Running your business safely during COVID-19

Find information and guidance on how to run your business safely while COVID-19 continues to be a serious health risk.

Living with COVID-19

On Monday 21 February 2022, the government announced its plans for living with COVID-19. The changes that came into effect are as follows.

On 24 February, the government:

• removed the legal requirement to self-isolate
• stopped asking fully vaccinated close contacts and those aged under 18 to test daily for 7 days, and removed the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate
• ended self-isolation support payments
  • national funding for practical support and the medicine delivery service will no longer be available
• ended routine contact tracing – contacts are no longer required to self-isolate or advised to take daily tests
• ended the legal obligation for individuals to tell their employers when they're required to self-isolate
• revoked The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No.3) Regulations

From 24 March, the government:

• removed the COVID-19 provisions within the Statutory Sick Pay and Employment and Support Allowance regulations

From 1 April, the government:

• removed the current guidance on voluntary COVID-status certification in domestic settings and no longer recommend that certain venues use the NHS COVID Pass
• updated guidance setting out the ongoing steps that people with COVID-19 should take to minimise contact with other people; this aligned with changes to testing
• stopped providing free universal symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the public in England
• continues to provide free COVID-19 tests for people with certain health conditions, going into hospital for surgery or a procedure, or those that work in some NHS or social care settings
• consolidated guidance to the public and businesses, in line with public health advice
• removed the health and safety requirement for every employer to explicitly consider COVID-19 in their risk assessments, although employers may choose to continue to cover COVID-19 in their risk assessments
• replaced the existing set of Working Safely during COVID-19 guidance with new public health advice called Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace

Running your business safely

COVID-19 can still be a serious health condition and case numbers are still very high. Businesses are therefore urged to make every effort to help keep their workforce and community safe.

From 1 April 2022, businesses must still:

• follow the public health advice for reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace
• comply with HSE Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 for welfare facilities and a healthy and safe working environment, which includes ensuring sufficient ventilation in the workplace
• complete a risk assessment, and implement control measures if workers come into contact with COVID-19 directly through their work, for example in researching the virus in laboratories or health and social care workers caring for infectious patients.

From 1 April 2022, all businesses are still strongly advised to:

• have an up-to-date plan in case of a COVID-19 outbreak
• if a member of staff is unwell with symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, follow the guidance for people with symptoms of a respiratory infection such as COVID-19
• encourage and enable vaccination – there is a COVID-19 vaccination guide for employers which contains information on actions employers can take to enable staff vaccination, which includes guidance on the vaccines that are available through the NHS
• follow the new guidance on when to consider wearing face coverings 
• bring in fresh air to occupied spaces to help reduce the concentration of respiratory particles, lowering the risk of airborne transmission of respiratory viruses – the Health and Safety Executive has advice on ventilating workplaces
• keep workplaces clean to reduce the risk of infection and help reduce sickness in the workforce – it’s especially important to clean surfaces that people touch a lot
• consider the needs of employees at greater risk from COVID-19, including those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 – there is specific guidance for people whose immune system means that they are at higher risk
• make sure employees, customers and visitors are aware of the public health protection measures in place when visiting your premises.

Support for businesses to prevent the spread of COVID-19

We fully support any business that wishes to continue any of the above measures and encourage all businesses to consider doing so.

To help make your business COVID-19 compliant, we’re running a COVID-19 compliant accreditation scheme that offers local businesses a free assessment from our environmental health team

Find more helpful information and guidance below:

• guidance from the Health and Safety Executive on working safely during COVID-19
• general health and safety advice from us

If you have any questions about any of the above, email our Health and Safety team.

Managing outbreaks of COVID-19

Our aim is to ensure you have the necessary support to carry out this role. Our approach is set out in our Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan (OPCP) ^{(PDF, 515kb)}.

If you need support or advice in relation to cases of COVID-19 in your workplace, email publichealth@southwark.gov.uk or the London Coronavirus Response Cell at lcrc@phe.gov.uk.

Other health and safety steps that your business should take during COVID-19

You should review your business continuity arrangements to ensure that you have a plan in place. For example, if a number of your staff needed to stay away from work or if your premises need to temporarily close to enable further measures to be installed or deep cleaning.

You have a legal responsibility to look after the health, safety, and welfare of your employees, clients and customers during COVID-19.

Page last updated: 14 June 2023