A trio of trade groups have revealed that just 1% of hospitality venues across the UK have been linked to NHS Test and Trace incidents.
The findings come from a survey of members of UKHospitality, the British Beer & Pub Association, and the BII, conducted by hospitality market research company CGA. They show respondents operating more than 22,500 outlets across the UK collectively only reported 275 NHS Test and Trace contact incidents.
Latest Public Health England data published also shows that hospitality was linked to just 2.7% of covid-19 cases. The trade bodies say the findings reiterate that pubs, restaurants, and other hospitality venues are covid-secure.
They are now calling on the government to consider removing the 10pm curfew on the sector, which scientific advisory group Sage has questioned as an effective way to combat the virus, and which is massively damaging hospitality trade in medium risk regions across the UK.
A spokesperson for the trade bodies, said: “The evidence is clear that pubs, restaurants, and hospitality venues are covid-secure. Singling them out is simply illogical, counterproductive, and grossly unfair.
“Sage itself has called into question the effectiveness of the 10pm curfew, and it is greatly harming our sector in medium risk areas. The Government must consider removing the curfew.”
