September 9th – Coronavirus News Updates

Latest UK data:

Positive tests: 352,560 have tested positive + daily 2,460 new cases

Loss of life: 41,586 across all settings + 32

Cases in Cheshire East: 2,480 confirmed since start of the pandemic, + 50 in the last 7 days

Daily reported COVID deaths are now measured across the UK as deaths that occurred within 28 days of the first laboratory-confirmed positive COVID test

The R number and growth rate in the UK
The latest reproduction number (R) and growth rate of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the UK. The R number range for the UK is 0.9-1.1 and the growth rate range is -3% to +1% per day as of 21 August 2020.

Coronavirus cases in the UK: daily updated statistics
The latest number of coronavirus (COVID-19) tests, cases and deaths in the UK. The way deaths are reported has been reviewed and updated using a measure based on a 28-day limit between the date of a positive lab-confirmed test and date of death.

National COVID-19 surveillance reports
National COVID-19 surveillance reports, including weekly summary of findings monitored through various COVID-19 surveillance systems.

UK HEADLINES:

Social gatherings of over six people to be banned from 14 September
New restrictions will ban social gatherings of more than six people in England from the 14 September, the UK Government has announced, in order to combat rising Covid-19 infection rates.

Restrictions will apply to meetings indoors and outdoors, but exemptions will be made for households and ‘bubbles’ of over six persons, as well as workplaces, schools, sports teams, and weddings and funerals, which will remain limited to 30 attendees.

Rules will be enforced through a £100 find, doubling with each breach of restrictions to a maximum of £3200.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to give further details in a press conference at 4pm, the BBC reports.

Government launches new trade measures to support Covid-hit retailersThe UK’s Exports Minister, Graham Stuart MP, has announced a series of new measures to support businesses in the consumer and retail industry to export overseas post-Covid.

Five reasons why rise in cases is not all it seems
The average rate of new infections is now four times higher than it was in mid-July. But is the rise in cases quite as sharp as it looks? Here are five things to consider before hitting the panic button.

Bounce-back plans launched for consumer and retail industry
A ‘bounce-back’ plan of trade measures for the consumer and retail industry has been announced today to help support businesses impacted by Coronavirus.

Working from home damaging economy, Raab warns
The government has warned that home working is damaging the economy as fears grow for city centre businesses.

Hancock ‘concerned’ as daily UK COVID-19 cases hit highest level since May
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has admitted he is “concerned” after the daily number of UK coronavirus cases reached its highest level since May.

The UK is entering a “period of particular concern” as the number of coronavirus cases rise across the country, the housing secretary says.
Robert Jenrick said “we all have to be very cautious” after 2,948 new UK cases were recorded on Monday.

Dr David Nabarro from the World Health Organisation told Sky News “there are going to be more spikes” and some “surges of cases”
England’s deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said there has been a rise in coronavirus cases because people have “relaxed too much”.

British employers planned more than 300,000 redundancies in June and July, as the coronavirus outbreak took its toll on the workplace.
1,784 firms made plans to cut nearly 150,000 jobs in July, almost a sevenfold increase on July 2019.

LOCAL / REGIONAL NEWS & UPDATES:

Councils join forces to lead Covid-19 recovery in Macclesfield
A recovery working group including Cheshire East Council, Macclesfield Town Council and the local business community has been created with the objective of developing a recovery plan for Macclesfield town centre and the wider town and address the effects of the pandemic.

Manchester Airport comments on travel restrictions to seven Greek Islands
Manchester Airports Group CEO, Charlie Cornish, speaks out following the announcement that arrivals to England from seven Greek islands including Crete, Santorini, Mykonos and Zakynthos (Zante) now must quarantine for 14 days on entering England.

Further restrictions eased for Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire
Local efforts to reduce infection rates sees relaxation of restrictions in previous local hotspots.

North of England local restrictions
Find out what you can and cannot do if you live, work or travel in areas of the north of England subject to local restrictions.

CONSTRUCTION:

SME builders: ‘We need a boost to hit homes target’

A new campaign group is calling for more measures, including getting Homes England to invest in more small sites and work with smaller firms, as well as bringing SME housebuilders onto forums where local authorities engage with developers.

Tackling workplace absence in the construction sector36 per cent year-on-year increase in absence seen in the period from April to June 2020.

EDUCATION:

Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
What all schools will need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak from the start of the autumn term.

What all special schools and other specialist settings will need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak from the start of the autumn term.
Updated guidance to reflect the actions special schools and other specialist settings need to support full opening from the start of the autumn term.

Initial teacher training (ITT): criteria and supporting advice
Mandatory guidance on the criteria that organisations must meet to provide initial teacher training (ITT).

Early years ITT requirements and supporting advice
Advice for providers looking to offer early years initial teacher training (ITT).

Early years foundation stage statutory framework (EYFS)
The standards that school and childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5.

Get laptops and tablets for children who cannot attend school due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
How schools can access digital devices for children requiring access to remote education due to shielding or local coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions.

Initial teacher training (ITT): criteria and supporting advice
Mandatory guidance on the criteria that organisations must meet to provide initial teacher training (ITT).

Early years ITT requirements and supporting advice
Advice for providers looking to offer early years initial teacher training (ITT).

Early years foundation stage statutory framework (EYFS)
The standards that school and childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5.

Principles for managing SARS-CoV-2 transmission associated with higher education, 3 September 2020
Paper prepared by the Task and Finish Group on Higher Education/Further Education.

