Environmental health officers to monitor Highland businesses to ensure compliance with new Covid-19 restrictions
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Highland Council officers will continue to visit businesses in the coming weeks to provide support and ensure compliance with new coronavirus restrictions.
The council's environmental health manager Alan Yates is also urging the public to play its part as new temporary measures applying to businesses in the hospitality sector come into force.
"Our services are very conscious of the challenges faced by businesses within the hospitality sector at the moment and are very grateful for the cooperation and compliance shown in recent months by the vast majority of businesses within the Highlands," he said.
"These additional measures will be undoubtedly very difficult for businesses but we would urge them to refer to the updated guidance that has now been published and review their current arrangements to ensure fully compliant.
"Equally, we would ask members of the public to play their part and follow all the public health advice when visiting business premises.
"If businesses and the public follow all the public health advice, then this will be the best way to help tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Our environmental health team will be continuing to conduct visits to premises throughout the Highlands over the coming weeks in order to monitor compliance with the new measures, and working with partners in Police Scotland.
"This will be to predominantly provide support and advice to business premises.
"However, in a small minority of premises where evidence of non-compliance is identified then appropriate enforcement action will be taken.
"Should any business wish further advice on compliance with the new additional measures being imposed we would encourage you to contact our environmental health team."
The new measures are planned to last until Sunday October 25.
They can be summarised as follows:
Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes may only open indoors between 6am and 6pm, with no sales of alcohol.
Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes may open outdoors until 10pm, with sales of alcohol (where licensed).
Takeaways (including from pubs and restaurants) can continue.
Evening meals may be served in accommodation for residents only, but no alcohol can be served.
Current meeting rules, maximum of six people from two households, continue to apply.
Specific life events, such as weddings and funerals, may continue with alcohol being served, with current meeting rules for these events (20-person limit in regulated premises only)
Guidance is available from the Scottish Government website.
Further advice can also be sought by emailing envhealth@highland.gov.uk.
