13th October – Coronavirus News Updates

UK STATISTICS

Total UK Cases: 8,231,437 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 38,520 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 7,003
New deaths across UK: 181
Total UK deaths: 137,944
England Cases per 100,000: 357.2
R number in UK: 0.9 to 1.1

Vaccine data:

Total 1^st doses given: 49,216,092 – 85.6% of UK aged 12+
Total 2^nd doses: 45,212,813 – 78.6%
Daily 1^st doses: 29,172
Daily 2nd doses: 23,632

Latest Cheshire East data:

Total Cheshire East cases: 43,157
New cases in past 7 days: 2,087 to 8 Oct
Total deaths: 852
Cases per 100,000: 539.7
R number in North West: 0.9 to 1.1

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 is based on a 28-day limit between the date of a positive lab-confirmed test and date of death.

Slides, datasets and transcripts to accompany coronavirus press conferences
Slides, datasets and transcripts from press conferences at 10 Downing Street in response to coronavirus

COVID-19: background information
Information on COVID-19 including epidemiology, virology and clinical features – updated with latest global case numbers.

The R value and growth rate
The R range for England is 0.9 to 1.1 and the growth rate range for England is -1% to +2% per day as of 8 October 2021

UK NEWS UPDATES:

Institute for Fiscal Studies: Little room for big spending
Government borrowing this year could be more than £50bn lower than was forecast in March, thanks to the UK’s strong economic recovery in the wake of the vaccine rollout, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. But “ever-growing spending on the NHS, and an economy smaller than projected pre-pandemic” will mean there is no room for big spending announcements on other public services, says the think tank’s director Paul Johnson.

easyJet estimates £1bn loss but anticipates recovery in 2022
According to easyJet’s recent trading update it will generate a loss before tax for the year ended September 30 2021 of over £1bn. During its fourth quarter easyJet flew 17.3m seats, operating 58 per cent of 2019 capacity with a stronger performance on intra-European and UK domestic routes, whilst demand for international routes from the UK continued to be impacted by UK Government travel restrictions.
Capacity is expected to be around 70 per cent of 2019 levels in the next financial year. While intra-European demand led the recovery over the summer, the recent UK Government announcement to remove and relax restrictions and testing has created positive booking momentum into next year. In response, the airline has added 100,000 seats for the first quarter of the next financial year, with particularly strong demand for winter sun destinations.

‘Crazy’ period for recruitment puts workers on top

It could be a good time to be seeking work, according to the boss of a Cardiff-based employment agency. Whereas thousands of applicants were chasing a few jobs as the pandemic took hold, candidates are now in “a position of control and power”, with the number of vacancies among his clients up 35% on pre-pandemic levels. Research suggests a shortage of skilled workers will remain a challenge for the next five years. Sectors reporting difficulty finding staff include logistics and transport, hospitality, technology and financial firms.

UK start to pandemic worst health failure ever, MPs
The UK’s failure to do more to stop Covid spreading early in the pandemic was one of the worst ever public health failures, a report by MPs says.
But the report by the cross-party group said there had been successes too – in particular the vaccination programme. It described the whole approach – from the research and development through to the rollout of the jabs – as “one of the most effective initiatives in UK history”.

UK Vacancies reach 20-year high
Vacancies hit 1.1 million between July and September, the Office for National Statistics said, the highest level since records began in 2001.

The largest increase in vacancies was in the retail sector and in motor vehicle repair, it said. The UK unemployment rate was estimated at 4.5%, compared with a rate of 4% before the pandemic. The ONS said the number of employees on payrolls showed another monthly increase, rising 207,000 to a record 29.2 million in September. “The jobs market has continued to recover from the effects of the coronavirus, with the number of employees on payroll in September now well exceeding pre-pandemic levels,” said Darren Morgan, director of economic statistics at the ONS. “Vacancies also reached a new one-month record in September, at nearly 1.2 million, with our latest estimates suggesting that all industries have at least as many jobs on offer now as before the onset of Covid-19.”