HEALTH CARE & WELLBEING:

Weight management services during COVID-19: phase 1 insights

The impact of COVID-19 on children, young people and adults living with obesity, tier 2 and 3 weight management provision and next steps for recovery.

COVID-19: background information
Information on COVID-19 including epidemiology, virology and clinical features.

COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable
Information for shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19.

PHE data series on deaths in people with COVID-19: technical summary
A summary of the PHE data series on deaths in people with COVID-19, outlining what the changes mean and how the data compare to other COVID-19 death data series.

PHE/EMG: Aerosol and droplet generation from singing, wind instruments and performance activities, 13 August 2020
Paper prepared by Public Health England (PHE) and the Environmental and Modelling group (EMG).

SPI-B: Consensus on BAME communication?, 22 July 2020
Consensus statement prepared by the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours (SPI-B) for the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).

Scientific evidence supporting the government response to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Evidence considered by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) – added 5 new papers under the July, August and September SAGE meetings.

SAGE meetings, July 2020
Minutes and papers from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) meetings held in July 2020.

Demographic data for coronavirus testing (England): 28 May to 26 August
Information on testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) by different demographic groups under NHS Test and Trace.

HOSPITALITY / LEISURE:

Wedding services: coronavirus – cancellations and refunds
Statement setting out the CMA’s views on how the law operates in relation to contracts for wedding services affected by the coronavirus pandemic

JUDICIARY:

HMCTS weekly operational summary on courts and tribunals during coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
This page provides a weekly summary of the HM Courts and Tribunals Service operational position during the coronavirus pandemic – update for week commencing Monday 7 September 2020

RETAIL

Five ways online retailers can remain resilient against future disruption
As businesses count the cost of Covid-19 and prepare for the future, Retail Week highlights five key factors that will help online retailers to adapt and thrive.

TRANSPORT:

Transport use during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
To monitor the use of the transport system during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, DfT provides statistics on transport use by mode, published daily for the return to school period.

TRAVEL:

Travel Corridors
List of countries and territories from where you can travel to England and may not have to self-isolate

Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents
This is advice for visa customers and applicants in the UK, visa customers outside of the UK and British nationals overseas who need to apply for a passport affected by travel restrictions associated with coronavirus.

Useful Links:

Claim money back through the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme
Find out how to claim the reimbursement for discounts given to diners with the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme. The Eat Out to Help Out Scheme closed on 31 August 2020 – the page updated with removal of registration links.

Kickstart Scheme
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds.

Kickstart Scheme employer resources
If you’ve been offered Kickstart Scheme funding, you can use these resources to show your support for the scheme.

Kickstart Scheme employer contacts
List of regional contacts for employers applying for a grant through the Kickstart Scheme.

Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do
Frequently asked questions on what you can and can’t do during the coronavirus outbreak – guidance updated in line with new regulations coming into force on 4 July

Business Survey:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-coronavirus-impact-business-survey/dcms-business-survey-headline-measures

Apply for the coronavirus Future Fund
The Future Fund will provide UK Government loans to UK-based companies ranging from £125,000 to £5 million, subject to at least equal match funding from private investors.

Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme set to launch
Employers will be able to make claims through the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme from 26 May.

Government – Guidance on Returning to Work safely
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Government – Setting out of Road Map to recovery – 11^th May 2020
Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s 60 page COVID-19 recovery strategy
The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy. The strategy sets out a cautious roadmap to easing existing measures in a safe and measured way, subject to successfully controlling the virus and being able to monitor and react to its spread.

Coronavirus Act 2020: status
A table setting out the status of each measure in the Coronavirus Act 2020.

Government – Financial Support
New 100% government backed loan scheme for small business

Government – Financial Support
CBILS – A guide to whether it may be the best options for a business

Government – Financial Support
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – online claims portal open

Government – Business Support:
Government launches new coronavirus business support finder tool

Government – Business Support Hub:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support

Government – Financial Support: HMRC has published guidance on how it will work out income and profits for the self-employed or those in a partnership who have lost profits due to coronavirus.

Government – Business Support:
https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/

Government – Business Support: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19

Government – Financial Support: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding

Government – Business Support: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses

Bank of England – Financial Support: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2020/march/the-covid-corporate-financing-facility

Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub

Gov.uk: Maintaining Educational Provision: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

UK Lockdown – Further businesses to close and exceptions: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/874732/230320_-_Revised_guidance_note_-_finalVF

Health – updates from NHS
https://www.england.nhs.uk/news/

Health – Shielding the most vulnerable https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Media and Marketing:

Prolific North are publishing daily updates on their blog as to how Covid-19 is impacting on the marketing, media and technology industries

Travel: https://media.northernrailway.co.uk/news/coronavirus-travel-information

Recruitment: – DWP and Universal Credit: http://news.dwp.gov.uk/dwplz/lz.aspx?p1=MQsDU1NjQ5MlM2OTA0OjNCNDJBOEZCRTJDOUJEOTc1ODQ0RTRCRDNDNzk4QUNF-&CC=&p=0

Retail: An update form British Retail Consortium https://brc.org.uk/news/corporate-affairs/coronavirus-latest-retailer-activity/

Resources available from Acas:
Redundancy letter templates
Redundancy process map Acas have also contributed to the development of a new return to work toolkit in partnership with SOM, CIPD, BITC and Mind.