18th June – Coronavirus News Updates

UK DATA:

Total UK Cases: 4,600,623 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 11,007 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 1,227 (222 new admissions)
New deaths across UK: 19
Total UK deaths: 127,945
England Cases per 100,000: 75.2 per 100,000
R number in UK: 1.2 to 1.4

Vaccine data:

Total 1^st doses given: 42,216,654 up to and including 16 June 2021
Total 2^nd doses given: 30,675,207

Latest Cheshire East data:

Total Cheshire East cases: 22,447
New cases in past 7 days: 458 to 12 June
Total deaths: 807
Cases per 100,000: 119.2 per 100,000
R number in North West: 1.3 to 1.5

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.

Roadmap out of lockdown.

UK NEWS & HEADLINES:

Pandemic eviction protection for businesses extended until 2022
New legislation will be introduced to ringfence outstanding unpaid rent built up during the pandemic, with a moratorium on evictions extended until March 2022, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced.

CBI predicts 8% growth and return to pre-Covid output by end of year
The UK economy is expected to grow 8.2% in 2021, and 6.1% in 2022, as it recovers from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the CBI also warn that the UK economy remains hampered by issues that existed before the pandemic, such as stagnant productivity and business investment, which is expected to remain 5% below pre-pandemic figures.

MAG and Ryanair launch legal challenge calling over traffic light system for international travel
The Manchester Airport operator and Europe’s largest carrier are backed by other UK airlines in calling for greater transparency over categorisation decisions. The aviation businesses say the Government has not been clear about how it has made decisions about the categorisation of countries as red, amber or green, with Ryanair CEO describing the system as a ‘complete shambles’.

Everyone working in care homes to be fully vaccinated under new law to protect residents
People working in CQC-registered care homes will need to be fully COVID-19 vaccinated with both doses.

Covid: epidemic growing across England but signs it is beginning to slow
The Covid epidemic in England is growing – with much of the growth being driven by younger age groups not yet immunised, a study suggests.

The analysis, from the React-1 study, looked at the period 20 May to 7 June.

But tentative signs in the latest daily data suggest growth may be beginning to slow.

The rollout of jabs to younger people is key to reducing further spread, researchers from Imperial College London say.

Since last year, scientists tracking the epidemic have been inviting a representative sample of the population to take Covid swab tests. They found:

of the 108,911 people tested, 135 were positive – a rise from 0.1% to 0.15%
most cases were among five- to 12-year-olds and 18- to 24-year-olds
the reproduction (R) number, of people the average infected person would infect, was an estimated 1.44

More than 40 million people vaccinated with second dose
More than 30 million people in the UK have received a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the latest figures published today (15 June) show, as the vaccination programme continues at unprecedented pace and scale – updated with latest figures in line with data in the Public Health England dashboard: 41,831,056 people across the UK have now been vaccinated with a first dose (79.4%), while 30,209,707 people have had both doses (57.4%).

How the number of vaccinated could increase over the 4 weeks to 9^th July
Percentage of adults with one dose from 79% to 89%
Percentage of adults with two doses from 57% to 76%

Less than 30 days to apply for EU Settlement scheme
There less only 30 days to go until the deadline of 30 June 2021 for applications to be made to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). All EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020, should apply without delay so that they can continue to work, study, and access free healthcare and benefits in the UK after 30 June 2021.

LOCAL / REGIONAL NEWS & UPDATES:

Supermarket exploring Cheshire sites as part of 50-store North-west expansion
Aldi is looking for freehold town-centre of edge-of-centre sites of around 1.5 acres to bring a store to the Wilmslow/Handforth area, and an additional Macclesfield store, part of expansion plans to bring another 50 locations of the German supermarket to North-west England.

easyJet launches new Scotland routes from Manchester Airport
easyJet has put tickets on sale for two new routes to Scotland from Manchester Airport, serving the cities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen in an airline-first for the Northern hub. The airline has also put over 40,000 additional seats on sale on its existing route from Belfast International, which will fly 27 times a week from 9th July.

