17th November – Coronavirus News Updates

UK STATISTICS

There have been more than 9.4 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and sadly more than 142,000 people have died, government figures show. More than 50 million people have now received a first dose of the vaccine, around 87.5% of people in the UK aged 12 and over. Nearly 80% have had their second and 19% have had a booster.

Total UK Cases: 9,637,190 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 37,243 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 8,696
New deaths across UK: 214
Total UK deaths: 143,159
England Cases per 100,000: 364.2
R number in UK: 0.9 to 1.1

Vaccine data:

Total 1^st doses given: 50,614,550 – 88% of UK aged 12+
Total 2^nd doses: 46,045,964 – 80.1%
Daily 1^st doses: 32,046
Daily 2nd doses: 18,055
Daily Booster doses: 286,582 (13,147,333 total booster doses)

Latest Cheshire East data:

Total Cheshire East cases: 54,261
New cases in past 7 days: 1,477 to 11 Nov
Total deaths: 886
Cases per 100,000: 382

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 5 November 2021.

UK NEWS UPDATES:

NHS under pressure – Covid now only a small part of NHS pressure

Lives are being put at risk with record long waits in accident-and-emergency units and 999 calls taking hours to be reached. The causes of this go beyond Covid – and with winter coming it looks set to get worse.

Jobs recovery continues despite end of furlough
The end of the furlough scheme in September does not appear to have led to a spike in unemployment as some feared, official figures suggest.

Kickstart youth jobless plan helps 100,000
More than 100,000 young people have so far started new roles under the government’s £2bn Kickstart jobs scheme, latest figures show.

REGIONAL & LOCAL NEWS:

Council launches business recovery and growth programme
The Recovery and Growth Programme will offer support to help SMEs grow, diversify or shore-up operations for long-term sustainability.

Manchester Airports Group reports increase of passenger numbers
The six months to the end of October 2021 have seen passenger numbers consistently increase, although they remain well below pre-pandemic figures says the operator behind Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports.

SECTOR SPECIFIC CORONAVIRUS-RELATED NEWS:

CONSTRUCTION:

Government advisor calls for improved building ventilation

Professor Cath Noakes, a government scientific advisor, has called for improved building ventilation and professional accreditation for contractors

EDUCATION:

Government delays further education changes by a year
The government is delaying education reforms by a year after criticism over its plans to cut funding for BTecs.

A limited number of new T-level technical qualifications – worth three A-levels – were introduced in 2020.

ENVIRONMENTAL:

How might decisions at the climate summit change our lives?
Now that a deal has been agreed and signed at the climate summit in Glasgow, you might be left wondering what it will mean for you.

Here are some ways in which the decisions made at COP26 could change your life.

HEALTH & WELLBEING:

NHS to open first specialist clinics for severely obese children

Severely obese children and young people will receive intensive support in the coming months thanks to a pilot of 15 new specialist clinics set up by the NHS in England. One thousand children a year, who are aged between two and 18 and experiencing health complications related to severe obesity, will be supported to lose weight through the new services.

Award winning Urogynaecology team at Stepping Hill

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust’s Urogynaecology team have achieved accreditation for their services; and received top marks in the country while doing so.

The Urogynaecology service, based at Stepping Hill Hospital, received its independent assessment from the British Society of Urogynaecology (BSUG), which inspects and accredits NHS services across the country.

HOSPITALITY:

UK Hospitality warns industry ‘in peril’ as latest data shows sales still well short of pre-Covid levels
Britain’s pubs, bars and restaurants have still not returned to pre-Covid trading despite restrictions easing, new data has revealed.

The latest quarterly tracker from industry analysts CGA and trade body UKHospitality found that hospitality business revenues were still down 10% on 2019 levels in the three months to end September.

PROPERTY:

Rents rising at fastest pace in 13 years, says Zoopla
Rents are rising at the fastest pace since 2008 as people rush back to city centres, according to property website Zoopla. Private sector rents in the UK were 4.6% higher in September than a year before at £968 per month on average – the strongest growth seen in 13 years.

Outside of London, rents were up by 6%, marking a 14-year high, it said.

RETAIL:

Five items that are going up in price and why

Official figures are expected to confirm what we all know, or have suspected, from experience in recent weeks – that the cost of living is now rising faster than it has for some time.

TRANSPORT:

Passenger numbers triple at Manchester Airport as more ‘clarity’ called from Boris Johnson’s Government

Manchester Airport has served almost six million fewer passengers over the last year despite its figures tripling in October.

The airport saw 4.6 million people pass through its terminals in the 12-month period compared to the 10.4 million in the same time to the end of October 2020.

HS2 rail extension to Leeds set to be scrapped

The government is set to scrap the eastern leg of HS2 between the Midlands and Leeds, sources have told the BBC. The Transport Department will instead announce a new rail plan on Thursday, involving £96bn of funding for new routes in the North and Midlands.

DVLA Coronavirus (COVID-19) update

We are receiving a high volume of enquiries about driving while your driving licence application is with DVLA. If your application has been sent to DVLA you may be able to continue to drive while we are processing your application, subject to meeting certain criteria.

Useful links:

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