Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the public health guidance underpinning the decision to close (a) leisure centres and gyms, (b) casinos and betting shops and (c) pubs and bars in the Liverpool City Region in response to the imposition of the tier 3 local covid alert level.

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) provides advice to the Department and considered the risks of transmission through different routes and environments, including leisure centres, gyms, casinos and betting shops. SAGE’s paper is available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/933225/S0824_SARS-CoV-2_Transmission_routes_and_environments.pdf

A national impact assessment on the potential effect of COVID-19 restrictions on transmission across the country, including in the Liverpool City region, is available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/925856/S0770_NPIs_table__pivot_.pdf

The Government also published scientific evidence regarding transmission risk in the hospitality sector, particularly pubs and bars, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transmission-risk-in-the-hospitality-sector/transmission-risk-in-the-hospitality-sector