UK zoos & lockdown going forward...

Can't wait for Monday and all the updates flooding in from zoochatters vists.
I know with social media updates we might not have that many new updates but still expecting the odd one or two.
 
sparkes12 said:
Can't wait for Monday and all the updates flooding in from zoochatters vists.
I know with social media updates we might not have that many new updates but still expecting the odd one or two.
Click to expand...
Be prepared for some delays, queueing and possible social distancing issues at entry.
With just a couple of days to go, the track-and-trace system has been massively expanded to mean that whatever has been entered on-line at ticket purchase, the date, name and address, and time of arrival for every adult has to be recorded at entry. This will be in force during the whole of the busy summer until at least 30 September.
 
Andrew Swales said:
With just a couple of days to go, the track-and-trace system has been massively expanded to mean that whatever has been entered on-line at ticket purchase, the date, name and address, and time of arrival for every adult has to be recorded at entry.
Click to expand...

Strangely, zoos don't seem to be on the list of industries that require all these visitor details to be recorded:

Maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
 
Andrew Swales said:
Yes they are!
If you check under 'Leisure and Tourism' and scroll down to the ninth bullet point, it clearly lists 'attractions open to the public' - and that obviously includes zoos!
Click to expand...
  • "heritage locations and attractions open to the public (including castles, stately homes and other historic houses)"
Given the examples in brackets, I take this to mean "heritage locations and heritage attractions".
 
Paradoxurus said:
  • "heritage locations and attractions open to the public (including castles, stately homes and other historic houses)"
Given the examples in brackets, I take this to mean "heritage locations and heritage attractions".
Click to expand...
You might, but we have confirmation from BALPPA that you are wrong.
'Including' clearly does not mean 'limited to'.
 
Andrew Swales said:
Be prepared for some delays, queueing and possible social distancing issues at entry.
With just a couple of days to go, the track-and-trace system has been massively expanded to mean that whatever has been entered on-line at ticket purchase, the date, name and address, and time of arrival for every adult has to be recorded at entry. This will be in force during the whole of the busy summer until at least 30 September.
Click to expand...
I really feel for you and everyone in your industry. The goalposts keep moving and it’s so hard trying to interpret the guidelines.
 
Andrew Swales said:
You might, but we have confirmation from BALPPA that you are wrong.
'Including' clearly does not mean 'limited to'.
Click to expand...

Odd then that BIAZA today announced that "Defra have confirmed that there is currently no legal requirement for zoos and aquariums to keep these records"...
 
Paradoxurus said:
Odd then that BIAZA today announced that "Defra have confirmed that there is currently no legal requirement for zoos and aquariums to keep these records"...
Click to expand...

No, they haven't - the exact opposite actually.
This is a direct quote from the BIAZA web-site:-
"All zoos, aquariums and safari parks are expected to follow COVID-19 secure guidelines to protect visitors and staff. Operators must take reasonable steps to ensure that bookings and admissions follow the social contact rules, and that groups do not mix within the premises. The Government will continue to enforce restrictions and require businesses to demonstrate robust strategies for managing the risk of transmission and to ensure social distancing rules are followed. Where businesses do not follow the rules, the appropriate enforcement action will be taken. To support NHS Test and Trace you must ask every visitor over the age of 16 (not just the lead member of the group) to provide their name and contact details or scan the NHS QR code using their NHS COVID-19 app. Keep these records for 21 days and provide data to NHS Test and Trace if requested."
Which is exactly what I said in the first place!
 
Paradoxurus said:
Odd then that BIAZA today announced that "Defra have confirmed that there is currently no legal requirement for zoos and aquariums to keep these records"...
Click to expand...

Is there any online record of this?

I just checked the BIAZA website and found the following document which indicates the reverse was the case (as AS notes) until at least a week ago:

https://biaza.org.uk/downloader/1792

To wit:

Today there are a number of key operational updates members in England must be aware of ahead of reopening. To help your organisation we have put together a step to reopening guidance document, available here. There is a new requirement for venues to collect the name and contact details of all visitors over the age of 16 to support NHS Test and Trace. This is a significant change from previous policy which required venues to collect the details of one member of each group. We have confirmation from Defra that this applies to zoos and aquariums despite not explicitly being listed. You must ask every visitor over the age of 16 to provide their name and contact details or scan the NHS QR code using their NHS COVID-19 app. You must keep these records for 21 days and provide data to NHS Test and Trace if requested.
Click to expand...
 
Paradoxurus said:
And mine was a direct quote from a circular tthat was sent to BIAZA members yesterday.

