Latest advice regarding events in Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation

We've had an increasing number of enquiries from exhibitors attending our upcoming events regarding Coronavirus.

Following current Government advice about Coronavirus (COVID-19), we are planning on running all markets & special events as planned.

The Government's advice, at present, is that events are to take place as planned and its business as usual. The government have said It's not effective to cancel large-scale public events to try to contain the virus. We continue to follow advice from the World Health Organisation, Public Health England & Local Government. Our team and those attending our markets & special events are being encouraged to maintain good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene.

We are putting in a number of mandatory requirements for our Market Traders & Special Event Exhibitors to adhere to, to help stop the spread of the virus.

The health and safety of our staff and all those attending our markets & special events is our number one priority. I f there are any changes to the current recommendations from the WHO or the Government, we will review and react to their instructions promptly.

Additional notes:

• We're currently looking into additional hand washing facilities for exhibitors and visitors to use at our larger events and hope we can get something implemented to encourage good hand hygiene
• Sneeze guards are used in front of any produce which is unpackaged
• Any sample cups, spoons or sticks will be disposed of by visitors into waste bins, and not to be handled by exhibitors
• Cashless purchases will be preferred - We're encouraging exhibitors to accept contactless card payments, to ensure it's more widely available
• Visitors are encouraged to can pack their own bags with purchases
• All of our special events and festivals are outdoors
• The time to get served from our exhibitors is less than 15 minutes 

Currently, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Jonathan Van-Tam argued that the cancellation of events is unnecessary:

"Based on the biomathematical models of the virus' spread, the current guidance is that stopping events is not necessary. The principal places of infection are the home, schools and workplace. With the virus having a relatively small radius of infection (two metres), pubs and public transport were noted as being more likely to be a source of transmission than events. The government will look at the evidence on a case by case basis as the situation unfolds," 

Basic protective measures

• Wash your hands frequently Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
• Maintain social distancing Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
• Practice respiratory hygiene Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately. Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.