29th September – Coronavirus News Updates

UK STATISTICS

Total UK Cases: 7,736,235 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 34,526 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 7,000
New deaths across UK: 167
Total UK deaths: 136,375
England Cases per 100,000: 324.7
R number in UK: 0.8 to 1.0

Vaccine data:

Total 1^st doses given: 48,765,726 – 89.7% of UK aged 16+
Total 2^nd doses: 44,799,748 – 82.4%
Daily 1^st doses: 24,919
Daily 2nd doses: 33,177

Latest Cheshire East data:

Total Cheshire East cases: 40,385
New cases in past 7 days: 1,791 to 24 Sep
Total deaths: 844
Cases per 100,000: 463.2 per 100,000
R number in North West: 0.8 to 1.0

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 latest R number estimate for England is 0.8 to 1.0, while for Scotland it is 0.8 to 1.1, for Wales it is 0.8 to 1.0 and for Northern Ireland it is 0.7 to 0.9.

UK NEWS UPDATES:

Paper £20 and £50 banknotes to be withdrawn in 2022
Notes are being replaced by polymer banknotes that are harder to counterfeit, more durable and have tactile features to aid recognition by blind and partially sighted people.

Governemnt and TalkTalk partner to attack digital exclusion for job seekers
TalkTalk has partnered with the Department for Work and Pensions to give jobseekers free broadband for six months. The Salford-based telecoms giant said it will roll out a new voucher scheme giving those looking for work free access to high-quality broadband. The programme aims to tackle digital exclusion and remove barriers to employment across the UK.

Home-working helps careers, say majority of women
Survey indicates more than half of women think working from home will help them progress at work, as childcare and caring duties become less of a hindrance to working full-time. Research for the BBC suggests 65% of managers feel working from home helps advance women’s careers, although a quarter of the women polled by YouGov said homeworking was unlikely to advance their careers.

Government seeks views on contingency proposals for certification
A policy proposal has been published for mandatory vaccine certification as a contingency measure under the government’s Autumn and Winter Plan.

Half of young people willing to get jab – study
A half of children and young people aged nine to 18 are willing or eager to be vaccinated against Covid, a survey of 27,000 students at 180 schools in England suggests. More than a third were undecided and just over one in 10 would decline, according to the research, which was carried out before the UK recommended all children aged 12 to 15 should be offered one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid jab.

REGIONAL & LOCAL NEWS:

Council announces latest phase of funding and support for Cheshire East businesses
The Extended Restrictions Grant and Business Interruption Fund will support businesses affected by restrictions 21 June to 18 July and beyond, while the Recovery and Growth Grant will support long-term business sustainability.

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.

New airlines make move to Manchester Airport Terminal Two
Air France and KLM began flying from Terminal Two on 28th September, and from Thursday 30th, Italian restaurant, San Carlo, will open its much anticipated new venue in departures.

SECTOR SPECIFIC CORONAVIRUS-RELATED NEWS:

BUSINESS:

What happens when furlough ends this week?
The government’s furlough scheme ends on 30^th September affecting around 1.5 million people whose wages are being 60% subsidised by the goverment. In May 2020, nearly 9 million were on furlough. The Bank of England believes unemployment may rise as workers in severely disrupted sectors such as travel and tourism may lose their jobs. Those facing redundancy should apply for support schemes as soon as possible such as Job Seekers Alliance worth upto £74.70 per week.

COMMUNITY:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) PCR home test kit instructions
Find out how to do a PCR test for COVID-19 at home and register a test kit so you can get the result.

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.

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

NHS COVID-19 app: privacy information
Privacy notice and data protection impact assessment for the NHS COVID-19 mobile app – the Privacy Notice has been updated to incorporate changes on the Self- declaration of medical exemption (England only) and participation in a COVID-19 clinical trial. The same update applies to the Welsh language version.

CONSTRUCTION:

Aldi to open 100 stores in the next two years
German discounter Aldi is sticking with bricks and mortar expansion plans aiming to open another 100 stores across the UK over the next two years. The group, which is now the fifth biggest supermarket operator in the UK, will also expand its logistics infrastructure, including a new 1.3m sq ft site in Leicestershire, as part of a £1.3bn spend. Work will start on the £100m national distribution centre project early next year with Birmingham warehouse specialist DSP Construction Management tipped for the project.

EDUCATION:

COVID-19 Schools Infection Survey, England: Prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in school pupils and staff
Initial estimates of prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in staff and pupils from the COVID-19 Schools Infection Survey across a sample of schools, within selected local authority areas in England. This Schools Infection Survey (SIS) is jointly led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Public Health England and the Office for National Statistics.