Andrew, you will have contacts on that mailing list so you could ask one of them for confirmation.

TLD, I will pm you...
Click to expand...

BIAZA has made it very clear that they will share their Covid information with everyone - so why they are now telling their members one thing and the public and the wider zoo world another?
BALPPA concur with what BIAZA is telling everyone, including non-BIAZA zoos - so we must go with that, until it is clarified at least..
 
Andrew Swales said:
BIAZA has made it very clear that they will share their Covid information with everyone - so why they are now telling their members one thing and the public and the wider zoo world another?
BALPPA concur with what BIAZA is telling everyone, including non-BIAZA zoos - so we must go with that, until it is clarified at least..
Click to expand...

I'm not in a position to comment on BIAZA's (or DEFRA or BALPPA for that matter) actions so cannot answer that question. Perhaps you could email their office? Perhaps we could, at the same time ask BALPPA why they haven't provided updated info for their members? Perhaps they are not as proactive at seeking clarity as BIAZA? It's just a case of making details available as they come to light.

Of course you, and the rest of the zoo community, must do what is right. For the record BIAZA's advice is, and was always, to keep details of guests - even though (as has only just been confirmed) it is not a legal obligation for zoos.
 
Surely the fact that you have to pre-book for entry to zoos means they have a record of people visiting ?
 
Paradoxurus said:
I'm not in a position to comment on BIAZA's (or DEFRA or BALPPA for that matter) actions so cannot answer that question. Perhaps you could email their office? Perhaps we could, at the same time ask BALPPA why they haven't provided updated info for their members? Perhaps they are not as proactive at seeking clarity as BIAZA? It's just a case of making details available as they come to light.

Of course you, and the rest of the zoo community, must do what is right. For the record BIAZA's advice is, and was always, to keep details of guests - even though (as has only just been confirmed) it is not a legal obligation for zoos.
Click to expand...
It would be a help if BIAZA told their membership and the wider public the same thing.
I cannot answer for BALPPA, but given that they have many members if common with BIAZA, it may be that they are being cautious given the confusion. Certainly to date their help and information has been first rate.
 
Last edited:
amaroc said:
Surely the fact that you have to pre-book for entry to zoos means they have a record of people visiting ?
Click to expand...
No. The pre-booking could (and would) be made by just one adult for a group of 2 upwards. The new system requires data to be kept for everyone not just the 'booker'.
We have seen one adapted website where all the other adult details are requested, but this is not a legal defense, as the details given at pre-booking may be different to the people actually visiting on the day. People may have dropped out and been replaced by others. Even a single booking could give his/her place to someone else.
The only way to comply is for either the phone+app of the visitor scans the bar-code or a manual copy is taken from everyone. Then we have to check that the details being given are actually those of the visitor and that the phone is his/hers, and not borrowed or stolen - presumably by requesting some kind of i/d.
You can see from the link that we have to refuse entry to anyone who does not comply, even if they have already paid.
3 days to go...!
I'm not sure this will ease or help entry queues...
Lets hope it actually produces useful data for the NHS.
 
Andrew Swales said:
Then we have to check that the details being given are actually those of the visitor and that the phone is his/hers, presumably by requesting some kind of i/d.
Click to expand...
As someone with no (in date and therefore valid) photo ID then I hope this isn't the case. It wasn't the case after last year's lockdown as I visited several zoos, a museum, a hotel, and countless pubs and didn't have to show ID at any of them. I did scan the NHS app at first but then it crashed my phone and I haven't dared put it on my new one...
 
Andrew Swales said:
Be prepared for some delays, queueing and possible social distancing issues at entry.
With just a couple of days to go, the track-and-trace system has been massively expanded to mean that whatever has been entered on-line at ticket purchase, the date, name and address, and time of arrival for every adult has to be recorded at entry. This will be in force during the whole of the busy summer until at least 30 September.
Click to expand...
That's tough. We only have to record date, time, first name and phone number, (pre-booking info was acceptable) and recently even that has just changed to having to display the QR code for the Government app which records the same info via mobile phone. Most people look to do it automatically now. We have them outside the gates, at the admission box and just inside as well. We ask if people have done it but nobody has ever refused. Some could lie though. In any event there is no penalty provided we have done everything in our power. Hope things go smoothly for you.
 
I've messaged several zoos on facebook, asking if photo ID will be required at the gates and hope that if so, they will make this clear to visitors. People may well be pre-booking without having anything to prove who they are, apart from their parents' word.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top