REGIONAL & LOCAL NEWS:

Work completes on Macclesfield public realm improvements
The £1.6 million improvement works to Castle Street have already begun to encourage investment from the private sector into the town centre.

Covid-19 cases at their highest in Cheshire East since pandemic began
While the highest rates of infection are being reported in Sandbach, Alsager and Congleton, Covid-19 cases are high across the whole of Cheshire East, and neighbouring local authority areas.

Air Transat resumes direct Manchester to Toronto flights
From Wednesday 20th October, a weekly direct service will once again connect Manchester Airport with Canada, one of the UK’s largest trading partners outside Europe, for the first time since the pandemic began.

Northern Powerhouse Rail could boost region’s economy by £22bn in 30 years
One key section of Northern Powerhouse Rail alone could deliver a £22bn boost to the Northern economy by 2060 – nearly £8bn more than previously forecast – according to a new report from global engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald.
A new high-speed rail link between Leeds, Bradford and Manchester could potentially increase productivity by 6% (equivalent to £16.5bn), raise the employment rate by 1.5% (equivalent to £5.5bn), and increase gross value added (GVA) in the North by about 8% over 10 years. The report, which is being launched today {Tuesday 12 October} in Leeds, says that traditional cost-benefit analysis, has failed to recognise the true economic potential of the scheme.

Marketing WAM and Bellway partner to champion region’s business success
Share your success stories from the last 18 months and let’s celebrate businesses that have survived and thrived in the Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and Macclesfield area.

SECTOR SPECIFIC CORONAVIRUS-RELATED NEWS:

BUSINESS:

DVLA Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
Find out the date of applications we are processing and how to access our online services – update to processing dates.

Pay Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grants back
Find out how to pay all or some of your grant back if you’ve overclaimed, or if you do not need the grant and want to make a voluntary repayment.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is now closed
You have until 11.??59pm Thursday?? ?14?? ?October to submit final furlough claims for September. For the latest information on what to do next, we are running one final live webinar, which covers including the grants on your tax returns and getting back to business. You can also ask questions using the on-screen text box, although we can’t discuss personal circumstances. Register here

You’ll be able to download some useful handouts and we’ll also send you a link to a recording after the live webinar. If you’re a small or medium-sized employer with fewer than 250 employees and were eligible for the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme, you have until 31 Dece??mber?? ?2021 to submit your claims for periods ending on or before 30 Septe??mber 2021. Our recorded webinar is available on HMRC’s YouTube channel – this includes further guidance on the scheme, including who you can claim for, how to claim and what you may be entitled to.

COMMUNITY:

Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person
Guidance for contacts of a person with a positive test result for coronavirus (COVID-19) who do not live with that person.

COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection
Stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection – updated to reflect the end of the shielding programme.
COVID-19 vaccination programme
Documents relating to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme – added ‘COVID-19 vaccination: checklist for parents of children aged 12 to 15 years.

Private providers of coronavirus (COVID-19) testing
Lists of and information about private providers who have self-declared that they meet the government’s minimum standards for the type of commercial COVID-19 testing service they offer – updated the general list of providers.

HEALTH & WELLBEING:

COVID-19: stepdown of infection control precautions and discharging patients to home settings
Advice on appropriate infection prevention and control precautions for stepdown in hospital or discharge to home or residential settings for COVID-19 patients – updated to reflect the end of the shielding programme.

PPE distribution statistics (England)
Experimental statistics about PPE (personal protective equipment) deliveries and related documents – added latest monthly report.

TRAVEL:

The number of red list countries has been cut to seven, with 47 destinations – including South Africa, Mexico, Thailand and Brazil – removed.

The amber and green lists have been scrapped and rules for testing relaxed.

What are the changes to the red list countries?

Red-list countries are those the government says should not be visited “except in the most extreme of circumstances”.

