Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advice and guidance for small businesses and the self-employed

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On Wednesday 8 December 2021, the Government announced that England was moving into COVID-19 response ‘Plan B’. The main elements of this are:

Extension of rules on face coverings - From Friday 10 December, the legal requirement to wear a face covering is being extended to most public indoor venues, including theatres and cinemas. There will be exemptions where it is not practical, such as when eating, drinking, exercising and singing.

Read our guidance on face coverings for your business

Read the Government guidance on the use of face coverings

Working from home - From Monday 13 December, there will be a re-introduction of working from home if you can. Where you have to go to your workplace, the government requests that you reduce your contacts there to reduce transmission.

COVID passes - From Wednesday 15 December, the NHS COVID Pass will be mandatory for entry into nightclubs and venues where large crowds gather. This includes unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people. The NHS COVID Pass can still be obtained with two doses of the vaccine, but the government is keeping this under review as the booster vaccines are rolled out. Alternatively, a negative lateral flow test can be shown. There will be a small number of exemptions for medical reasons and for those on clinical trials.  

Testing - Daily tests will be introduced for contacts of those who have tested positive for the Omicron variant. The testing is instead of a blanket requirement to self-isolate in these circumstances.

We will add more details as they become available.