This afternoons Downing Street Press Conference saw the PM confirm government will lift all ‘legal’ Covid restrictions on 19 July, and at the same time advised many should still be followed. An abdication of responsibility handing decisions over to individuals and businesses to select what they choose to follow.
Alongside Sir Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Valance he further warned the pandemic “is not over”, advising that mask wearing and social distancing from 19 July while not required by law will still be advised in crowded and enclosed spaces. Presumably requiring hospitality providers to take up that responsibility and implement as they interpret.
Nightclubs were handed a hot coal when the PM urged them and other hospitality venues to make use of Covid passports as a means of entry. A plan government dropped as unviable and now expect hospitality to reinvent and implement.
For workplace caterers he said a “gradual return to work over the summer” is expected rather than a rush back to the office en masse, more glib rhetoric of no real value to man or beast.
Johnson also said that he “hopes the roadmap is irreversible” but that it was dependent on a cautious approach. He did not expand on the precise meaning leaving interpretation to the listener.
England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty looked as confused in trying to deliver the PM’s messaging as most that listed and watched will have been in attempting to understand it.
Government’s role is to govern, the responsibility is to decide and regulate opening up, relaxing restrictions, or continuing with restrictions and support for those that suffer as a consequence. Over to you is not governing it is passing the buck.
Hospitality operators across England can rejoice as full unrestricted reopening has finally been given the green light. The added responsibilities that go with it however place unnecessary burdens on businesses and people under a lot of strain already.
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Hospitality & Catering News: PM abdicates all responsibility around reopening to hospitality operators, particularly nightclubs. – 12 July 2021 – PM abdicates all responsibility around reopening to hospitality operators, particularly nightclubs.
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