Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment he has made of levels of covid-19 transmission in (a) mobile and static personal hair, beauty and barber mobile services, (b) the hospitality sector and (c) the leisure sector.

The Transmission Group within the Department has conducted a qualitative comparative assessment of COVID-19 transmission across various settings.

In hair, beauty and barber services, there is potential for higher than average risk of infection due to people working in close proximity over prolonged periods of time within closed settings with variable hygiene practices.

In the hospitality sector there is potential for higher than average risk due to venues for socialisation such as bars, pubs and restaurants having higher than average proximity and occupant density, prolonged duration of exposure, challenge in maintaining adequate ventilation due to cold weather, enhanced potential for aerosol generation, and face masks not being easily compatible with eating and drinking.

In the leisure sector, settings may vary in terms of air circulation, contact frequency among clients, occupational and socioeconomic factors. Gyms have a much higher than average potential for viral transmission due to increased aerosol generation and high risk of shared surface usage.