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New Covid-19 Recovery Measures Announced by the Government

In the latest announcement from the Government, a number of measures to ease the lockdown in England were announced, as well as the commitment to continue to work together with the devolved governments.

Published: 23 June 2020 | 12:00 AM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:31 PM
Miniature figures sit on a ruler demonstrating the concept of social distancing to avoid transmission of the coronavirus

In a blog published last month, we discussed what a return to work for musicians could look during the Government’s Covid-19 Recovery phases. We’ve also released provisional health and safety guidance for those considering the return to work in education, live performance and recording studios.

Given the Government’s most announcement on 23 June we will be reviewing all of our current advice and updating musicians in detail on how it may impact them.

We will be publishing more information here, in our next Coronavirus Email Update, and on our twitter channel.

New recovery measures

On 23 June the Government stated that lockdown in England could be eased, with each step being conditional and reversible.

They pointed out that the devolved administrations had responsibility for their own health service and lockdown measures, but pointed out that the governments would continue to work together.

Some changes to the lockdown measures that were announced included:

  • Reducing the two-metre social distancing rule from 4 July, and encouraging people to retain a distance of “one-metre plus”.
  • Guidance for businesses to protect workers and customers which included changing office layouts, reducing the number of people in enclosed spaces, closing non-essential social spaces, and implementing better ventilation systems.
  • Restaurants and pubs to be reopened, all hospitality would be limited to table service, and minimal staff and customer contact would be encouraged.
  • Tourist attractions and leisure centres could reopen if they could do so safely, including outdoor gyms, playgrounds, cinemas, theme parks, libraries, social hubs, and community centres.
  • Specific guidance to enable ensembles and theatres to resume live performance would be worked on with the creative industries sector.
  • Places of worship would be able to reopen for prayer, services, and weddings with a maximum of 30 people.
  • Wrap-around care for school-age children and childcare would restart over the summer.
  • Primary and secondary education would recommence in September with full attendance, and those children who could go to school could do so.

For more details on measures to ease lockdown as announced by the Government, see the full coverage on the BBC’s website. We will be publishing further guidance on how these changes will affect musicians in due course.

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