Bucks food businesses react to new coronavirus legislation
The government are introducing new Covid-19 regulations, some of which have already come into force.
Business across Buckinghamshire are now required by law to follow the changes.
Rumsey's Handmade Chocolate have stores in Wendover and Thame where customers can sit and eat, and since July have been operating a QR code test and trace system.
From today (18/9) businesses are required to ask customers to provide their details, as well as control group numbers.
However, Kate Rumsey is one of the owners says there are some issues:
"The problem for us is that sometimes people just don't want to give it to us.
"So, even though we may be asking for the test and trace details we do get quite a few customers who just don't want to give us that information.
"It is very clear that it is a legal requirement for us to ask customers, but it isn't very clear whether it is a legal requirement for customers to provide us with it."
Because of this lack of clarity, some venues are unsure whether they have the power to refuse customers who don't provide details.
This like the rule of six which came into force on Monday (14/09), has been left up to the staff to enforce and control.
Which Kate says is easier for some than others:
"The rule of 6 is clearer and a bit easier for us to implement thought, it was hard to know if a group was two households before because we don't know the make up of a family.
"The difficulty is when it comes to us to police it. It is very unfair to leave a lot of our staff members to say no to people.
"I think some people are more confident in standing up for people in that way."
Kate hopes that overtime customers will become more comfortable with the legislation and begin to accept it as a normal part of eating out.
The new measures being introduced as listed on the government website **as follows:**
- You must not meet with people from other households socially in groups of more than 6 (September 14th)
- Businesses will have a clear duty to support NHS Test and Trace (September 24th)
- The government will support Local Authorities and police forces to respond to breaches of COVID-19 Secure guidelines.
- The government will take steps to improve compliance with border requirements.
- The government will review plans to pilot larger audiences in venues this month.
- The government will restrict the opening hours of premises, initially in local lockdown areas, with the option of national action in the future.