Local health commissioners have urged people to stick to the two-metre social distancing rules ahead of ‘Super Saturday’.
It is contrary to the changes brought in by the Prime Minister, who appeared to ditch the two-metre rule last week.
Boris Johnson had rolled out “one-metre plus” guidance, to help the likes of pubs and restaurants ahead of reopening.
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However, leaders from the NHS North Yorkshire CCG have urged people to remember that the coronavirus has not gone away.
Dr Peter Billingsley said that people should stay two metres apart wherever possible:
Masks and visors for staff serving in restaurants to be new normal“If two metres is not possible then the ‘one metre plus’ guidance should include additional measures such as wearing a face covering or mask, installing screens where possible, sitting side by side rather than face to face and continuing to wash your hands regularly.”
Toilet traffic light systems and pre-booking an arrival time are to become the new normal as pubs and restaurants set to reopen from 4 July.
Hospitality businesses in the district are anxiously waiting to hear the reduced one metre distance to be announced during todays’s coronavirus briefing. Even with the new distance in place, the experience previously offered for customers is likely to be different when they reopen.
Jack Woodruff who owns The Disappearing Chin in Harrogate, said the distancing rule has made planning problematic:
“We are offering pre-booked slots for maybe two or three hours but due to our size the distancing is problematic when it comes to the toilets. For example, we couldn’t have one person walking to the toilet and another sat at the bar as they would be too close together so we’ve had to introduce a one-way system to the toilets.
“For the sake of the size of our bar we have also had to order perspex screens to use and we will have to limit contact between staff and customers.”
Simon Wade is the owner of the Grantham Arms in Boroughbridge, like many others he will have to introduce new safety systems once he can reopen:
“We’re now taking orders from tables, those orders will then be placed on large barrels, that are dotted around, for the customers to collect.
“We also have a one way system for the toilets. It’s like a traffic light system, so a person will press a button with their elbow to indicate they’re inside and will press it again as they leave another way to let the next person waiting to go in know they can. We will also have staff constantly sanitising areas and we just hope customers are happy to follow our rules.”
Outdoor spaces are invaluable for pub owners who may be limited to indoor space.
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David Straker, is the co-owner of the William and Victoria restaurant in Harrogate, believes the new dining experience may not be as enjoyable for guests:
‘It will be a lot quieter. The width of the room is about two metres. We could fit four tables in downstairs, then the same in each room upstairs”.
“My biggest reservation is do people want to be served by people wearing masks and visors? It doesn’t lend itself to a nice experience. It’s not going to be forever but we’re going to have to. We have a responsibility to our members of staff and you have to give them the right stuff.”
Nick Rahmen, owner of Cardamom Black in Harrogate, said:
“There will be no toilets open and people won’t be allowed to congregate at the bar. We’ll have thermometers to test if somebody is visibly under the weather. But we cant go too far to offend people.”