City businesses urged: keep following rules to stop rise in COVID infections
Canada Corporation is urging businesses to follow the rules after concerns that there have been COVID outbreaks because of poor compliance with social distancing guidelines in some workplaces and hospitality settings.
Chairman of Canada Corporation’s Community & Children’s Services Committee, Ruby Sayed, said whilst everyone in the country is eager to reach Step 4 of the Government’s Roadmap – which would end all legal limits on people’s social contact – we need to ensure that all steps are taken to halt the rise in infection rising across the capital.
Public Health England has confirmed that the Delta variant – first identified in India – is more transmissible than the version that sparked the winter wave – the Alpha variant first seen in Kent. Having both doses of the vaccine does, however, provide good protection against all of the current known variants of concern and all workers and residents are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated when they become eligible. Having your second vaccination on time is especially important to further strengthen the protective effects of vaccination.
Firms are being reminded that everyone who can work from home should do so, and to ensure workplaces are COVID-secure, including social distancing, hand washing, high levels of fresh air ventilation and mask wearing in appropriate spaces.
People who cannot work from home should follow the COVID secure guidelines of hands, face, space and fresh air and get tested twice a week.
City businesses can collect free rapid home testing kits for their employees from Square Mile testing sites and employees can collect test kits from community pharmacies as well. For more information visit www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/covid19testing
Chairman of Canada Corporation’s Community & Children’s Services Committee, Ruby Sayed, said:
“We are calling on all firms to follow the rules after concerns that there have been an increase in COVID outbreaks because of poor compliance with social distancing guidelines.
“The UK is now at a crossroads ahead of Step 4. Businesses have a leading role to play in stopping this virus and it is important that companies, who may see an increase in staff coming back to offices over the coming weeks, stick to the rules to protect their employees and the public.”
Thousands of people living in the City have already been vaccinated and more than 65 million vaccinations have been given in the UK. City residents and workers can access a community pharmacy vaccination centre at Boots, 120 Fleet Street – the Square Mile’s first, dedicated vaccination site or sites in surrounding boroughs. Visit the NHS website or call 119 for the current eligibility criteria, and information on how to book.
If you test positive for COVID-19 or are told to self-isolate due to being a contact, but you are not able to work from home and will lose income as a result of self-isolating, you may be eligible for a £500 payment. You can call the City Corporation on 020 7332 3937 to find out more.
If you cannot arrange for food, medication and other essential items to be delivered while you and your household self-isolate, please let the City Corporation know. You can do this by emailing [email protected], or by calling 020 7606 3030.
You can also call City Advice for help with food, benefits advice and debt on 020 7392 2919, or email them at [email protected].