NORTH Yorkshire’s hospitality, leisure and tourism industries and their customers are being urged to continue following the latest Covid-19 guidance.

Leaders of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum (NYLRF) said they acknowledge the huge amount of work businesses have undertaken during summer months to make their premises Covid secure.

But they are now urging the sector to make a further effort to follow the Government’s new and more stringent regulations.

NYLRF Chair, Richard Flinton, said: “We know these new regulations are yet another hill to climb, but if we are to have any chance of keeping the infection rate down and keeping our local economy going we all need to play our part and take on this responsibility.

“We wish to thank those traders who’ve done a great job in serving the community during the first lockdown and have adapted to be Covid-secure as lockdown has eased and changed.

"But with a resurgence of the pandemic we must all pull together.

“We are doing everything it is possible for us to do to keep the county’s residents, communities and businesses out of more serious lockdown measures and we are asking everyone to help, so the way we go about our daily lives will not be impacted further.

“All our partners have worked closely with residents and businesses during lockdown and I am confident we can pull together once more.”

People visiting pubs, restaurants and cafes must abide by the rule of six regulation and follow the hands, face and space campaign - continue to wash their hands regularly or use hand sanitiser, use face masks where required and keep a two metre social distance from those not in their own household.

The NYLRF is also asking people in North Yorkshire to take the extra step of using facemasks outdoors when they are in crowded streets and places.

Lincoln Sargeant, North Yorkshire’s Director of Public Health said: “We have seen a step change in the number of Covid-19 cases across the county.

"At the end of July we were just seeing one or two.

"In the last two weeks there have been 388 new cases and this figure is growing all the time.

“We do recognise how difficult trading conditions have been and remain and we want North Yorkshire to remain open for business and indeed the majority of our hospitality businesses have made great efforts to make their premises Covid secure.

"But now they must go further and we are urging them to take the new regulations on board so they have a chance of staying open and carrying on.

“To those visiting pubs and restaurants we say act responsibly, be careful, be kind and support your local business to stay open.

"Use the NHS Covid-19 app or provide your contact details and follow the rule of six."

North Yorkshire County Council’s trading standards officers will work in partnership with district council environmental health officers in offering support and guidance to businesses and in responding to complaints about premises that are breaking regulations.