Northamptonshire businesses warned to act responsibly with safe social distancing measures

Director of Public Health, Lucy Wight, is asking businesses to think responsibly when reopening for customers and staff.

Businesses across Northamptonshire are being urged to follow government guidelines by Public Health Northamptonshire to ensure they play their role in helping to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Guidance includes advice on social distancing, PPE, cleaning and sanitising and various other important aspects of keeping the workplace safe.

Business owners are being offered guidance and advice to help them implement the new regulations, which can be found on local district or borough council websites, or by contacting their local environmental health and licensing team directly.

Government regulations to tackle the virus came into force on March 23, limiting activities or closing premises, and many of these remain in place today, with limited premises being given permission to reopen.

Those which can remain open, including supermarkets, pharmacies, petrol stations, post offices, banks, garden centres and takeaways, are expected to help staff and customers to adhere to the rules on social distancing.

Businesses which are found to be in breach of regulations are reminded that officers have the power to take enforcement action relating to premises which

fail to comply.

Lucy Wightman, director of Public Health Northamptonshire, said: "I appreciate this continues to be a challenging time for many workplaces and businesses and know many employers are working hard to ensure they create safe environments for staff and customers.

"There is guidance on the government website on social distancing, which provides advice on issues such as introducing one-way systems in shops, modifying storage areas for employee’s items and introducing screens between staff members.

"Social distancing is something we want to encourage businesses to pay particular attention to. Our environmental health colleagues across the Borough and District councils, are on hand to support local businesses to operate in a safe and legal manner. I would encourage workplaces to make use of this resource and continue to behave responsibly in their response to

the Coronavirus pandemic."

A full list of business premises which should be closed, together with information on the measures businesses which are still open should follow, can be found here.Businesses can also visit their local council website for information about the range of financial support that is available to them during this period.