on the business. This appears to be particularly prevalent amongst night shifts with reduced supervision.
- Employees to undertake Lateral Flow Tests prior to each shift to identify any individuals who are asymptomatic.
- Implementing systems to minimise contacts between staff. For example, stagger staff shifts, break times and deliveries; set a maximum number for kitchens, staff rooms, locker rooms and areas such as smoking shelters.
- Ensure employees wear face coverings or other PPE.
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