New UK report proposes measures for 'COVID-secure opening of nightclubs and venues'
The trade body commissioned the Institute Of Occupational Medicine for the report, which was published last month. The seven-page document claims “there is no reason why the nightclub sector cannot be permitted to reopen with safe measures in place,” noting that the occurrence of “unregulated” events, such as illegal raves, presents a “strong argument to permit clubs to reopen, albeit under strict controls.” These controls would be a “mix of government guidance and individual risk assessments informed by experience from other sectors.”
It suggests measures for reopening safely during the pandemic in line with current government guidance for pubs and restaurants, including track-and-trace systems and contactless payments. The report notes that many clubs and venues “verging on insolvency.” Recently it was announced that 135 at-risk venues in England had received emergency grants from the UK Culture Recovery Fund.
It remains unclear when the UK government will allow indoor nightclubs to legally reopen. Back in May, the government stated that venues whose “core purpose is social interaction (such as nightclubs) may only be fully possible significantly later depending on the reduction in the numbers of infections.” Some venues, such as London’s The Cause, Brixton Jamm and Venue MOT Unit 18 have opened outdoor spaces to the public with social distancing and other safety measures in place as bars, restaurants and pubs (indoor and outdoor) were allowed to reopen on July 4th.
Read the full report here.