Unaccompanied minors arriving from a red list country to attend boarding school
How unaccompanied students under 18 years old can quarantine in boarding school accommodation.

School attendance: guidance for schools
Covers registers and attendance codes (including circumstances due to coronavirus (COVID-19)), school hours and term dates and improving school attendance – addendum: removed information about under-18s that were previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV).

Coronavirus (COVID-19): test kits for schools and FE providers
Guidance for schools and further education (FE) providers on the initial supply of coronavirus (COVID-19) home testing kits for pupils, teachers and staff – update to clarify that when providing PCR test kits to pupils or students under 16, settings must inform parents or guardians. It also clarifies the actions to take following a positive result and confirms that fully vaccinated adults and children will not need to self-isolate as a result of being a close contact but will need to take a PCR test.

HEALTH & WELLBEING:

Government’s New Assets: Winter Vaccination Campaign
The first phase of the Winter vaccination campaign launched on digital channels this week. New materials are available to communicate key aspects of this campaign

Vaccine uptake guidance and the latest coverage data
Information for health professionals and immunisation practitioners – added Cover of vaccination evaluated rapidly (COVER) programme 2021 to 2022: quarterly data.

Proposal for mandatory COVID certification in a Plan B scenario
This document fulfils the commitment, set out in the Autumn and Winter Plan, to provide organisations with more detail about the proposed certification regime that would be introduced as part of Plan B.

Regulatory approval of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19
Information for healthcare professionals and the public about the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine – extended vaccine shelf life from 6 months to now 9 months.

LEGAL:

How HMCTS uses telephone and video hearings
Information about how HMCTS uses telephone and video technology.

LOCAL AUTHORITY:

Local authority powers to impose restrictions under coronavirus regulations
Supports the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No 3) Regulations 2020 that came into force on 18 July 2020 – updated ‘Local authority powers to impose restrictions: Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No 3) Regulations 2020’ to extend the regulations until 24 March 2022.

Coronavirus grant funding: local authority payments to small and medium businesses
Local authorities have received and distributed funding to support small and medium businesses in England during coronavirus – additional Restrictions Grant data up until 29 August 2021 republished: in some instances, the figures in the earlier version were not aligned with the correct Local Authority, but this has now been corrected.

PROPERTY:

House prices in tourist hotspots out of reach to young buyers and low paid
Young and low paid workers in tourist hotspots are increasingly facing the prospect of being unable to afford to live there. Despite falling from a record high in June, the average UK house price (£256,000) increased by 8.0% in July 2021 compared with the previous year. House prices were rising at three times the national rate in some rural and coastal areas in July, such as Conwy in North Wales (25.0%), North Devon (22.5%) and Richmondshire in the Yorkshire Dales (21.4%), continuing a trend seen during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Meanwhile, the seven areas that recorded house price falls in July were all London boroughs.
House prices are increasing partly because of temporary changes to taxes paid on property purchases (including Stamp Duty in England and Northern Ireland), but they also reflect a shift in consumer preferences with growth being driven by rural and coastal areas. Read more

Coronavirus and house price growth
Analysis identifying the types of areas that are seeing the fastest house price growth during the coronavirus pandemic, and who could be at risk of being priced out.

RETAIL:

Retailers boost as UK workers return to the office
Last week UK retail footfall rose by 2.7 per cent compared with the week before, new data has shown. Data provider Springboard’s weekly monitor showed that footfall in central London was up by 6.5 per cent, as workers return to offices after the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. Springboard’s “Central London Back to Office Footfall Benchmark,” which tracks footfall in key Central London locations where offices, rather than stores, are located, showed a rise of 8.8 per cent. Across the Monday to Friday working week, footfall rose in high streets by 6.7 per cent but it fell by 1.5 per cent on Saturday, whilst in shopping centres the rise in footfall averaged 3 per cent between Monday and Friday but rose by 0.4 per cent on Saturday, further supporting the claim that a return to offices has started. The drift back to offices is not just a phenomenon in the capital, with large city centres outside of London experiencing a 6.1 per cent increase in footfall, the report said.

SPORT:

Kicking COVID into touch: Rugby stars support vaccine roll out
Rugby players urge people to get their COVID-19 vaccine in new short film

TRANSPORT:

Carry out international road haulage
What UK goods vehicle operators need to do to carry out international road haulage – changed reference of GB stickers to UK stickers, as UK stickers have now replaced GB stickers.

Get a coronavirus (COVID-19) test if you’re an HGV or van driver
COVID-19 testing for hauliers arriving in England and travelling from the UK – the COVID-19 test requirement for hauliers entering Germany has been lifted.

TRAVEL:

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