Test and Trace: Pubs and restaurants routinely failing to record customers' details

Pubs and restaurants are failing to routinely carry out Test and Trace measures for more than two thirds of customers, a Government survey has found.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published new data on Friday revealing that only one third of UK adults visiting indoor venues were routinely asked to provide their personal details.

The Test and Trace system requires public places to collect customers' contact details in order to alert them should fellow customers contract coronvirus. However, the latest data shows that although 31 per cent of adults in England said they were always asked for their information, over a quarter – 27 per cent – were never asked.

The survey of 1,130 adults across the UK, conducted between September 9 and 13, questioned people about how often they had been asked to give their details when visiting places outside their homes in the past seven days.

Figures varied across the different countries in the UK, with 45 per cent of adults in Wales and 66 per cent in Scotland reporting that they were always asked for details. In Wales, 23 per cent of those surveyed said they had never been asked, and in Scotland the figure was 12 per cent.

Some people are refusing to give the information. The ONS said that, of those asked to provide their details, nearly seven in 10 (69 per cent) said they did so every time but 11 per cent rarely or never provided them (see the graphic below for details of the number of people traced so far).

It comes as local authorities in the north-west of England await Government announcements on stricter lockdown measures following spikes in the number of coronavirus infections.

Restrictions for places in the North East including Northumberland, Newcastle upon Tyne, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham have already been introduced.

The ONS data also showed that the percentage of adults who had left their home to eat or drink at a restaurant, cafe, bar or pub had decreased for the first time since early July in the past week. Three in 10 adults said they had eaten out, compared with nearly four in 10 two weeks ago.

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, the leading trade body for the sector, which represents around 90 per cent of UK brewers and around 20,000 pubs, said: “Pubs continue to take their responsibilities regarding Test and Trace incredibly seriously.

“With the launch of the NHS Test and Trace app imminent, we will again stress the importance of full compliance with Government regulations and guidance.

“Our sector is still coming to terms with the “new normal”, and pubs are having to constantly adapt to new and different guidelines issued on a regular basis, but we are working tirelessly to ensure we rise to this challenge to support Government and local communities.”

And Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UK Hospitality, said: “We have been encouraging our members, and the whole sector, to get on board with Test and Trace, and our research shows that 9 out of 10 venues are taking the relevant details.

“It is absolutely vital that hospitality businesses comply with the Test and Trace requirements. The new rules leave no room for misinterpretation, so everyone should be doing it.”

A National Hair and Beauty Federation spokesperson said: “We recommend that all our members follow the official government guidelines of their nation, which includes Test and Trace for England.

“Many salons aren’t asking individual clients for contact details because these are already recorded in their appointment books or salon software, which complies with the current legal requirement for keeping records of the client’s name, phone number, date and time of visit, who provided their service or treatment, and to keep these records for 21 days to assist the NHS with contact tracing.

“When the official Test and Trace App launches on 24 September, the NHBF will be encouraging salons and barbershops to use them. However, in Wales, salons and barbershops will still be required to keep in-salon records, even if the QR code has been used. ”