IBVTA issues advice to members regarding coronavirus
A rapidly changing situation such as the coronavirus outbreak calls for continued monitoring of the advice coming from Government and public health agencies. As the only trade association focused on the independent vape industry, we know that businesses have the safety of customers and staff at the forefront.
We will be updating this advice regularly. The most recent update was issued on the 24th of March, 2020.
The UK Government website is updated in real time as new information and advice becomes available and can be found here.
The UK COVID-19: support for businesses guidance can be found here.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 have been put in place to reduce the risk of further human-to-human transmission by keeping individuals in isolation where public health professionals believe there is a reasonable risk an individual may have the virus.
The NHS website regularly issues updates and can be found here.
Welsh Government updates can be found here.
The Scottish Government updates can be found here.
The Northern Irish Government updates can be found here.
Rosanna O’Connor, Director of Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs at Public Health England is quoted in the Evening Standard as saying : “Public Health England’s 2018 independent evidence review found that to date, there have been no identified health risks of passive vaping to bystanders. There is currently no evidence that coronavirus can be caught from exposure to e-cigarette vapour.”
In line with the latest Government advice designed to delay the spread of Covid-19, the IBVTA is issuing the following advice to our members:
The announcement by the Prime Minister yesterday evening that we all need to collectively do more in containing this pandemic, was followed late last night by the list of exempted retail stores.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close
As vape stores are not specifically included in that list, we are doing the responsible thing and advising IBVTA members not to open stores to the public today.
Online and delivery orders are not affected.
The IBVTA worked late into the night and as early as possible this morning in order to get further clarification from governments as to whether vape stores can re-open, and as soon as we have that clarification, we will issue further advice.
We fully respect that this is a very difficult time, and as our phone lines are extremely busy today we appreciate your patience while we work hard to get the answers that best support independent vape businesses, their staff and most importantly, their customers.