Contact tracing in hospitality venues to become compulsory

Contact tracing in hospitality venues, which has so far been voluntary, is set to become compulsory as part of stricter measures and ‘clarifications' by the government.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, health secretary Matt Hancock said the move was for "simplicity and clarity" and would be in place "for the foreseeable future".

He said: "We're going to enforce more strictly the rules around hospitality, including for instance the fact that you need to give your contact details when you go to hospitality, which so far has been voluntary. And large swathes of the hospitality industry have followed it, and it's very simple for them to do so. but some have just chosen not to, so we're going to make that compulsory as well."

Gatherings of more than six people in pubs and restaurants are set to be banned from Monday, including in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality settings.

The government is due to set out details of the change to regulations in a press conference later today, with prime minister Boris Johnson set to argue that rules need to be simplified to make them easier to enforce in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Already this week the public has been warned by England's deputy chief medical officer professor Jonathan Van Tam to take coronavirus seriously again, having "relaxed too much" after an increase in coronavirus cases.

Hancock announced yesterday that hospitality businesses in Bolton are restricted to takeaway-only with all venues in the area required to close from 10pm to 5am, and that it is against the law for people to socialise outside their household.