COVID-19 Business Hub

Latest information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Last night (Monday 4 January), following a rapid rise in coronavirus infections, hospital admissions and case rates across the country, the Prime Minister announced a national lockdown for England. New rules have been issued on what you can and cannot do under this new lockdown. Everyone should follow the new rules now, and they will become law from 00.01 on Wednesday 6 January. The restrictions are expected to last until the middle of February if the situation in hospitals improves.

 

Key points:

• People will be permitted to leave home for limited reasons, including shopping for essentials, work if you cannot work from home, exercise, or to seek medical assistance
• People cannot leave their home or the place where they are living for holidays or overnight stays unless you have a reasonable excuse for doing so. This means that holidays in the UK and abroad are not allowed. This includes staying in a second home or caravan, if that is not a primary residence.
• Shielding will begin again, those at risk will receive a letter.
• Primary schools, secondary schools, and colleges must move to online learning from tomorrow – except for vulnerable children and children of key workers. Nurseries will continue to be open.
• People can exercise in a public outdoor place alone, with the people they live with, with their support bubble (if you are legally permitted to form one), in a childcare bubble where providing childcare or, when alone, with 1 person from another household. Outdoor sports venues, including tennis courts, golf courses and swimming pools, must close.
• The regulations require some businesses to close and impose restrictions on how some businesses provide goods and services, including: non-essential retail, hospitality venues, accommodation, leisure and sports facilities, entertainment venues, animal and indoor attractions, personal care facilities.

As we enter the second week of the new national lockdown, leaders of the seven North East England Local Authorities have issued a statement in response to the introduction of a new national lockdown in England.

 

Durham Business Recovery Grant

To support local businesses in looking forward and meeting the challenge of recovery, Durham County Council has introduced a £5 million Durham Business Recovery Grant. Open to businesses in all sectors located in the County, the grant is aimed at those with a credible plan to adapt and recover from the effects of COVID-19 but requiring financial support to implement their plan.

The grants range from a minimum of £1,000 up to a maximum of £40,000 and are able to contribute 75% towards eligible recovery plan costs, with the business expected to meet a quarter of the project cost.

The grants are not intended to provide crisis funding, general working capital or subsidise losses but can be used towards costs such as adapting operational models and working practices, adapting premises or business models to attract new customers or visitors, developing and marketing new product offerings or other relevant costs to meet a defined need that will help to increase sales.

There is no time limit or closing date for applications, so we strongly advise you take your time in understanding the eligibility criteria and thinking about what you need prior to beginning the application process.

 

Update from Michelle Gorman, Managing Director, Visit County Durham

Despite starting 2021 with another devastating national lockdown, I am still confident that as the year progresses, the county’s visitor economy will recover and prosper. When lockdown is lifted, families and loved ones will want to reconnect, and as a county with wide open spaces, crowd free beauty spots and businesses that hold covid-safe accreditations, Durham is best placed to capitalise on the demand for the ‘safecation’.
Until then, Visit County Durham is committed to continuing to support businesses during this incredibly challenging time. Access the Visit County Durham Covid-19 Business Hub for information and support, or email partners@visitcountydurham.org

 

Visit County Durham’s virtual ‘Tourism of the Future’ Autumn Conference was held on Wednesday 4th November 2020. The conference heard from Foresight Factory on future tourism trends, UKHospitality on current impacts of the pandemic and the latest industry lobbying of government, and an update from Visit County Durham. Download the presentations from the conference.

 

Latest information and announcements

We would advise all partners to regularly check this website and the VisitBritain and Government business support web pages, all of which are being continually updated with the latest advice and information for all tourism businesses.

 

 

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