The current social distancing rule to stay 2m apart affects many businesses in the UK. It is simply not commercially viable. From 4 July 2020, more London businesses are to reopen like the Restaurants and bars in Westminster etc. The UK Government announced from 4 July 2020 businesses to reopen can adopt the social distancing at 2m or 1m with risk mitigation. Where keeping the 2m social distancing rule is not viable.
Full review of two-metre social distancing guidance was published today by the Cabinet Office.
If your business is going to adopt the social distancing at 1m, you must consider and set out the steps you take to mitigate the risks of transmissions. According to the Scientific evidence published by the Government, the risk of transmission increases by 2-10 times at 1m compared to 2m. And, the transmission risk at 2m is small.
For this reason, it is vital that businesses take precautions to reduce the level of transmission risk at 1m so that it is broadly equivalent to being 2m apart. So that everyone can stay safe.
The social distancing at 2m or 1m with risk mitigation will increase businesses’ capacity and allow more people to return to work. Good news to our UK economy.
How COVID-19 is transmitted?
According to the Government’s publication, COVID-19 is transmitted in 3 ways.
1. Direct person-to-person contact – if an infectious person breathes droplets on you or you pick them up through physical contact with an infectious person.
2. Contact with a contaminated surface – if you touch a surface contaminated with the virus and then touch your nose, eyes or mouth, you may be infected.
3. Aerosol transmission – fine droplets of liquid containing the virus are breathed out, form an aerosol and are carried through the air. You may become infected if you breathe these in.
Source: GOV.UK
Encourage contactless approach
Encourage contactless approach where possible. For example, Companies House handles 4.3 million companies records. During this COVID-19 outbreak, they encourage their customers to submit documents online.
You can submit the following documents online with Companies House.
- Confirmation statement
- Company accounts
- Changes to your company’s details such as director resigned or change of your registered office address.
- Closing down your company.
All you need is your company’s authentication code issued by Companies House. The authentication code is the electronic equivalent of your company’s director(s) signatures. Keep safe your authentication code.
If you are unable to complete your company accounts due to the interruption from this COVID-19 outbreak, you can apply to Companies House to extend your company accounts filing deadline without incurring a late filing penalty.
Companies House also created an interim paperless filing service to accept documents which would normally require a live signature.
If you require help with your UK company’s filings, contact us. Our accountants can help you.
