Government announces roadmap taskforces

Businesses and shops in indoor environments or with closer contact between people, like pubs, hotels and non-essential retail, will likely have a higher risk of transmission, as is the case with many places of worship.

The government says its ambition is to open as many of these other businesses and public places as possible over the coming months, when the scientific advice provided allows it.

The taskforces are described as "crucial to the reopening of Britain’s economy," and each one will lead on developing new COVID-19 secure guidelines for the reopening of public places and businesses, where and when it is safe to do so.

The five new ministerial taskforces will look at the following sectors:

1. Pubs and restaurants (Department for Business, Energy and industrial Strategy)
2. Non-essential retail (including salons) (Department for Business, Energy and industrial Strategy)
3. Recreation and leisure, including tourism, culture and heritage, libraries, entertainment and sport (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
4. Places of worship (Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)
5. International aviation, reflecting the unique challenges that sector is facing (Department for Transport).

As part of this science-led approach, each taskforce will work across government and engage with key stakeholders in public health, industry, trade unions and devolved administrations to:

• Ensure that COVID-19 secure guidelines are developed in line with the phased approach and public health directions, building on the existing guidance and providing intelligence and sector-specific expert input
• Agree and ensure alignment of all relevant sectoral guidance
• Provide key sector stakeholders direct access to Ministers to shape the guidance
• Read the full guidance on the establishment of the taskforces.