Venues urged to follow new COVID rules

Owners and managers of venues in the area have been urged to stick to new COVID restrictions, requiring customers to show proof of their vaccination status or a recent negative COVID test.

The legislation, which came into effect at 6am on 15 December 2021, was designed to limit access to certain venues amidst a spike in cases of the COVID variant, omicron, nationally.

To gain entry to venues such as nightclubs, discotheques and dance halls under the new legislation, customers need to be fully vaccinated or have proof of a recent negative COVID test.

The venues included by the new restrictions include Nightclubs, Discotheques, Dance Halls and all other venues which;

• Are open between 01:00 and 05:00 and
• Serve alcohol at those times and
• Play music and
• Have a dance floor or space for dancing.

Councillor Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “All operators of these premises are now legally obliged to undertake checks of all customers to ascertain their Covid vaccination status or that they have recently undertaken a negative test for the Covid virus.

“Any customer who is unable to prove either of the above must be refused entry.

“I know that businesses – particularly those in the hospitality industry – have been struggling for a while now because of the pandemic, but these restrictions are in place to keep people safe and minimise the spread of the virus. Vaccination reduces the chances of you catching the virus, and regular testing reduces the chances of anyone unknowingly carrying the virus into a crowded place like a nightclub.”

Customers can prove their vaccine status by showing the NHS Covid app – The Covid Pass – confirming their vaccine history or by showing a negative Covid result from NHS Test and Trace.

The legislation requires that these venues must document the procedures they will undertake to satisfy these requirements, how they are to be implemented and how they will be made known to the customers.

Officers will be visiting premises to check this Covid Check Statement to ensure the venue has adequate plans in place to carry out the checks.

To find out more about the new restrictions, visit GOV.UK.