‘We all need to play our part to keep shops, bars and restaurants safe’

‘LET’S ALL STAY SAFE’: Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council. Picture by Neil Holmes Photography

Everyone in Hull is being urged to play their part in keeping the spread of Covid-19 under control by adhering to the safety measures put in place by businesses across the city.

As lockdown restrictions have eased, and the city has basked in the sunshine, people have been enjoying the return to normality in recent weeks.

Shops have reopened, bars and restaurants are now able to accommodate customers both indoors and outside, and theatres have opened their doors – many for the first time in more than a year.

The UEFA Euro 2020 football championships, Olympics and Wimbledon are also all expected to result in more people socialising in bars and gathering for organised events in the coming weeks.

Councillor Daren Hale, the new leader of Hull City Council, has now urged everyone in the city to support business that have put Covid controls in place to enable them to reopen, and help avoid further restrictions.

He said: “The easing of restrictions has been warmly welcomed by all of us. For many of us, the opportunity to share a drink with friends in a bar or visit the theatre has been invaluable following months of difficult lockdown and isolation.

“The response from our business community to the challenges presented by coronavirus has been nothing less than extraordinary. In many cases they have gone above and beyond to create safe and responsible environments for customers and staff.

BACK IN BUSINESS: Shops, bars and restaurants in areas such as Newland Avenue have reopened recently. Picture by Tom Arran Commercial Photography

“We therefore have an obligation to them to ensure that when visiting a restaurant, or attending an event, we do all we can to support these businesses and organisations by behaving appropriately and responsibly.

“Nobody wants to see a return to stricter restrictions, and therefore we all need to play our part”.

The council is continuing to work with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to visit and support local businesses.

Rachel Stephenson, Head of Public Protection at the local authority, said: “We’ve been supporting businesses throughout the pandemic, helping them adjust to different rules and regulations and supporting them in making their premises as safe as possible.

“One of the biggest challenges businesses face is managing customers who fail to respect guidelines and the systems that have been put in place.

“It’s a responsibility for all of us to pay extra care and attention when visiting our local businesses to make sure that they can operate smoothly and safely. The responsibility to keep our shops, bars and restaurants safe and open is on all of us, not just businesses.”

Businesses are encouraged to contact the council here if they require further advice and support.