Calderdale Council is supporting local businesses to stay COVID-secure, to protect people from the virus and to prevent and manage outbreaks, as the borough continues to live with the pandemic.
Most businesses in Calderdale are working hard to keep their premises, staff and customers safe.
The Council’s Environmental Health team has been working around the clock throughout the pandemic to help businesses follow the guidance, especially those at higher risk of COVID-19 outbreaks.
Cllr Susan Press, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, said:
“We are proud of the way local businesses have taken on the challenge of transforming their practices to protect people. We’re all in this together, and every single action that we take makes a difference in beating the virus.
“Council teams and our partner organisations have been working incredibly hard to support businesses to be COVID-secure, particularly in areas and industries where infection rates are higher. This helps people to stay safe and do the things they enjoy with peace of mind.”
The Environmental Health team has worked with hundreds of premises throughout the borough, from restaurants, takeaways, bars and food factories, to gyms, beauty salons, shops, taxi offices and campsites. The team’s visits and phone calls provide a reassuring presence to local businesses, offering support and guidance and ensuring that measures are in place to reduce the spread of the virus to protect the whole community.
In partnership with the Council’s Community Safety Wardens and West Yorkshire Police, the Environmental Health team is also carrying out weekend patrols in town centres to help ensure safe nights out for everyone.
Alongside this proactive and preventative work, teams are responding to any complaints and concerns. The majority of businesses and workplaces across Calderdale are doing the right thing, but where rules are not being followed, enforcement action will be considered.
As well as guiding businesses on their COVID-19 safety measures, the Council is ensuring that all of its own facilities provide the safest possible experience. For example, it has introduced lots of measures at its sports centres to protect customers and staff and to ensure people can follow the guidelines.
Measures include two-metre markers to remind people to keep a safe distance from each other; one-way systems; certain equipment and showers out of use to allow more space and hygiene; sanitiser for hands and equipment; and protective screens at reception. Customers have welcomed the steps and have given lots of positive feedback, such as in the following local resident’s tweet: “Just been for a swim in the newly-reopened pool in Todmorden. Happy swimmers in a safe environment! Thank you @Calderdale for your painstaking attention to detail and making it possible.”
La Luna, a restaurant in Halifax town centre, has introduced measures to provide a COVID-secure experience for customers and staff. Tony, the owner, said:
“We have worked hard to take steps regarding COVID-19 and have constantly been improving. Our main aim is to make La Luna safe for customers and staff to enjoy. The restaurant is still busy, which proves that what we are doing is working.
“We’ve put in place lots of safety measures, including moving the reception area outside; taking customer names and contact details before entry for Test and Trace; providing hand sanitiser for customers and staff, plus face visors and temperature checks for staff; fewer tables to ensure social distancing; recyclable cutlery pouches for hygiene, and much more.”
The work with businesses is part of Calderdale’s Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan. It is clear that we will continue to live with COVID-19 for the foreseeable future. The Council, local partner organisations and communities are working together to protect people from the virus and to prevent and manage outbreaks. This work also includes:
- Engaging with and supporting communities, particularly in areas of high infection rates
- Increasing and improving access to testing for residents
- Carrying out local contact tracing to support the national Test and Trace service
- Providing support to people to enable them to self-isolate
- Enforcing COVID-19 restrictions.
We can all play our part to beat the virus by:
- Washing our hands regularly
- Staying two metres apart
- Wearing a face covering when we are indoors where we might come into contact with others, such as public transport, taxis, shops, museums and places of worship
- Not visiting, or having visitors from, other households
- Staying away from crowds and avoiding close contact with others, such as handshakes and hugs
- Keeping up with guidance
- Isolating for 10 days and getting a test if we have symptoms of COVID-19
- Following the advice of the Test and Trace service if we have come into contact with someone with the virus.
For up-to-date and reliable information about COVID-19, use trusted sources such as:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus(external link)