Bars and restaurants failing to take details
As many as a third of cafes and restaurants could be undermining the NHS’S test and trace programme by failing to obtain customers’ contact details, The
Daily Telegraph can disclose. The failure of so many establishments to collect details would leave health officials unable to act efficiently in the event of a spike in cases and make it harder to contain it, experts said. The Telegraph surveyed dozens of establishments in Bristol, Colchester, Newcastle and Leicester last week.
AS MANY as a third of cafés and restaurants could be undermining the NHS’S test-and-trace programme by failing to obtain customers’ contact details, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
The failure of so many establishments to collect names and phone numbers would leave health officials unable to act efficiently in the event of a spike in coronavirus cases and make it harder to contain it, experts said.
The Telegraph’s survey of dozens of cafés, restaurants and pubs in Bristol, Colchester, Newcastle and Leicester last week found only half insisted on noting customers’ details.
The rest either did not bother or they left it to diners to write down their details or scan them into a mobile app. Invariably, many people did not.
Test and Trace guidelines for cafés, restaurants and hotels state: “You should assist this service by keeping a temporary record of your customers and visitors for 21 days… and assist NHS Test and Trace with requests for that data if needed.”
Of 57 establishments visited, 18 either did not collect details or they operated a voluntary system.
Trade groups for the hospitality industry said they were surprised at the findings. Peter Ducker, chief executive of the Institute of Hospitality, called the noncompliance “concerning”.
He said: “I can only think this is a lack of training and staff awareness in poorly managed establishments. The requirements are simple and easy. Hospitality has suffered dreadfully in the pandemic. Only an idiot would jeopardise their reputation by not following them.”
Several café owners and managers said adhering to the rules threatened to drive away customers. Hamid Parast, 55, who runs Centre Café Lounge in Bristol, said he initially operated the system but had to abandon it in the face of customer reluctance to comply.
He said: “Some people give you funny numbers, others say, ‘I’m not comfortable giving you my details’. We’ve stopped doing it – no one follows it.”
Lagi Panteli, owner of Slice in Colchester, Essex, said: “We have people who come in for a tea or coffee and they don’t want to be inundated with questions just for a single drink.” In Leicester, which has had strict lockdown measures, only a third of cafés and restaurants complied. The owners of Orso coffee shop stated: “We’re not making it compulsory and we’re not going to ask them to leave if they don’t comply. One guy last week simply signed Mr X.”
Kate Nicholls, of UK Hospitality, said members were “overwhelmingly” following the guidance. “Our message to members and to the wider sector is that they really should get on board with the scheme. We need to keep people safe and be seen to be doing so,” she said.
A health department source said: “The system cannot operate without cooperation. Cafés, pubs and restaurants have a duty to support Test and Trace.”