City Matters 130

SQUARE MILE GAMING BARS
We are all pumped to get back
to the pub, but you have to try
one of the City’s gaming bars
for something a little different
this summer Pages 10-11
DUBUFFET RETROSPECTIVE
The Barbican’s Jean Dubuffet
exhibition is made for the most
devout art lovers, but it might
not garner such love from a
broader audience Page 12
16 Jun - 13 Jul 2021 The City of London’s independent newspaper with 45,000 READERS
Edition 130
City’s firms told
‘follow the rules’
Corporation lays down marker to employers and says
businesses have a leading role to play in stopping virus
New London Eats
campaign P5
THE City of London Corporation
has urged businesses to “follow
the rules” after concerns were
raised over COVID outbreaks
because of poor compliance with
social distancing guidelines in the
workplace.
Chairman of the Community &
Children’s Services Committee, Ruby
Sayed, said that whilst everyone in
the country is eager to reach Step
4 of the Government’s Roadmap –
which would end all legal limits on
people’s social contact – all steps
must be taken to halt the rise in
infection rising across the capital.
This week Boris Johnson
confirmed that most restrictions
are to stay in place in England for
four weeks longer than the slated
‘unlocking day’ on June 21.
Public Health England has
confirmed that the Delta variant
– first identified in India – is more
transmissible than the version that
sparked the winter wave, the Alpha
variant first seen in Kent.
City workers and residents are
being strongly encouraged to get
vaccinated when they become
eligible. Meanwhile, firms have been
reminded that everyone who can
work from home should do so, and
to ensure workplaces are COVIDsecure,
including social distancing,
hand washing, high levels of fresh
air ventilation and mask wearing in
appropriate spaces. People who
cannot work from home should
follow the COVID-secure guidelines
of hands, face, space and fresh air
and get tested twice a week. City
businesses can collect free rapid
home testing kits for their employees
from Square Mile testing sites, while
employees can collect test kits from
community pharmacies as well.
Ms Sayed said: “We are calling
on all firms to follow the rules
after concerns that there have
been an increase in outbreaks
Guidelines are in place
because of poor compliance with
guidelines. The UK is now at a
crossroads ahead of Step 4.
“Businesses have a leading role
to play in stopping this virus and
it is important that companies,
who may see an increase in
staff coming back to offices over
the coming weeks, stick to the rules
to protect their employees and the
public.”
What’s On in
the City P8
Future of the
City survey P14