There are now only seven destinations on the red list:

Colombia
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Haiti
Panama
Peru
Venezuela

If you have been in one of these countries in the last 10 days, you cannot travel to the UK. The only exception is if you are a UK or Irish national, or UK resident – in which case you need to:

Take a Covid-19 test before departure for the UK
Complete a passenger locator form
Self-isolate on arrival in the UK for 10 days in a quarantine hotel, paid in advance

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:

Coronavirus Roadmap out of lockdown – what and when?

From 29 March:

People will be allowed to meet outside, either with one other household or within the “rule of six”, including in private gardens
The stay at home rule will end, but the government will urge people to stay local as much as possible
Outdoor sport facilities will reopen, including golf courses and tennis and basketball courts, and formally organised outdoor sports can restart
Weddings attended by up to six people can take place in any circumstances

Stage two (no earlier than 12 April):

All shops allowed to open, along with close-contact services, including hairdressers and beauty salons (including in people’s homes)
Restaurants and pubs allowed to serve food and alcohol to customers sitting outdoors Gyms and spas can reopen, as can zoos, theme parks, libraries and community centres
Members of the same household can take a holiday in the UK in self-contained accommodation
Weddings attended by up to 15 people can take place

Stage three (no earlier than 17 May):

People can meet in groups of up to 30 outdoors
Six people or two households can meet indoors
Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues can seat customers indoors
Up to 30 people can attend weddings or other life events, like christenings
Remaining outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres and cinemas can open
Indoor entertainment such as museums, theatres, cinemas and children’s play areas can open
Performances and large events can restart, but with limits on audience numbers
Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen
International leisure travel may resume
Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes can restart

Stage four (expected 19th July):

All legal limits on social contact will be removed
No legal limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, funerals and other life events
Nightclubs will be allowed to reopen

Publishing information about your claimsIn January HMRC published the list of employers who claimed under the CJRS for periods from December onwards, on GOV.UK.

Repayment period for Bounce Back Loans extended to ten yearsBusinesses that took out government Bounce Back loans to help them through the Coronavirus crisis now have more time to repay. Companies will be contacted with options to extend the length of the loan from six to 10 years as part of a new ‘pay-as-you-grow’ initiative. The new proposals give businesses three new options:

1. Extending the length of the loan from six years to 10;

2. Making interest-only payments for six months, then repaying the principal on a phased basis with other interest-only periods;

3. Delaying repayments entirely for up to six months.

COVID-19 Winter Plan
The government’s plan for managing COVID-19 through the end of 2020 and into the start of 2021.

Government extends JRS furlough scheme at 80% for period of lockdown
The government has said the furlough scheme, due to have closed on 31^st October, would now be extended until December.

Check if your employer can use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Check which employees you can put on furlough to use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Calculate how much you can claim using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Steps to take before calculating your claim using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Check if you can claim for your employees’ wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

New National Restrictions from 5 November
Information on the new national restrictions, including what they mean for working from home and business closures, why they are being introduced and the financial support available.

Job Retention Bonus (JRB)
Employers are able to claim a one-off payment of £1,000 for every eligible employee furloughed and claimed for through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), kept continuously employed until at least 31 January 2021 and who meets the other eligibility criteria. Claims can be made between 15 February and 31 March.

Become a Green Homes Grant Supplier II – Trustmark and PAS 2030The new Green Homes Grant will give over 600,000 homeowners in England up to £10,000 to install insulation, heat pumps, draft proofing and more to help households cut energy bills.

Check if you’re eligible for the coronavirus Local Restrictions Support Grant
The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) supports businesses that have been required to close due to temporary COVID-19 local lockdown restrictions imposed by the government.

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant extension
The grant is being extended from 1 November 2020. Find out if you’re eligible and how much you can get.

Hospitality venues in England are now legally required to enforce the rule of 6 or face a fine of up to £4,000.
Designated businesses and organisations, including hospitality, close contact services and leisure venues, will also be legally required to log details of customers, visitors and staff for NHS Test and Trace and required to display official NHS QR code posters under law

NHS Test and Trace service in the workplace
Guidance on the NHS Test and Trace service for employers, businesses and workers updated to reflect the new legal requirements for designated venues to collect contact details and display official NHS QR code posters from 24^th September

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