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Since Christmas, the situation across Hampshire has deteriorated significantly, with coronavirus cases still increasing and our local hospitals and care systems rapidly becoming overwhelmed.
In announcing a further national lockdown, the Government has taken action to reduce the spread of the virus, but there remain many opportunities for COVID to thrive if we are not extremely careful.
We are very grateful to business owners across the borough for the vital role they play in keeping our local economy going, and supporting our communities with jobs, goods and services, but now is the time to redouble our efforts to fight the virus and to work together to protect everyone who lives and works in Havant borough.
The new COVID variant spreads more easily. It needs people to be close, breathe the same air and touch the same surfaces. By taking the right steps, consistently, we can reduce transmission.
Every business must have in place a COVID secure risk assessment. As part of this, you must:
- identify what work activity or situations might cause transmission of the virus
- think about who could be at risk
- decide how likely it is that someone could be exposed.
Please ensure your plan is reassessed and fully implemented. Support to develop or update an assessment is available at www.havant.gov.uk/covid-secure
Whether you have one employee or one hundred, we ask that you:
- Follow the Government guidance and wherever possible and practical, support staff to work from home
- Ensure employees maintain social distancing, follow good handwashing practice, and wear face coverings where necessary, particularly when moving around the workplace – Hands. Face. Space. has never been more important
- Advise anyone with symptoms to get a test – this is quick and easy to arrange
- Ensure they stay at home until they get their results
In addition to doing as much as possible to reduce transmission, it is really important that you know what to do if you have a confirmed case or cases of coronavirus in your business – help and guidance is available at: www.hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth/coronavirus/businesses or from www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Much of the guidance that applies to employees also applies to customers and suppliers - maintaining social distancing, following good handwashing practice, and wearing face coverings are all critical.
The scale of the challenge, not only in our borough, but across the country is enormous, but with the support of local business we stand the very best chance possible of tackling the virus head-on and reducing transmission rates so that we can once again enjoy greater freedoms.
If you have any questions or require further support, advice or guidance, please visit: www.havant.gov.uk/business-support
Thank you.
We hope that you find the information in these bulletins useful. If you do, please share them with any other business owners that you think might benefit from them.
To sign up, they just need to visit: www.havant.gov.uk/bulletins and select the ‘business news and events’ topic.
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