Hotels and other business have been warned to flush out the water supply in their buildings before reopening to prevent the potentially deadly Legionella bacteria from spreading.
Guidance published by Public Health England (PHE) advises "regular flushing" of the water system at premises such as dental practices, hairdressers, gyms and hotels, as well as office buildings, to stop bacterial growth.
They are also required to carry out a detailed review of all aspects of their water management system before reopening following the coronavirus lockdown.
Legionella, which is naturally present in water systems, causes Legionnaires' disease, which is fatal in 10% of cases. It can cause serious illnesses in people over the age of 50, smokers and