Please see response from PDTA in regards to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

In Penzance our businesses who provide accommodation, activities & restaurants take the standards for hygiene and cleanliness very seriously. We are therefore taking steps to ensure the safety of our guests and workers. As an organisation we have been working closely with Visit Cornwall and representatives in Cornwall of the tourism sector.

We will in the next couple of days be able to release a fact sheet covering topics such as cleaning recommendations, insurance cover, communications with customers and business support.

Whilst we await for further information then there are additional measures that can be put in place immediately

• We are a friendly bunch but whilst we go through this difficult phase then lets stop shaking hands – not easy as it’s what we do but for the moment a different approach is required
• In addition to existing high cleaning standards a greater degree of cleaning should be focussed on high-touch items such as light switches & handles
• Encouraging guests hand washing with soap (for at least 20 seconds). Further information on why soap is so effective at the end of this email
• Providing staff with disposal gloves when cleaning rooms which are then disposed of
• Making hand sanitiser or disinfectant available to guests and staff if requested

If you have a guest who is unwell then please contact 111 immediately. 111 can then provide guidance as to what action you will need to take next. It is suggested that any guests that are showing signs upon arrival are refused entry but this is completely up to yourselves as to what policy you put in place. Please note that if you do have a suspected case on your premises then your entire building could be quarantined (Insurance may be covered under Business Interruption but this would need to be confirmed with your insurance company)

Cancellations are likely to continue for a period of time as further regions lock down. Whether you retain a deposit will depend upon your existing T&C’s and the specific circumstances that are being cited i.e. a whole country is in lock-down. If someone is cancelling because they are simply concerned then you may take a different view compared to someone who cannot travel due to their governments restrictions

This period will certainly prove a challenge for us all both with safety and finance but with additional measures we can ensure that we mitigate the risks where possible and prove to our customers that we take all welfare seriously

As soon as the coronavirus fact-sheet is available from Visit Cornwall we will make it available to all

Many Thanks

Jon Matthews

Chairman Penzance & District Tourism Association

p.s. Sounds banal, but soap really IS an amazing weapon. This is because coronavirus is an “enveloped” virus, which means that it has an outer lipid membrane layer. Basically, it’s surrounded by a fat layer. Washing your hands with soap and water has the ability to “dissolve” this greasy fatty layer and kill the virus. Soap doesn’t just wash it off you — it kills it. Lather up for a minimum of 20 seconds!