Pubs and restaurants in County Durham are being asked to continue to gather customers’ details to help support the NHS Track and Trace system.
Durham County Council is calling on hospitality businesses across the county to ensure their customers give their correct contact details when visiting the premises.
This step is incredibly important to help prevent the spread of coronavirus as it allows NHS Track and Trace to quickly contact and advise people who have potentially been exposed to the virus in the event of a cluster of cases or localised outbreak.
Businesses should keep a record of customers and visitors for 21 days and assist NHS Test and Trace with requests for that data if needed. Doing this could help to contain clusters or outbreaks.
Containing outbreaks early is crucial to reduce the spread of coronavirus and will help to avoid the reintroduction of lockdown measures.
By gathering customer details, businesses can play a significant role in helping their staff, customers and visitors play their part in stopping the spread of coronavirus.
The following information should be collected by the venue, where possible:
• The names of staff who work at the premises, dates and times that staff are at work, and a contact phone number for each member of staff.
• The name of the customer or visitor. If there is more than one person, then businesses can record the name of the ‘lead member’ of the group and the number of people in the group.
• A contact phone number for each customer or visitor, or for the lead member of a group of people, and the date of their visit, arrival time and, where possible, their departure time.
• If a customer will interact with only one member of staff (e.g. a hairdresser), the name of the assigned staff member should be recorded alongside the name of the customer.
Amanda Healy, Durham County Council’s director of public health, said: “It is vitally important that businesses play their part in helping to trace and prevent further spread of coronavirus. Their role is a small and simple task which plays an important part in identifying people who may have been exposed to the virus and containing any clusters of cases or local outbreaks. Not only that, they are helping to keep all of their customers safe.
“It is really important that we all do everything we can to reduce further transmission for the benefit of people’s health and also the local economy in terms of ensuring residents and businesses do not need to undergo any form of local lockdown.”
In addition to maintaining and sharing records where requested, businesses are also being asked to continue to follow other government guidance to minimise the transmission of coronavirus. This includes maintaining a safe working environment and following social distancing guidelines.
Residents are being asked to remember ‘Hands, Face, Space’ – wash hands often for 20 seconds, covering their face in public buildings and staying two metres apart when possible.
Residents are also reminded that if they have any symptoms of coronavirus, for example a high temperature, a new continuous cough, and a loss or change to your sense of taste or smell, then they should immediately self-isolate and get a test.
Anyone who is asked to self-isolate who has nobody to help them during that time can access help on the website or by calling the County Durham Together community hub on 03000 260 260 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
More information about staying safe and getting a test can be found at durham.gov.uk/coronavirus.