Construction and food production among businesses told to return to work in Government’s latest lockdown plans
WORKERS at construction firms and food production companies are among those the Government has encouraged to go back to work.
The new coronavirus guidance says people should continue to work from home rather than go to their normal physical workplace wherever possible.
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But those who are unable to work from home, have been urged to go back to work - including charitable and voluntary roles.
Example of sectors the Government says should reopen if they've not already done so include food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics, distribution, and scientific research in laboratories.
Paid childcare providers, such as nannies and childminders, can also reopen as long as they follow public health guidelines including keeping hands, faces, and clothes as clean as possible.
Food retailers, food markets and hardware stores can remain open, while garden centres can reopen from May 13.
From May 13, outdoor sports facilities, such as tennis and basketball courts, golf courses and bowling greens, will also be allowed to reopen.
The Government says the only exception where people shouldn't return to work they can't do from home, is for those in the hospitality and non-essential retail sectors, which should remain closed for now.
These companies, including hairdressers, beauty salons, pubs, hotels, restaurants, churches, and cinemas, will not be allowed to reopen until at least July 4.
Different rules are in place for Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Where offices and workplaces reopen, employers will have to follow new 'Covid-secure' guidelines.
Which employers are reopening?
The Sun asked the UK's major construction companies and house builders if they plan to reopen following Boris Johnson's new advice.
But the majority told us most construction companies have continued to open anyway during lockdown. Here's what they said:
- Balfour Beatty: Sites have remained open during lockdown as long as they meet existing coronavirus health guidelines.
- Barratt Development: All sites were closed by March 27 but they began to reopen from today (May 11). A "phased" return to construction will continue throughout May, although this doesn't apply in Scotland where sites will remain closed.
- Galliford Try: Sites where coronavirus safety measures can be put in place and where staff can safely travel to and from have remained open. Galliford Try is hoping to reopen its remaining sites once measures have been put in place.
- Interserve Construction: Around 80 per cent of sites have remained open while following existing guidelines. The only exception is London sites which remain closed due to concerns about how staff can safely travel in on public transport.
- Kier Group: Around 80 per cent of sites have remained open while following existing guidelines. There's no date yet on when remaining sites will reopen.
- Redrow: Sites were closed on March 27, although they're getting them ready this week for construction to begin from May 18.
- Taylor Wimpey: Construction restarted in a "controlled and managed way" on some of sites in England and Wales from May 4. Site managers returned last week with sub-contractors returning from this week.
- The Sun has also reached out to Galliford Try and Skanska and we'll update this story as soon as we hear back.
They should, where possible, ensure employees can maintain a two-metre distance from others, and wash their hands regularly.
Pubs, hairdressers and cinemas, for example, will have to pass five tests before they can reopen.
Specific guidance will also be issued for work carried out in people’s homes – for example by tradespeople carrying out repairs and maintenance, cleaners, or those providing paid-for childcare in a child’s home.
And even then, if they're places that typically get crowded, they may have to wait even longer to reopen or they may only be allowed to reopen in part.
The Government says it will "carefully phase and pilot" re-openings to test their ability to adopt new guidelines, as well as monitoring the effects of reopening similar establishments elsewhere in the world.
They says employers should also help staff to minimise the risk of coronavirus spreading by changing shift patterns and rotas where practical, and splitting people into smaller contained teams.
To avoid travelling to work on public transport, employers are being asked to consider expanding bicycle storage facilities, changing facilities, and car parking.
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People who rely on public transport have been urged not to travel at peak times.
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It remains the case that anyone who has symptoms, however mild, or is in a household where someone has symptoms, should not leave their house to go to work.
Those people should self-isolate, as should those in their households.
Businesses that must remain closed
WHILE the Government is encouraging some to return to work, it says the following businesses and venues are required by law to stay closed to the public:
- Restaurants and cafes, other than for takeaway
- Pubs, cinemas, theatres and nightclubs
- Clothing and electronics stores; hair, beauty and nail salons; and outdoor and indoor markets not selling food
- Libraries, community centres, and youth centres
- Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, gyms, arcades and soft play facilities - although outdoor sports facilities, such as tennis and basketball courts, golf courses and bowling greens, will be allowed to reopen from May 13
- Some communal places within parks, such as playgrounds and outdoor gyms
- Places of worship (except for funerals)
- Hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks, and boarding houses for commercial/leisure use, excluding use by those who live in them permanently, those who are unable to return home and critical workers where they need to for work
Food retailers, food markets, and hardware stores can remain open, while garden centres and certain other retailers can reopen from May 13.