BUSINESS:

Local Restrictions Support Grants (LRSG), Restart Grant, Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG): guidance for local authorities
This is guidance for local authorities on paying grants to support businesses during national lockdown periods and periods of local restrictions – additional Restrictions Grant guidance updated: as Step 4 of the roadmap out of restrictions has been delayed for up to 4 weeks, we have updated the guidance to account for this and extended the spending allocation deadline to 30 July 2021.

Financial support schemes as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Jobs
This includes:

the 21?? ?June deadline for joining the online VAT deferral new payment scheme
a reminder of the 14?? ?July deadline for submitting your June Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) claims
details of changes to the CJRS from July.

To find out what other financial support may be available for you and your business during this time, search ‘find coronavirus financial support’ on GOV??.UK.

COMMUNITY:

COVID-19: guidance for the safe use of places of worship and special religious services and gatherings during the pandemic
Guidance to provide advice on how places of worship can open, for limited permitted activities, in a manner that is safe and in line with national lockdown restrictions – updates to Step 3 regulations announced by the Prime Minister on 14 June.

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.

EDUCATION:

Arrangements for non-exam assessment for qualifications in 2022
Ofqual consultation on arrangements for non-exam assessment and fieldwork requirements for students entering GCSEs, AS and A level qualifications in 2022 – decisions and analysis documents added to explain outcome of consultation.

Summer schools programme
Details of the summer schools programme for secondary schools including funding, requirements for running a summer school and best practice evidence – added specific conditions for new free schools to annex B.

Coronavirus and higher education students: England, 24 May to 2 June 2021
Experimental statistics from the Student COVID-19 Insights Survey (SCIS) in England. Includes information on the behaviours, plans, opinions and well-being of higher education students in the context of guidance on the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

PE and sport premium for primary schools
How much PE and sport premium funding schools receive and advice on how it should be spent – updated to confirm continuation of the PE and sport premium for the 2021 to 2022 academic year. Also updated to reflect the announcement that schools can carry forward unspent PE and sport premium funding into the 2021 to 2022 academic year.

HEALTH & WELLBEING:

REACT-1 study of coronavirus transmission: June 2021 final results
Results of real-time assessment of community transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) during June 2021.

Wider impacts of COVID-19 on health monitoring tool
National monitoring tool that brings together metrics to assess the wider impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19) on health.

Findings from COVID-19 round 12 REACT-1 study published
Findings from Imperial College London and Ipsos MORI show infections have increased by 50% since the last REACT-1 study in May, with 1 in 670 people infected.

Weekly statistics for NHS Test and Trace (England)
Experimental statistics from the NHS Test and Trace service and related documents – added notice that the release of today’s stats is delayed.

PROPERTY:

Pandemic eviction protection extended to March 2022
Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick, has announced that businesses that have been unable to open due to pandemic restrictions and been unable to pay rent on commercial property will have protection from eviction until March 2022. The announcement comes following the Prime Minister’s confirmation on Monday that coronavirus restrictions would continue until July 19th; however, during that media briefing, Boris Johnson denied that business support measures would be extended also.

Eviction protection extended for businesses most in need
Sorting out commercial rent debts will be key to enabling businesses to plan ahead with certainty and build back better from the pandemic.

RETAIL:

Aldi exploring Stockport as part of expansion strategy
German supermarket chain, Aldi, has revealed it is exploring sites in Stockport as part of ongoing expansion plans in the region. The chain, which has 900 stores in the UK, is planning to continue its expansion with an additional 50 stores across the North-west. The brand is looking to open new stores in freehold town-centre or edge-of-centre sites across the region. In Stockport, Aldi is interested in new sites in in Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Heald Green, Handforth and Hazel Grove on top of the towns four existing branches of the supermarket.

TRANSPORT:

Trainline on track for post-pandemic recovery with 324% ticket sales increase
Train ticket booking firm Trainline has announced its highest net ticket sales since the pandemic began. In a trading update for Q1 FY2022, the firm saw a year-on-year increase of group net ticket sales of 324 per cent. UK Consumer net ticket sales were up 269 per cent year-on-year and improving week over week throughout the period. Jody Ford, CEO of Trainline, commented:
“It’s very encouraging to see people returning to train travel as lockdowns and restrictions gradually ease. By the end of May we were selling more tickets than we were in the same period two years ago.”

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

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.