A survey of more than 20,000 pubs, restaurants, and other hospitality venues has found only one per cent had been linked to NHS Test and Trace contact incidences.

The new study covered members of trade bodies UKHospitality, the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) and was conducted by the marketing firm CGA.

It found that respondents from more than 22,500 outlets across the UK only reported 275 incidents on the NHS Test and Trace app.

Latest Public Health England data, meanwhile, shows that hospitality was linked to just 2.7 per cent of coronavirus cases nationwide.

The trade bodies say the findings show that the industry is Covid-19 secure and has again rallied to call for the easing of restrictions, made more rigorous in vast swathes of the country this month with the introduction of the tier system.

Again figures from the sector are reiterating calls to scrap the controversial 10pm curfew, which they say has been “massively damaging hospitality trade” in areas with lower risk.

A spokesperson for the trade bodies said: “The evidence is clear that pubs, restaurants and hospitality venues are Covid-secure. Singling them out is simply illogical, counterproductive and grossly unfair.

“Sage itself has called into question the effectiveness of the 10pm curfew and it is greatly harming our sector in medium risk areas. The government must consider removing the curfew.”